LOWELL, Mass. – Senior Chloe Layne (Wrentham, Mass.) and freshman Luka Marceau (Newton, Mass.) found the back of the net to lead the UMass Lowell women's soccer team (1-3-4, 1-0-0 AE) to a 2-0 victory over the NJIT Highlanders (3-3-5, 0-1-1 AE) on Sunday afternoon.
 
The River Hawks outshot NJIT 14-4 with a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. Layne tallied her first goal of the year and Marceau scored her second of the season to give UMass Lowell the win. Junior Laura Cetina (Galicia, Spain) and senior Calliste Brookshire (Kingston, Mass.) each had three shots with one shot on goal.
 
Brookshire and junior Hope Santaniello (Agawam, Mass.) each tallied an assist while redshirt senior Taylor Burgess (Mendon, Mass.) made one save to earn her first clean sheet of the year.
 
UMass Lowell was in control for majority of the first half, attacking the left side of the field with Brookshire and Layne. The two had great linkup play on several occasions to put the visitors under early pressure. The first chance for the hosts came when freshman Franzisca Sinclair (Frankfurt, Germany) played a great ball into Cetina in the box in the sixth minute. The junior cut back and took a shot that curled wide of the post.
 
Just three minutes later the River Hawks broke through and took the lead. Brookshire played a ball into space for Layne who took a touch by the defender before firing a shot into the bottom far corner, giving UMass Lowell the early advantage.
 
The trio of Brookshire, Layne and Sinclair were in sync throughout the half, connecting passes to unlock the Highlanders' defense. The River Hawks enjoyed good possession and were able to move the ball through the midfield without much resistance. Switching the field and crisp passing forced the Highlanders to chase the game.
 
Chloe Layne had another chance in the 31^st minute, a left-footed shot that was saved after another good ball in behind the defense from Brookshire. UMass Lowell held onto the lead and took a one-goal edge into the halftime break.
 
After a slow first half, NJIT came out strong in the second half and immediately put the River Hawks under pressure. The defensive line stayed compact and communicated well to clear their lines and keep the hosts in front.
 
Despite an improved press, the Highlanders could not generate a real threat on goal and opened themselves up to a counterattack. In the 74^th minute, junior Emma Mitchell played the ball forward to Hope Santaniello, who touched the ball in behind to the oncoming Luka Marceau. The freshman took a touch around the goalkeeper and tucked the ball into the empty goal to double the UMass Lowell lead.
 
 
Taylor Burgess made her first save of the afternoon in the 78^th minute, pushing aside a bad angle shot from the Highlanders. UMass Lowell finished out the game strong and kept the clean sheet to earn a first win of the season and start the conference slate with a win.
 
Next up, the River Hawks visit New Hampshire for a Thursday night clash in Durham. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium.