ALBANY, N.Y. – With three goals, senior Molly Mariano led the No. 19 University at Albany field hockey team to a 5-1 triumph over UMass Lowell (8-10, 3-5 AE) Sunday afternoon at Alumni Turf. With the win, the Great Danes clinched the conference's East Division regular season title outright, while improving to 13-5 overall and 7-1 in the America East.
Prior to the start of today's final regular season clash, UAlbany honored its five-member senior class -- Paula Heuser, Jaclyn Hibbs, Molly Mariano, Maxi Primus and Taylor Schwoyer.
"It was a good game,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “Senior Day is a challenge since there is a lot going on, but I loved how the players came out to play. Our team passing was fantastic, and everyone contributed in a meaningful way."
"Thank you to women's soccer for coming out to support us,” added Sykes. “It was really cool to have them here, especially since they had a conference tournament game today."
UAlbany kept Lowell goalkeeper Kelsey Federico occupied throughout the contest, firing 38 shots, including 29 on goal. Meanwhile, the Great Danes held the River Hawks to just four total shots and three shots on goal. Federico played the full 70 minutes, allowing five goals, while making 22 saves. For the Danes, Primus held Lowell to one goal and made two saves in 54:50, while redshirt freshman Melissa Nealon kept the River Hawks at bay for the final 15:10.
UAlbany broke on the board at the 7:07 mark as Heuser dribbled along the baseline and found Mariano in front of the cage for a quick shot and score.
Mariano accounted for the Danes' second goal, as well, in the 31st minute, flipping a high shot over Federico on a pass from the end line by freshman Emily Fraser.
Just over two minutes later, the Great Danes took a 3-0 advantage when Heuser drilled a shot off a penalty corner to the back of the cage.
UMass Lowell scored its lone goal of the afternoon on a breakaway at the 34:26 mark. Christa Doiron pulled Primus out away from the goal and Anouk Lalande followed, knocking the ball into an open net.
However, that would be UMass Lowell's last score of the game, as Primus made a key save on a penalty stroke in the 51st minute.
Sophomore Frederike Helmke took advantage of her penalty stoke opportunity in the 52nd minute, making the score 4-1.
Mariano capped the contest with her third goal of the afternoon, putting away a diving cross pass from Heuser.
"It is cool to end that way on my last game on this field,” said Mariano of her hat trick. “It was a great team effort, and it gives us momentum moving forward into next week."
Up next, the Great Danes will travel to Stockton, Calif. to compete as the No. 1 seed in the America East Conference Tournament, starting Thursday, Nov. 3.
