LOWELL, Mass. – Freshman Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.) scored on the final shootout attempt to lift the UMass Lowell field hockey team (6-2, 2-0 AE) to an exciting, 4-3 victory against America East Conference foe UC Davis (1-6, 0-2 AE) on Sunday.
 
Still tied at 3-3 after two, 7v7 overtime periods, the teams went to a best-of-five shootout with the Aggies up first. Freshman Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) converted on her attempt, forcing a tie that would stand until Leeper stepped up for the final chance. On that play, the rookie got locked up with the opposing keeper on her approach towards the cage, but managed to twist back in a full layout to guide the ball around and in for the game-winner.
 
With the decision, the River Hawks have won five in a row, good for their longest win streak at the Division I level. The team also moves to 6-0 at home this season, continuing to improve upon another D-I best.
 
"I saw two different teams today," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I saw the team I saw on Friday that was disciplined and structured that moved the ball and created a lot of opportunities, and then I saw a team that was undisciplined, unstructured and didn't take care of their opportunities, so it was quite a frustrating game. I think we built a lot of character today."
 
The River Hawks created an early edge with two, first-quarter goals. Sophomore Valerie Crory (Littleton, Mass.) struck first for the home team, finishing a loose ball that came bouncing through the defense in the ninth minute. Then, in the final minute of the period, the squad converted on a corner chance, as sophomore Maxine van Havere (Wilrijk, Belgium) fired from the top of the circle.
 
The Aggies cut into the difference in the 20^th minute when Brooke Sanchez set up near the post to redirect a pass from Milou Korthouwer on target. However, the River Hawks would regain a two-goal margin with just three minutes left in the half, thanks to freshman Isabelle Halters (Noordwijk, Netherlands), who controlled a rebound off the keeper's pads before following with the putback.
 
In the 38^th minute, the River Hawks had a numbers heading into the circle on a breakaway, but Crory was just shy of getting the final touch on a pass out wide. Late in the third, the home team had another chance to add an insurance goal with a good tip by senior Megan Salsinha that sailed just wide.
 
With less than five minutes on the clock in regulation, the Aggies scored back-to-back goals to draw the board even. Skylar Richards first knocked in an open look from beyond the stroke mark before Shannon Lackey redirected a ball on a corner chance to force overtime.
 
Junior goalkeeper Eleonore Boekhorst kept the game alive, turning away two strong shots on cage in the 77^th minute. The veteran keeper totaled four saves in the win.
 
The River Hawks continue conference play at New Hampshire on Sunday, September 25 with a 1 p.m. matchup.