Second Half Rally Gives Field Hockey 2-1 Win at UMass Lowell

LOWELL, Mass. – University of Massachusetts freshman Bella Ianni broke a 1-1 tie in the 50th minute and the Minutewomen held on for a 2-1 victory over UMass Lowell at Wicked Blue Field on Tuesday night. The Maroon and White are now 9-8 and the River Hawks drops to 7-9 on the season.

The result goes into the win column for the Flagship campus in the year-long Kennedy Cup, an annual competition in all sports between both institutions. The Kennedy Cup is named in honor of alumnus John F. Kennedy, who graduated both campuses and is a generous supporter of each. In field hockey, the Minutewomen have won all seven matchups since UMass Lowell elevated to Division I in 2013.

UMass Lowell took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on Jenna Berger's fourth goal of the season, a one-time feed from Sofie Knook.

After halftime Massachusetts equalized on the stick of junior Lucy Cooper. Following a penalty corner insert by Cooper, sophomore Katherine Furry had a reverse-stick shot broken up before the carom came to Cooper on the far post. It was her sixth goal and marked the seventh time recording a point in UMass' last eight games.

34' | UMASS GOALLLLLL!!!!!!

Lucy Cooper puts it away on the far post and we're even at one-apiece!#RollUMass | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/65IDmxSFHt
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 29, 2019

Ianni's game-winner unfolded out of junior Georgie McTear's entry into the attacking third. McTear sent a pass toward freshman Emily Crawford in the circle, then Crawford jammed the ball on goal and the rebound came to Ianni on the doorstep who slipped the ball through River Hawks goalkeeper Eva Berkhout. The freshman now has four game-winning goals, including two in the last five days.

50' | UMASS GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Bella Ianni follows Emily Crawford on the rebound...2-1 #Flagship??!#RollUMass pic.twitter.com/gCEo7t2Ffm
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 29, 2019

A solid performance in the cage by junior goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder preserved the Minutewomen victory. That, coupled with a lockdown effort by the Massachusetts defense was instrumental in carrying the 2-1 lead as the final minutes of regulation ticked away.

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van Tonder with a huge save to keep the score tied at 1-1

37th minute#RollUMass | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/ksutIi8CfV
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 29, 2019

Massachusetts returns to the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex and concludes the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule on Fri., Nov. 1, hosting VCU in another critical matchup that begins at 3 p.m.

For the latest news and updates around UMass field hockey, follow the team on Facebook (UMass Field Hockey), Twitter (@UMassFH) and Instagram (@UMassFieldHockey).

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