LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Bronwyn Hilbert (Lancaster, Pa.) tallied a game-high five points, as the UMass Lowell women's lacrosse team (6-10, 2-4 AE) fell in the season finale to the Vermont Catamounts (9-6, 5-1 AE), 14-12.

"I'm so proud of this group and how hard they competed today," said Head Coach Lisa Miller. "The best game we have played all season, disciplined, smart, and together. A special thank you to the senior class whose work ethic, will, independence, competitive mentality, and dry humor will be missed by me especially."

Hilbert, who finished with three goals and two assists, was one of six River Hawks to record at least one point in the contest. Senior Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) sat second with three goals and an assist for four points, while sophomore Georgia Ruscitti (Toronto, Ontario) added three goals. Senior Grace Lydon (Rowley, Mass.) added a goal and two assists, senior Kaitlynn Anderson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) chipped in with a goal and an assist, while redshirt freshman Chiara Pompei (Catonsville, Md.) rounded things out with a goal. In net, freshman Lauren Lorentzen (Carlsbad, Calif.) made seven saves.

The River Hawks were quick to strike, as Hilbert found the back of the net just under five minutes in to put her squad in front, 1-0. Moments later, the junior found Ruscitti, who immediately launched a shot past the keeper to double the team's lead. Although the visitors added their first goal of the day, Ruscitti answered immediately to keep the two-goal advantage. In the final five minutes, the Catamounts scored twice, but Ruscitti completed the hat trick to keep the River Hawks in front 4-3 through the first quarter.

The hosts continued the strong offensive start early in the second quarter, using a goal by Pompei to retake a multi-goal lead. Vermont refused to back down, though, scoring five straight to take the lead, 8-5. In the final moments of the half, Hilbert found Anderson, cutting the deficit to 8-6 heading into the break.

Coming out of halftime, the Catamounts picked up where they left off, scoring twice in a thirty-second period to extend their lead to 10-6. The hosts refused to back down, though, scoring three of the next four goals off the sticks of Lydon, Hilbert, and Shultz, to pull back within two, 11-9, with 3:47 on the clock. In the final minutes, Vermont scored twice to own a 13-9 advantage with 15 minutes to play.

In the final quarter, the visitors scored the first goal of the period just over two minutes in to take their largest lead of the day, 14-9. The River Hawks refused to back down, scoring three straight as they attempted to pull off the comeback, but the opposition locked in defensively, not allowing the hosts to score again, sealing the 14-12 decision.