LOWELL, Mass. – Senior Kate Miller (Cherry Hill, N.J.) knocked in the game's lone goal to help the UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-2, 1-0 AE) top Stanford (2-4, 0-1 AE), 1-0, in the 2022 America East Conference opener on Friday afternoon.
 
With the decision, the River Hawks remain undefeated at home, improving to 5-0 so far this year. This also marks the squad's second consecutive season with a win in the league opener.
 
"This was a fantastic field hockey game," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I thought we brought our best game to date. We knew Stanford was going to be a structured, great opponent. All the things that we've been working on since August 10, we put on the field today."
 
The first-quarter goal marked Miller's second tally of the season. Freshman Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) picked up the assist. Junior goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst (Bilthoven, Netherlands) led a stalwart River Hawk back line, making three saves in her 11^th career shutout.
 
The defense controlled play for the majority of the contest, but Stanford's Fenella Scutt registered the first shot on goal for either side in the ninth minute. However, Boekhorst made a sliding stop to keep the game scoreless.
 
The River Hawks jumped in front in the 10^th minute when Vischer sent in a ball from the 25-yard line that sped through traffic in front of the cage and found the stick of Miller, who redirected it past the Cardinal keeper.
 
The home team kept the pressure on, outshooting the visitors, 3-1, in the second quarter with three corners, but the score would remain 1-0 at the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, UMass Lowell and Stanford combined for three quick corners. In the 41^st minute, the Cardinal earned another opportunity for a set piece, as Cara Sambeth fired hard through the defense, but Boekhorst came up big once again, stretching her stick high to knock the ball away.
 
Boekhorst was tested one final time in the 53^rd minute on Stanford's final corner. This time, she batted a hard-hit ball down with her blocker to help the River Hawks hold on for the shutout victory.
 
The River Hawks will now wrap up their five-game homestand on Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. vs. UC Davis.