LOWELL, Mass. – Three different goal scorers were featured in a 3-2, Senior Day victory for the No. 18 ranked UMass Lowell field hockey team (9-2) against non-conference opponent Bucknell (5-7) on Sunday at Wicked Blue Field.
 
The River Hawks have now won six games in a row to tie the Division I program record. The team also improves to an incredible, 7-0 at home in 2023 with its first victory over the Bison.
 
"I call this a character-building win," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I thought Bucknell came in and did a fantastic job in scouting us, and knew our strengths. Overall, though, I thought we played with good tempo, we had some confidence. I would like a couple more outcomes for all that we created, but obviously, we got the three that mattered and that's what's most important."
 
Senior Alissia de Vries (The Hague, Netherlands), along with sophomores Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) and Madison Leeper (East Amherst, N.Y.) each tallied a goal in the decision. Senior Aurise Tattrie (Watertown, Mass.) and freshman Karli Penrod (Seaford, Del.) added one assist apiece, as well. In the cage, senior Christina Calandra (Manchester, Mass.) logged the lone save for her side in the first half, while freshman Marie Oliemans (Driebergen, Netherlands) came on in the second half to close out the win and improve to 5-0 this season.
 
Both sides worked to find their footing and gain the momentum in the first quarter with the River Hawks jumping out to a 3-1 shot advantage. The home team's first good scoring opportunity of the contest came in the 14^th minute, as Vischer sent a ball into a diving Bucknell goalkeeper.
 
However, the home team was able to convert on its first corner chance of the day in the 25^th minute when Penrod inserted a ball to a waiting Tattrie, who stopped it cleanly to set up the sweeping finish from de Vries, giving UMass Lowell a 1-0 edge.
 
The Bison would respond just over two minutes later, though, on an unassisted goal by Zoe Carlson-Pietraszek to force a 1-1 stalemate heading into the break.
 
The scoreboard was not even for long after the break, as Vischer battled to collect her own rebound and send it back high into the net over the outstretched keeper's stick, giving her team the upper hand once again at 2-1.
 
Later in the third quarter, Leeper's pressing forced a turnover that she turned into a goal to add what would become the decision maker.
 
The Bison continued to battle back and made it a one-goal game inside of the final four minutes off the stick of Gianna Puorro, but the River Hawks held on to run out the clock and seal the 3-2 decision.
 
The River Hawks get back to America East Conference action on Friday, Oct. 6 when they host California at 3 p.m.