LOWELL, Mass. – Sophomore
Coco Clopton (Swampscott, Mass.) recorded the first multipoint game of her career, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (5-9) fell to the Dartmouth Big Green (7-6), 23-5, in the final nonconference game of the season.
Clopton, who finished with a goal and an assist, was one of seven River Hawks to tally at least one point in the contest. Sophomore
Sydney Correll (West Grove, Pa.) added two assists, while senior
Kaitlynn Anderson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and freshman
Ava Howell (Wellington, Fl.),
Ada Krupa (East Irondequoit, N.Y.), and
Leah Verespy (Perkasie, Pa.) all scored a goal. Rounding things out, sophomore
Gigi Gill (Brighton, Mich.) chipped in an assist.
The River Hawks started the game strong on the defensive end, holding the opposition scoreless for nearly three minutes, but the Big Green broke through, scoring with 12:19 on the clock. The visitors continued to put the pressure on UMass Lowell's defense, though, scoring four more goals to take a 5-0 lead just past the midway point of the first. The hosts answered back, capitalizing on a woman-up situation when Gill found Krupa in front of the net, who promptly fired her shot past the keeper to make it a four-goal game through one quarter.
In the second, the River Hawks offense started hot, using a goal by Anderson in a woman-up situation just over a minute in to make it a 5-2 game. Dartmouth responded with haste, scoring seven straight to take a 12-2 advantage with just under eight minutes on the clock. Although Howell added a goal moments later, three more by the Big Green made it 15-3 heading into the break.
Coming out of halftime, the hosts' defense stood strong, keeping the visitors from extending their lead for over four minutes. Although the opposition eventually added two more, Correll found Clopton for a quick goal before Verespy added one of her own to make it 17-5.
In the final quarter, Dartmouth added six goals, sealing the 23-5 decision.
Next up, the River Hawks return to America East action when they visit the New Hampshire Wildcats this Saturday, April 18. Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tucker Field in Durham, New Hampshire.