Women's Soccer Defeats UMass Lowell, 2-0; Punches A Ticket To AE Playoffs

Thursday, October 23

Lowell, MA

7 pm

University of New Hampshire

6-8-2, 3-2-2

University of Massachusetts Lowell

5-11-1, 2-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
New Hampshire	1	1	2
UMass Lowell	0	0	0

Women's Soccer Defeats UMass Lowell, 2-0; Punches A Ticket To AE Playoffs

10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LOWELL, Mass. – Senior co-captain Meghan Ledwith (Yardley, Pa.) and freshman Brooke Murphy (Monson, Mass.) propelled the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over UMass Lowell on Thursday evening at Cushing Field Complex under rainy conditions.

The Wildcats improve to 6-8-2 on the year and 3-2-2 in America East while the River Hawks slip to 5-11-1 overall and 2-5-1 in the conference play.

New Hampshire will head to America East postseason play for the 13^th year with a pivotal win over UMass Lowell. The Wildcats are now 2-0-0 all time against the River Hawks.

All of New Hampshire's wins this season have been shutouts and the 'Cats are on a two game winning streak.

Sophomore netminder Mimi Borkan (Medfield, Mass.) garnered her sixth win and eighth clean sheet of the season as she posted six saves (five in the second half) in 90 minutes of action.

Both goalkeepers saw action in net for the River Hawks. Jill Carlson suffered the loss making three saves in 82 plus minutes of action and now holds a mark 3-8-1. Jill Hatzikonstantis played seven minutes and stopped two shots.

Murphy had an outstanding game as she led the Wildcats' offense with a goal and an assist. She chipped in four shots during the contest, two of which were on target. Murphy holds a team-best 52 shots.

Just eight minutes into the contest, Ledwith netted the first goal of the game on a perfect header into the back of the net off of a well developed corner kick from Murphy. The goal was also the first shot of the match. Ledwith posted her second goal of the season in the process and Murphy earned her first assist of the season as well as her career.

UNH senior Caroline Murray (New Canaan, Conn.) had another great outing in the field increasing her season shot total to 41 by mustering two shots in the game, all of which were on target. In the 39^th minute, she ripped a shot but Carlson was in position to make the save.

Sophomore Kelsey Pratt (Milford, Mass) took the Wildcats' sixth shot of the game at the 45^th minute but the River Hawks' netminder made the save.

New Hampshire outshot UMass Lowell 6-2 in the first half. Both squads had two corner kicks each.

To open up the second half at 55:59, Murphy scored her seventh goal of the season to give UNH a 2-0 edge. Senior co-captain Jenna Shaddock (Halifax, Nova Scotia) was credited with the assist (first of the season) as she earned a free kick and placed a great ball while Murphy was able to get in position to put a terrific header on target and past the goalkeeper.

The offense for the Wildcats continued to pick up. In the 61^st minute, they put two shots on net. Freshman Veronica Hardy (North Smithfield, R.I.) placed one of her two shots on target during the match.

In the 86^th, 88^th and 89^th minute the River Hawks did what they could to get back into the game but only one of those shots was on target as Borkan recorded her sixth save in the game.

UNH had most of the momentum throughout the game but UMass Lowell tried to get back into the thick of things with 11 shots in the second half. The 'Cats, however, played a great game from both sides of the field to earn their sixth win of the season.

New Hampshire posted 13 shots in the match while the opponent mustered 12. UMass Lowell earned five corner kicks while UNH claimed four.

Up next, the Wildcats take on Stony Brook at Bremner Field on Senior Day for the final regular season game of the year on Sunday, Oct 26 (2 p.m.).

For more information, check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media outlets: Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics), and Instagram (@UNHWildcats).