LOWELL, Mass. – After battling through 110 minutes of scoreless action, the No. 3 seeded UMass Lowell women's soccer team (6-5-6) fell, 4-3, in a shootout against No. 6 Bryant (5-4-8) in the America East Championship quarterfinals on Sunday at Cushing Field.

Tied at 0-0 through two overtimes, the teams began a shootout and each converted on their first two attempts with seniors Sophie St. George (Walpole, Mass.) and Kirti Craig (Spotswood, N.J.) connecting for the River Hawks. Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Welch (Franklin, Mass.) stopped the next two attempts she faced, as the teams remained tied, 2-2. Sophomore Nuala Rodgers (Dedham, Mass.) then stepped up to the box on the fifth shot, netting UMass Lowell's third goal to put her side on top, but the Bulldogs once again tied it up, 3-3. The River Hawks were unable to convert in the next round before Bryant's Madison Luke posted the game-winning goal to help her side advance. 

"Every loss is going to be a tough one, and I think this is technically not a loss because we tied and went into penalty kicks," said Head Coach Mira Novak. "It's hard to take, a typical playoff game. I think both teams are afraid to open up, and afraid to make a mistake, but you can see throughout the game the momentum swung both ways. Towards the end and then overtime we probably had more possession, and were a little bit more proactive, but just couldn't create a chance. Then there's a deciding factor when you go into a shootout, it's a question of one shot, hit or miss, and unfortunately we were on the bad side of it today."

The Bulldogs took a slight, 23-19 shot advantage over the River Hawks, with a 7-5 edge in corners, as well. Welch (Franklin, Mass.) registered four saves in the match. Redshirt-freshman Nina Hertz-Saebbö (Gothenburg, Sweden) and freshman Emma Theorén (Sollentuna, Vällingby) each struck three shots in the game, while freshman Anneliese Collin (Portland, Me.), sophomore Mia Eva Girgis (Montreal, Quebec), junior Marissa Sage (Milford, N.H.) and freshman Nora Belin (Stockholm, Sweden) all took two shots each.  

The game began with back-and-forth defense on either side, as Bryant earned a good attempt on net after a corner in the 10th minute, but senior Megan Banzi (Plymouth, Mass.) was in front to block the shot. Hertz-Saebbö located Theorén in the box minutes later, as the midfielder headed in a shot on goal, but the Bulldogs' keeper was there to make the save.

Belin came down to the offensive zone in the 18th minute, striking a forceful shot, but it flew just left. The River Hawks offered three shots within seconds of each other, but Bryant's defense stuck together to make several stops, with the score remaining 0-0 nearing the 20 minute mark. Banzi once again hustling on the defensive end, stopped another shot from reaching the goal with a big block in the 37th minute to head into the break even at 0-0. 

The River Hawks started the second half strong, with senior Hilary Jaén (Las Margaritas, Panama) seeing a chance on goal after senior Maddie Guthrie (Stow, Mass.) curled in the ball off a corner. Making connection on the ball, Jaén headed it, smacking off of the crossbar for a near goal in the 52nd minute. The Bulldogs looked to respond after a few opportunities on net, but Welch stood her ground, collecting two saves around the 60-minute mark. 

An amazing chance on net in the 64th minute was struck by sophomore Gaby Eckroth (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), but the shot went right of the post. The defense for the River Hawks was consistent, making it hard for the Bulldogs up to this point, leaving the score at 0-0 with 15 minutes to go in regulation.    

Girgis ripped a nice shot on net in the 87th minute for UMass Lowell, but could not take advantage as the Bulldogs locked in with only a few minutes left. The River Hawks saw one final chance in regulation during the 89th minute when Rodgers located Hertz-Saebbö in the box, as the forward chipped a shot on goal that went right over the crossbar before the time ran out.

The River Hawks entered extra time firing three shots total throughout the first overtime, as Belin saw a good look on net in the 99th minute after a strong strike, but it barely missed by the left post, sending it to the second overtime. UMass Lowell took one shot on goal in the next 10 minutes, with the Bulldogs logging four attempts total, but the River Hawks' defense never lost focus, forcing the shootout after 110 minutes of action. 

The River Hawks close the 2025 campaign with a 6-5-6 overall record.