Alice Van Hemelen scored a game winning goal with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday afternoon, in leading UMass-Lowell to a 3-2 America East victory over Maine at the UMaine Field Hockey Complex in Orono. It was the Black Bears regular season home finale.
The teams traded goals in the first half as Karli Penrod scored for the Riverhawks in the opening quarter, before Zoe Furber struck back for the Black Bears in the second. It remained tied until early in the fourth quarter, and that is when Saylor Kuefler put the hosts ahead for the only time off an assist from Furber. It took Lowell just 1:52 to tie it on a second tally of the match by Penrod. The winner by Van Hemelen came at 57:13 off an assist from Rena Pistilli. Maine had three penalty corner opportunities in the final 1:25, including one with 15 seconds remaining but were unable to find the equalizer. Rozarie Mrazova made eight saves in net in the loss, while Veerle Mous also made eight in the win for UMass-Lowell. The Riverhawks improve to 8-7 and 3-1 in America East. The Black Bears fall to 5-10 and 1-3 in conference play, and will finish the regular on the road with a non-conference game at Holy Cross on Sunday and a league game at Vermont next Thursday.
Photo courtesy of UMaine Athletics
