Minutewomen Retain Kennedy Cup With 8-0 Win

LOWELL, Massachusetts - University of Massachusetts field hockey combined a stalwart defensive effort with overwhelming offense for an 8-0 victory at UMass Lowell's Cushing Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. The triumph secured the Minutewomen the Kennedy Cup for the fourth consecutive season in as many years of the newly-minted rivalry between the programs.

Melanie Kreusch and Nicole Kuerzi scored twice each in the win while Izzie Delario had a team-high five points (one goal, three assists). Celina Hocks scored once and dished out two assists while Cliodhna Loughlin set up three UMass tallies. Sarah Hawkshaw and Nicole Miller also converted once each while Katie Clark collected her first collegiate point with an assist. Emily Hazard turned aside the two UMass Lowell on-target attempts for her first individual shutout as a Minutewoman.

The Kennedy Cup is named in honor of University of Massachusetts and UMass-Lowell alumnus, John F. Kennedy, who is a strong supporter and graduate of both institutions. The University of Massachusetts improved to 2-2 overall while UMass Lowell dropped to 1-2.

The Maroon and White needed less than 13 minutes to seize a three-goal lead as Nicole Miller and Sarah Hawkshaw scored back-to-back before Kuerzi finished off Clark's pass 12 minutes, 18 seconds into the game. Delario added the fourth UMass tally at 23:15 on a penalty corner deflection at the left post. Kreusch padded the lead to 5-0 after the first half whistle on her first of two penalty corner goals.

Following the break, Kreusch recommenced scoring on a direct corner via a Loughlin stop and Delario insert in the 41st minute of the game. The contest settled into a possession battle following Kruesch's second conversion before a pair of late tallies pushed the advantage to 8-0.

In the 68th minute, Kuerzi deflected a pass from Delario into the bottom left corner of the cage for her second score. It marked Kuerzi's first collegiate multi-goal performance and gave her three tallies in 2016, matching her total output from a year ago. Hocks added the last UMass strike with 12 seconds to play in the game on the last of the Minutewomen's 10 penalty corners.

Massachusetts outshot UMass Lowell, 26-4, which included 16-2 lead in on-target attempts. Penalty corners also heavily favored the visitors, 10-2. River Hawks starting goalkeeper Kelsey Federico gave up five goals against two saves made. Eva Berkhout relieved Federico at halftime and finished with seven saves against three tallies allowed during the final 35 minutes.

The eight goals scored marked the most since a 9-1 win over Saint Joseph's on Oct. 20, 2013.

The Maroon and White start a four-game homestand with a Fri., Sept. 9 tilt against Connecticut at 4 p.m. Admission is free to all home games at the Gladchuk Sports Complex.

Follow the Minutewomen throughout the season on Twitter (@UMassFH) and Instagram (umassfieldhockey).

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Izzie Delario

Melanie Kreusch

Nicole Kuerzi

Celina Hocks

Players Mentioned

Katie Clark

Izzie Delario

Sarah Hawkshaw

Emily Hazard

Celina Hocks

Melanie Kreusch

Nicole Kuerzi

Cliodhna Loughlin

Nicole Miller

Players Mentioned

Katie Clark

Izzie Delario

Sarah Hawkshaw

Emily Hazard

Celina Hocks

Melanie Kreusch

Nicole Kuerzi

Cliodhna Loughlin

Nicole Miller

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics