River Hawks Face Hard-Fought, 4-3 Setback against Maine in OT

LOWELL, Massachusetts – Junior Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) scored late in the first to give the UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-5, 0-2) a two-goal lead at halftime, although the squad would eventually fall, 4-3, in overtime against America East Conference opponent Maine (10-2, 1-0) on Friday night.

"I thought overall it was a fantastic America East competition," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I was very happy with how we played in the first half, but we let them back into it in the second half, which seems to be a reoccurring theme with us, so we need to figure out those second-half details."

With tonight's goal, Cowderoy now leads her squad with 12 points on the year. Sophomore Christa Doiron (Worcester, Mass.) and senior Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) each tallied a goal in the outing, as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.) made four stops in 79:06 for the complete-game decision.

The River Hawks were first to attack, getting on the board less than three minutes into play, as Doiron gained control of a loose ball during a scramble in front of the cage before slotting it through the opposing keeper's pads to give the home squad an early, 1-0 edge.

UMass Lowell continued to control the momentum with three corner chances in the next 15 minutes, but Maine would knot the score at 1-1 when Casey Crowley lifted a follow-up attempt into the back of the net with 13:38 remaining in the first half.

The stalemate was short-lived, though, thanks to a deflection on goal by Freitas off of a pass by senior Jessica Walsh (North Easton, Mass.), putting the River Hawks back on top, 2-1, at 8:13. Cowderoy then added a goal of her own, breaking into the circle alone and beating the Black Bears' goalkeeper before tapping the ball into the empty net, making the score 3-1 in favor of the home squad at the half.

Following the break, the River Hawks outshot the Black Bears, 3-1, in the first 18 minutes of the second. However, Maine's Crowley would cut the deficit to just one on a shot into the right corner with 16:14 left to play before Katie Bingle converted on a corner less than six minutes later to score the equalizer and force overtime.

The teams battled for control in the extra period, combining for seven shots. The difference-maker came off the stick of Danielle Aviani, who dribbled into the circle alone and lifted a chip shot over the outstretched stick of Federico to seal the 4-3 outcome.

Friday's contest marked the eighth meeting between UMass Lowell and Maine in the sport of field hockey. The Black Bears now lead the all-time series, 6-1-1. The River Hawks are slated to travel to Vermont on Sunday, October 4 for a 1 p.m. tilt to kick off a three-game road swing.