Bensaia, Sutherland Score in 2-1 Win vs. UMass Lowell

Sunday, October 23

Durham, NH

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

(6-10, 4-3AE)

University of Massachusetts Lowell

(7-9, 2-4AE)

UMass Lowell

New Hampshire

Photo by: Paige O'Donnell

10/23/2016 5:54:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Video Highlights

DURHAM, N.H. – Gianna Bensaia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and Aggie Sutherland (Dauphin, Pa.) both scored a goal to lift the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Sunday afternoon's 2-1 victory against UMass Lowell at Memorial Field.

UNH extended its win streak to three games and took one step closer to securing the America East East Division third seed by improving to 6-10 overall and 4-3 in the conference. UMass Lowell, which won by the same score on its home field earlier this month, is now 7-9, 2-4.

The Wildcats recorded sizable advantages in both shots (22-7) and penalty corners (7-1).

GAME INFO
Date: October 23, 2016
Location: Memorial Field (Durham, N.H.)
Attendance: 149
Score: UNH 2, UMass Lowell 1
Updated Records: UNH (5-10, 3-3 America East), UMass Lowell (7-9, 0-5 America East

NEXT GAME: Friday, Oct.28 at Maine, 3 pm
NEXT HOME GAME: Sunday, Oct. 30 vs. Dartmouth, 2 pm [Senior Day]

Game Recap

Bensaia's first goal of the season gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 6:13 when, from the middle of the circle, she redirected the entry pass from the 25 by Ashley Mendonca (Brampton, Ontario) into the cage.
UNH almost extended the advantage to two goals in the 12^th minute but Jessica Schmidt (Warrington, Pa.) was denied by River Hawks' goali Eva Berkhout and, off the rebound, Taylor Scafidi (Waltham, Mass.) fired a shot toward the right side of the cage that Allyssa Moser knocked away from the goal mouth.
Berkhout was injured one minute later while sliding into position to make a save at the left post. Kelsey Federico entered the game at 13:02 and went the rest of the way.
Federico kept UML's deficit at 1-0 in the 27^th minute when she turned away Bensaia's initial shot as well as Tiana Morin (Barre, Mass.) off the rebound.
One minute later, the 'Cats once again generated pressure in the circle but Federico stopped back-to-back shots by Schmidt and Nicky Bajus (Lions Bay, British Columbia).
At halftime, UNH led in goals (1-0), shots (10-4) and corners (2-0).
The River Hawks leveled the score, 1-1, at 41:15. Charging down the middle of the field, Anouk Lalande struck an entry pass that Kristin Aveni shoveled high under the crossbar.
UNH generated a corner in the 50^th minutes and Bajus' blast to the left side was blocked aside by Federico. Two minutes later, the battery once again set up a direct shot by Bajus, and once again Federico moved into position for the save.
UNH converted a corner into a 2-1 lead at 57:52. The initial shot by Lindsey Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) was blocked in front, but the ball trickled toward the left post. Sutherland, who inititated the corner with the insert, was in position to jam the ball into the cage for her second goal of the season.
UMass Lowell had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 63^rd minute when a UNH turnover in its defensive zone led to a 2-on-1 scoring chance. Christa Doiron collected the centering pass but Rudert, charging from the goal line, made the save to preserve the Widcats' 2-1 lead.
The 'Cats called time out at 64:11 and did not allow a shot the rest of the way to secure the victory.
UNH goalie Kesley Rudert (North Grafton, Mass.) made three saves.
Federico, who stopped 10 of 11 shots on goal in 56:58 of relief action, was charged with the loss. Berkhout made two saves and allowed one goal before exiting the game.

UNH NOTEBOOK

This is New Hampshire's longest win streak since October 2014.
UNH limited UMass Lowell to seven shots to mark the second consecutive game the opponent was held to single digits in shots.
The Wildcats allowed just one penalty corner for the second consecutive game.
Each of the last four games in this series has been decided by one goal, including one in OT.

'CAT NIPS

Bensaia extended her point streak to five games. She has one goal and six assists for eight points.
Mendonca extended her point streak to four games. She has four goals and two assists for 10 points.
During the win streak, Rudert has lowered her GAA from 2.92 to 2.56.

SHOTS: UNH 14-9–23. UML 2-7–9.

PENALTY CORNERS: UNH 3-5–8. UML 1-0–1.

GOALS
UNH (2): Gianna Bensaia, Aggie Sutherland
UML (1): Kristin Aveni

ASSISTS
UNH (1): Ashley Mendonca
UML (1): Anouk Lalande