LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Molly Shaw (Marshfield, Mass.) and redshirt freshman Emily Stratton (Camillus, N.Y.) each scored two goals, but it was not enough as the UMass Lowell River Hawks (0-1, 0-0 AE) fell, 18-4, to the Massachusetts Minutewomen (1-0, (0-0 A10) on Saturday afternoon at Cushing Field in the 2022 season opener.
 
"I felt like we were really nervous and out of sorts for a little bit", recalled head coach Lisa Miller. "I'm really proud, they kept hustling and didn't give up. This is a game we can look to build on and I can't wait to get back at it."
 
Massachusetts jumped out to a quick lead as they scored four goals in the first three minutes, but the River Hawks were able to strike back as Stratton netted a free position goal five minutes in to cut the lead to three.
 
The Minutewomen would add to their lead as they tallied eight goals over the next 16 minutes of play. Shaw would put a halt to their scoring run with her first goal of the season, assisted by sophomore Megan Brockbank (Bayport, N.Y.). Massachusetts would add one more goal to their total prior to the half, giving them a 13-2 lead at the break.

Coming out of the half, the River Hawks surrendered a quick goal, but then were able to find their footing as Shaw found the back of the net with the helper from Brockbank to cut Massachusetts' lead down. Stratton followed that up with her second goal with nine minutes remaining in the third.
 
The River Hawks defense held strong, limiting Massachusetts to only four goals over the last 20 minutes of the game, but they were unable to record another goal as the score remained 18-4.
 
Graduate student Alex Salim (East Islip, N.Y.) made her River Hawk debut in net as she tallied three saves, while sophomore Jillian Schumacher (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) recorded five saves as they split time in net.
 
Next up for the River Hawks, they will head out on their first road trip as they take on Holy Cross on Friday, February 18, at 5:30 p.m.