FAIRFIELD, CT. – Despite not allowing a goal in the fourth quarter, the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (1-4, 0-0 AE) fell to the Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-2, 0-0 NEC), 10-7, on Sunday afternoon.

"Today wasn't our best effort," said head coach Lisa Miller. "We are still working to figure out how to hold a consistent standard of play and believe we can win every time we step on the field. It's a good learning moment for us."
 
Junior Molly Shaw (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman Sophia Scialdone (Syracuse, N.Y.) led the way for the River Hawks, both tallying two goals on the day. Splitting time in net were sophomore Jillian Schumacher (Rockville Centre, N.Y.)  and graduate student Alex Salim (East Islip, N.Y.), who both logged three saves.
 
Both teams came out strong offensively, but less than four minutes into the game it was the Pioneers that struck first. Junior Layton Nass (Manhasset, N.Y.) quickly fired back, getting the River Hawks on the board, and tying the game. The two teams would continue exchanging goals through the majority of the first quarter, with Scialdone and Shaw both finding the back of the net. With 12 seconds remaining, junior Anna Bauter (Dexter, N.Y.) recorded her first goal of the year, breaking the back-and-forth action, and giving the River Hawks a 4-3 lead, their first of the day.
 
In the second quarter, the Pioneers recorded three consecutive goals over nine minutes to jump out to a 6-4 lead.  The score would remain untouched until Scialdone recorded her second goal of the day, this time with 12 seconds remaining in the half, cutting the Pioneers lead in half heading into the break.
 
Coming out of the half, a string of goals for Sacred Heart created a 9-5 lead with just under five minutes left in the period.  Junior Izzy Liquori (Agawam, Mass.) put an end to the Pioneers' scoring run as she snuck a shot past the goalie, reducing the lead to three. However, Sacred Heart quickly got one back, bringing it back to a four-goal advantage heading into the final quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the River Hawks found their footing offensively, as they maintained control of the ball for most of the period, outshooting the Pioneers eight to one. However, the River Hawks were only able to score once more for the remainder of the game.
 
The River Hawks will continue their road trip as they travel to Macon, Ga. to take on the Mercer Bears on Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m.