STORRS, Conn. – Junior goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) logged nine saves, as the UMass Lowell field hockey team (0-1) faced a 2-0 setback at No. 15 Connecticut in the 2022 season opener.
 
The game went into a lightning delay with seven minutes remaining in regulation before being officially called due to the storm in the area.
 
"We played with great intent in the first quarter, but intentions don't score goals against the 15^th-ranked team," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I thought we made some necessary adjustments at half time and created some great opportunities in the third and fourth quarters until Mother Nature, for the third time in five years, had other ideas for us. We know we have better hockey ahead of us and are looking forward to showing that on Sunday."
 
Graduate student Hannah Keefe (Westford, Mass.) led the River Hawks with two shots on the day, including one on goal. The Huskies' Cheyenne Sprecher registered three stops to secure the win for the home team.
 
The River Hawk defense controlled the first quarter of action. Although the Huskies managed to keep possession in their offensive half for the majority of the first 15 minutes, the back line held solid, led by Boekhorst and a great sliding save.
 
However, the hosts broke open the scoring in the 17^th minute, as a long pass into the circle ricocheted off Boekhorst's pads before McKenna Sergi knocked in the loose ball to put UConn ahead, 1-0.
 
The Huskies continued to attack with back-to-back corners, but Boekhorst came up with a pair of stops on the second attempt. Freshman Isabelle Halters (Noordwijk, Netherlands) then recorded the River Hawks' first chance with a reverse flick that went wide.  
 
Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks went on the offensive with a shot on target by senior Berbel Rozema (Rotterdam, Netherlands), but Sprecher was able to knock it away.
 
Keefe also added a pair of chances in the third. On the other end of the turf, Boekhorst fended off three more UConn chances and two corners in the quarter. The Huskies would make it 2-0 in the 43^rd minute when they used a set piece to get a pass to Jasmijn Damman near the post for the finish.
 
Despite five UConn corners, including four in a row, in the fourth, the River Hawk defense did not relent. UMass Lowell earned a corner of its own, their first of the season, in the 52^nd minute, but the team was unable to convert, keeping the score at 2-0 heading into the stoppage.
 
The River Hawks will host LIU in their home opener on Sunday, August 28 at 1 p.m.