AMHERST, Mass. – Graduate student Taylor Burgess (Mendon, Mass.) made 10 saves on the day, matching her season high, as the UMass Lowell (1-5-2) women's soccer team fell at Massachusetts (5-2-1), 1-0, in the Kennedy Cup rivalry on Sunday afternoon at Rudd Field.

"Today was a positive performance and a good rebound after Thursday," said Head Coach Mira Novak. "We were focused on having a good start and were very pleased with how the team prepared themselves. We played against a tough opponent today. UMass Amherst has had a few great results and playing them at their place is always a great challenge. I felt that we dealt with it really well, especially in the first half. I liked our attitude, and I liked how we were able to execute our game plan today. Unfortunately, in the second half, we conceded a few more corner kicks than we wanted to and they capitalized on one."

UMass Amherst outshot UMass Lowell, 28-11. Senior Hope Santaniello (Agawam, Mass.), freshman Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.), freshman Mia Eva Girgis (Montreal, Quebec) and graduate student Calliste Brookshire (Kingston, Mass.) all ended the contest with two shots to pace the River Hawks.

UMass Lowell started off strong with Girgis ripping the first shot of the contest just right of the post in the first minute.

Rodgers, who played a career-high 77 minutes in the outing, followed, sending a shot high of the net in the 33rd minute with her right foot.

The River Hawks had three consecutive shots at the 39^th-minute mark. First, sophomore Luka Marceau (Newton, Mass.) was able to get the ball off her foot, but found the body of a Minutewomen. Junior Megan Banzi (Plymouth, Mass.) followed with an attempt of her own, although it ricocheted off the foot of a Massachusetts defender, and finally senior Lærke Niklasson (Roskilde, Denmark) took a dig at the ball, but her opportunity was blocked. 

Heading into the break, UMass Lowell and Massachusetts were tied, 0-0, with both teams going the length of the field with multiple opportunities.  

Massachusetts was quick from the jump in the second half with a goal scored by Karina Groff and an assist from Hannah Peric at the 51^st-minute mark.

With the River Hawks looking to answer back, senior Emma Mitchell (West Orange, N.J.) earned a free kick in the 59th minute, taken by Brookshire, who sent a ball on target, but it was picked up by the UMass Amherst keeper.

Up next, Brookshire escaped the Minutewomen on the right side of the box next to the sideline, blasting a shot that was blocked at the 61st-minute mark.
The River Hawks continued to pressure, but were unable to counter, ending the match in a 1-0 decision.

"One more game in non-conference for us next Saturday, so we have another week to prepare for that and then another week for conference play. I'm glad that the majority of the squad is healthy and excited about conference action approaching quickly," added Novak.

Next, the River Hawks face Dartmouth on September 21 with a 2 p.m. kickoff at Cushing Field, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Alumni Day.