LOWELL, Mass. – Molly Mariano netted her first career hat trick as the #17 UAlbany field hockey team took down UMass Lowell 4-0 on the road to earn a sweep in the first half of America East play.
UAlbany (10-4, 4-0 AE) scored two goals in each half and shut out UMass Lowell (6-7, 2-2 AE) for the team's sixth consecutive victory. UAlbany has allowed one goal or less in each of its last five games.
“We had a good win today over a tough, physical team in UMass Lowell,” said UAlbany coach Phil Sykes, who earned his 175th victory at UAlbany today.
With their 10th victory of the season, UAlbany has earned double digit victories for the 11th consecutive year.
Mariano netted the first goal of the game in the sixth minute then two in the second half. Alyssa Curtis had the team's goal in the 31st minute. Maxi Primus earned the victory in goal with five saves in 67:42 of play, with Melissa Nealon contributing with 2:18 of shutout play.
“It was great to come away with another conference win; road games are always tough,” said Mariano. “It's conference time, and we are very focused on trying to play better and better each game.”
Torrie Huk and Morgan Irons each had two shots for UMass Lowell. Eva Berkhout played all 70 minutes in goal, getting the loss with 11 saves.
In the sixth minute after the Great Danes stole a pass, Jaclyn Hibbs got the ball down the end line close to the cage. She drew the keeper and passed off to Mariano for the first touch and score, putting the Great Danes up 1-0.
Anna Bottino led the attack in the 12th minute near the cage, having two shots blocks. UAlbany drew a penalty corner and fired three times at the cage, with two being saved and the final being blocked. A final attempt by Dana Bozek missed high.
Primus stonewalled the River Hawks in the 18th minute, stopping two shots on goal.
UAlbany continued to get opportunities on UMass Lowell, but Berkhout kept making saves. Paula Heuser, Hibbs and Bottino each put attempts on cage as the first half continued, all being stopped.
On a counter attack sparked from Primus stopping a shot, Heuser came down the field and next to the end line. Her pass was deflected by the keeper to Curtis, who punched the ball inside the left post and in for a 2-0 UAlbany advantage in the 31st minute. UAlbany led by two at the half.
Heuser struck twice at the cage in the early minutes of the second half, each being saved by Berkhout.
In minute 44, Mariano added her second goal of the match off a pass from Megan Ma, scored on a high arc shot inside the left post for a 3-0 lead.
UAlbany added another minutes later after drawing a penalty corner off a counter. Viola von der Mühlen got the pass to Mariano in front of the cage for the tip-in goal for her second, putting the Great Danes up 4-0.
The UAlbany defense stopped UML's final two chances off a penalty corner and towards the end of the game. UAlbany held the shutout and won 4-0.
UAlbany returns home to begin the second half of America East play, hosting New Hampshire on Sunday, October 16th at 1 p.m. on the Alumni Turf.
