LOWELL, Mass. – First-half goals from sophomores Isabelle Halters (Noordwijk, Netherlands) and Madison Leeper (East, Amherst, N.Y.) were all that the No. 17 UMass Lowell field hockey team (10-2, 3-0 AE) needed to defeat California (4-7, 1-3 AE), 2-1, in an America East Conference matchup on Friday at Wicked Blue Field.
 
For the first time all season, the River Hawks' victory came in comeback fashion, although the game-winner was still scored before halftime. The River Hawks have now set a new Division I program record with seven wins in a row, in addition to improving to a perfect, 8-0 at home so far.
 
"This was a tough one," said Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc. "I don't know if we played our best hockey of the season, but what I loved was the grit and character that we showed to hold onto the win."
 
With the decision, UMass Lowell has also secured its second, double-digit win season of the Division I era and has reached 10 wins faster than in any other DI season. This is also the team's second straight 3-0 start to conference play.
 
Freshman Karli Penrod (Seaford, Del.) and sophomore Meike Vischer (The Hague, Netherlands) each added an assist in the contest, while the duo of senior Christina Calandra (Manchester, Mass.) and freshman Marie Oliemans (Driebergen, Netherlands) combined for 10 saves in the cage for the win.
 
The Golden Bears were the first side to push the ball into their offensive end in the opening minutes of action. A spectacular diving save by Calandra helped to ward off three straight Cal corners, but the visitors would capitalize on a takeaway in just the fourth minute, as Holly Pears fired high into the net to put her team on top, 1-0.
 
However, the River Hawks worked to retaliate quickly, moving the ball down to the other end of the turf and earning a corner in the sixth minute. Penrod inserted the ball on that play towards Halters, who was breaking towards the wing to set herself up for a laser of a slapshot on target that would erase the difference.
 
The River Hawks then took the lead in the 18^th minute when Vischer slotted a pass all the way from midfield up to the circle for Leeper to collect on the run before beating the opposing keeper in a one-on-one finish.
 
Cal attacked once again to start the second half, but this time Oliemans came diving out of the cage to keep the visitors from getting a solid shot off. It was the home team, though, that controlled the momentum for the remainder of the third quarter, as the River Hawks kept play in their offensive end with a 7-1 shot advantage.
 
The home team battled to outlast their opposition through the fourth and final quarter. The defense never waivered despite five shots and a corner attempt, holding on for the 2-1 victory.
 
The River Hawks now close out the weekend with another home conference matchup against New Hampshire on Sunday, October 8 at 3 p.m.