Sophomore Jennifer Foley scored her third goal of the year on the Skyhawks lone shot of the game five minutes into the contest. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Effertz leads River Hawks three goal outburst with goal and two assists
LOWELL, Mass. (October 24, 2012) – Third-seeded University of Massachusetts Lowell, ranked sixth in this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II poll, surged to a 3-1 triumph over sixth-seeded Stonehill College with three second half goals in first round action of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Field Hockey Tournament at Cushing Field tonight.
UMass Lowell (16-3, 8-2 NE-10), the two-time defending tournament champions, advances to Saturday's semifinal round, hosted by top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Merrimack College, where it will face second-seeded and No. 9-ranked Bentley University at 11 a.m. Fourth-seeded Adelphi University won today's other first round clash with a 4-3 victory over fifth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University on Long Island. Stonehill sees its season come to a close with a 9-10 record overall, 5-5 in NE-10 play, having qualified for the NE-10 Tournament for the 15th-straight year.
Junior Melissa Effertz (Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista) played a role in all three UMass Lowell goals in the rally with a goal and two assists. The River Hawks also got goals from junior Rachel McCarthy (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) and freshman Jenna Freitas (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) in the win.
Senior Kaitlyn Curtis posted eight saves in the Skyhawks goal. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Junior Melanie Hopkins (Harwich, Mass./Harwich) didn't record a save in the cage for UMass Lowell as the River Hawks were credited with a 23-1 advantage for shots in the contest. UML also racked up a 28-0 margin for penalty corners. Senior Kaitlyn Curtis (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) posted eight saves in goal for Stonehill.
Sophomore Jennifer Foley (Holden, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) scored a first half goal for Stonehill on its lone shot of the night. She struck for her third goal of the season just five minutes into the game as she finished a cross from senior Brittany Ford (Augusta, Maine/Cony) at the far post off a tip from freshman Erika Kelly (Watertown, Mass./Watertown).
Stonehill carried the one goal lead into halftime, but UMass Lowell equalized just 3:28 into the second half with Effertz's 14th goal of the year off a pass from senior Sarah Wilcox (Old Town, Maine/Old Town). Effertz then set up Freitas for her sixth goal of the year at 42:42 to put the River Hawks in front. McCarthy's 24th goal of the year, off a cross from Effertz, sealed the win with 7:04 remaining.
