Box Score
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LOWELL, Mass. - The UMass Lowell field hockey team (5-11, 0-4) faced a 6-0 setback against fellow America East Conference member, the University of New Hampshire (6-10, 3-1) on Friday evening at Wicked Blue Field in Lowell.
 
"We started off the game really strong in the first 15 minutes, but then the wheels came off the wagon and the scoreboard reflected that," said Head Coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "I didn't feel we suffered from falling behind so early, and think that even at 3-0, we could have still been in it had we popped one in. It's more or less the inconsistency of our play overall from game to game. We are capable of playing really good field hockey, we just haven't been able to show it over an extended period of time."
 
Although the Wildcats registered the first two shots of the night, UMass Lowell controlled the pace of play in the early part of the game. Sophomore Georgia Cowderoy (Ashmore, Queensland, Australia) fired two backhanded shots that sailed high in the sixth minute and junior Kelly Freitas (Manchester, N.H.) followed with a tip that rolled just wide to keep the game scoreless.
 
UNH logged an early goal to take the upper hand, as Meg Flatley sent a hard shot high into the net to make the score 1-0 with 27 minutes remaining in the first half. The visitors were then able to extend their margin less than four minutes later on a shot by Gianna Bensaia that was deflected up into the cage, making the score 2-0.
 
UMass Lowell answered with a strong corner opportunity that saw Freitas insert the ball to junior Marzana Fiedtkou (Georgetown, Guyana), who launched a shot that was knocked out of play by the opposing keeper.
 
After back-to-back shots by Cowderoy and junior Sophie Watt (Sawtell, Australia), the Wildcats pulled ahead, 3-0, with 15 minutes to play in the period when Flatley broke away from the pack and sent a pass ahead to Lynne Lehman, who was alone in the circle for the one-timer past freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Federico (Windham, N.H.). In the last two minutes of the half, New Hampshire converted on another penalty corner to take a 4-0 edge into the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, senior Carrie Dresser (Plaistow, N.H.) made a defensive save on the goal line, but the Wildcats scored on their next possession thanks to a backhanded shot by Kellie Joyce. Senior Bianca Jones (Watertown, Mass.) had an opportunity on a breakaway, going 1-on-1 with the UNH keeper, but her close-range shot was buried in the opposition's pads. Sophomore Katie Luchino (Freehold, N.J.) followed with a turn-around shot that resulted in a corner, however the squad was unable to capitalize.
 
The remainder of the game was primarily contained in the middle of the field with the River Hawks getting off just one more shot. As the final seconds ticked away, Taylor Scafidi took control of a loose ball and sent a shot on target to secure a 6-0 decision for the Wildcats.
 
Friday's contest marked just the second meeting ever between UMass Lowell and New Hampshire in the sport of field hockey. UNH now owns a 2-0 edge in the all-time series. The River Hawks will return to action on Sunday, October 26 when the team visits Providence of the Big East Conference for its last road game of the year beginning at 1 p.m.