LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Bronwyn Hilbert (Lancaster, Pa.) finished with a team-high five goals, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (4-5) earned a dominant, 15-6 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-8) on Tuesday night at Cushing Field.

"I thought we started well," said Head Coach Lisa Miller. "We started quickly, thought we did a good job on the draw control early, and buried some shots early to get the lead, which was fairly comfortable, so we could work some younger kids in. We did a nice job of executing the gameplan."

Hilbert, who totaled three goals and two assists in the contest, was one of nine River Hawks to record at least a point in the contest. Senior Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) added three goals and an assist, while freshman Brienne Brezynskie (Elmira, Ontario) added a hat trick as well. Senior Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) finished with two goals, redshirt freshman Chiara Pompei (Catonsville, Md.) tallied a goal and an assist, senior Kaitlynn Anderson (Winnipeg, Manitoba), and sophomores Georgia Ruscitti (Toronto, Ontario) and Coco Clopton (Swampscott, Mass.) scored a goal each, while sophomore Gigi Gill (Brighton, Mich.) chipped in with an assist.

The game started with both sides emphasizing defense, as neither team could find the back of the net for over seven minutes. The River Hawks, however, broke the scoring drought at 8:42, as Lydon laced one past the keeper before Shultz scored 19 seconds later, giving UMass Lowell a 2-0 lead. UMass Lowell didn't stop there, as Shultz added her second goal of the game moments later, before Hilbert and Pompei each scored in the final two minutes, giving the hosts a commanding 5-0 lead after one.

The River Hawks continued to dominate in the second quarter, as it took only nine seconds for Brezynskie to score her first goal of the game, extending the lead to six. Later, with just under 12 minutes on the clock, Hilbert scored again, before Shultz completed her hat trick 30 seconds later, while Brezynskie added another at 9:22 to make it a nine-goal game. Meanwhile, the defense continued to shut down the Chippewas, and despite the opposition scoring their first goal of the game with 3:23 left in the half, Lydon connected on a free position shot in the final minute, giving her squad a 10-1 lead at the break.

In the third, UMass Lowell continued to put up an impressive performance on the offensive end, this time with Anderson joining in on the scoring, catching a pass from Hilbert from behind the net before ripping a shot past the keeper to extend the lead. Continuing to maintain possession, the River Hawks added their 12^th goal nearly five minutes later, this time by Brezynskie to complete her hat trick. Although Central Michigan scored with 3:31 on the clock, Hilbert added her third goal of the evening at 1:36, putting the hosts in front 13-2 with one quarter remaining.

In the fourth, Central Michigan attempted to pull off a comeback by scoring four goals, but Ruscitti and Clopton each added a goal, sealing the 15-6 victory.

Next up, the River Hawks return to action this Saturday, March 21, when they visit the UAlbany Great Danes to open conference play. Opening draw is scheduled for noon at John Fallon Field in Albany, New York.