Sept. 20, 2008

LOWELL, MA – Sophomores Brianne Bozzella (Wilmington, MA) and Ella Merullo (Wakefield, MA) scored goals in either half as UMass Lowell defeated Le Moyne College, 2-0, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer clash at Cushing Field. The victory was the second straight shutout for the River Hawks, who improved to 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-2 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s home tilt against Saint Anselm (7:00). Le Moyne slipped to 4-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the Conference and visits Southern Connecticut Tuesday (7:00). Junior G Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA) preserved the shutout with five saves and increased her career mark to 19, a perpetual school record. The River Hawks outshot Le Moyne 13-11 overall and 9-5 on target. Senior G Amanda Abbatiello (Liverpool, NY) stopped seven shots for the Dolphins. UMass Lowell opened the scoring in the fifth minute when freshman M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, MA) steered an inswinging corner kick from the left side which Bozzella headed inside the far post. Bissaillon nearly made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, but her attempt from the top of the 18-yard box grazed the crossbar. Le Moyne nearly leveled in the 48th minute when junior F Christina Harrison (Jamesville, NY) picked up a loose ball at the top of the box, but her shot sailed just over the bar. The River Hawks doubled their lead in the 57th when senior M Margaret Gonsalves (Fall River, MA) played a ball to Merullo at the top left corner of the box, which she deftly bent into the top right corner of the goal. The Dolphins had a golden chance to cut the lead in half in the 67th when Harrison’s header off a free kick by sophomore D Jillian Tolman (Poughkeepsie, NY) rattled the bar and was cleared by the defense.

UMass Lowell 2, Le Moyne 0
At Lowell, MA

Goalkeepers
Jamie Gillis (UML): 5 saves, 90:00
Amanda Abbatiello (LEM): 7 saves, 90:00