Game Notes: Women's Lax Returns Home To Play UMass Lowell (March 26, 12 pm)

UNH Women's Lacrosse: GAME 10
UMass Lowell (1-7, 0-0 America East) at UNH (3-6, 0-0 America East)
Saturday, March 26 • Cowell Stadium • 12 p.m.
Video | Live Stats

THE MATCHUP
UNH and UMass Lowell will battle for just the second time when the teams clash this Saturday. The Wildcats prevailed 22-6 in last year's inaugural meeting at Cushing Field. UMass Lowell scored the first two goals of the game, but UNH closed the first half on a 15-0 run and extended the advantage to 17-2 less than three minutes into the second half. The margin was as much as 18 goals (21-3 with 14:22 remaining in the second half) before the River Hawks scored three consecutive goals to inch closer.

New Hampshire recorded substantial advantages in shots (42-14), draw controls (18-12) and ground balls (24-6) while committing fewer turnovers (11-18).

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
UNH has a 3-6 overall record that includes 2-2 at home. The Wildcats went 1-1 last week with a 9-7 win at Monmouth University (March 16) and 13-11 loss at Manhattan College (March 19).

The Wildcats are 2-3 in March and have alternated wins and losses the past three games.

The 'Cats play at Cowell Stadium for the first time since March 4. They played three consecutive games on the road between home games.

The past three games have been decided by a total of five goals. The 'Cats lost by one goal at Harvard (12-11 on March 12), then both of last week's games were decided by two goals.

New Hampshire is averaging 9.78 goals and 20.0 shots per game. The 'Cats have scored in double digits five times with a high of 16 in the March 2 win vs. Holy Cross. The opposition has averaged 11.33 goals and 25.3 shots per game.

In the first half, UNH has been outscored 55-39 and outshot 127-79. In comparison, the Wildcats have a 49-47 scoring edge in the second half and the shots are even at 101.

The opposition has recorded the shot advantage in 6 of 9 games, the edge in ground balls 6 of 9 games and more draw controls in 6 of 9 games. UNH has committed more turnovers in 7 of 9 games.

'CAT NIPS
Sophomore midfielder Carly Wooters recorded a career-high five points (three goals, two assists) and extended her goal streak to nine games at Manhattan College. She was also credited with three ground balls and a personal-best three caused turnovers vs. the Jaspers. Wooters leads the team in goals (15) and is third in points (18).

Senior attacker Nicole Grote matched her career high of four assists and also scored twice for a game-high six points at Manhattan. Grote is atop UNH's leaderboard in both assists (15) and points (25).

Junior midfielder Marissa Gurello matched her personal bests in both goals (three) and points (four) at Manhattan.

Senior attacker Laura McHoul has recorded at least one point all nine games this season. She ranks second in both assists (12) and points (22).

Sophomore attacker Krissy Schafer carries a seven-game goal streak into Saturday's game. She has scored a goal in 8 of 9 games this season with three multiple-goal efforts.

Junior attacker Devon Croke has scored a goal all six games she has played; she was a DNP the first three games of the season.

On the America East leaderboards, Grote (No. 4) and McHoul (No. 7) are among the assist leaders, while Wooters is No. 10 in goals per game. Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Clancy (Barrington, R.I.) is No. 2 in saves per game at 9.22.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED
New Hampshire scored two late goals to close within 13-11 with 1:40 remaining in regulation, but Manhattan College gained possession off the ensuing draw control to secure the victory at Gaelic Stadium last Saturday. The Jaspers scored the first two goals of the game and held a 4-1 lead en route to building a 9-5 halftime advantage. UNH closed within 11-9 at 11:03 of the second half before the home team extended the margin to four goals with 2:41 to play.

NO. 9 CLIMBS TO NO. 6
Laura McHoul climbed to No. 6 on UNH's career points leaderboard with her two-point effort at Manhattan on March 19. McHoul entered that game at No. 7 with 186 points but ended with 188, which moved her past Shaunna Kaplan (187).

Ahead of McHoul at No. 5 is Sarah Von Bargen (203).

McHoul enters Saturday's game with 74 goals and 114 assists for 188 points in 58 career games; those calculate to averages of 1.28 gpg, 1.97 apg and 3.24 ppg.

113 AND COUNTING
Laura McHoul entered the 2016 season already as UNH's record holder for career assists with 102; she supplanted Karen Geromini, who tallied 101 assists, as the record holder last season. McHoul recorded one assist last Saturday at Manhattan to increase her season total to 12 and career number to 114.

McHoul broke New Hampshire's single-season assist record with 39 in the 2014 season. She also holds No. 3 with 33 in 2013 and No. 5 with 30 in 2015.

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
Kate Clancy returns to reprise her role as starting goalkeeper. Through nine games, she has stopped 83 of 183 shots on goal for an 11.47 GAA and .454 save percentage.

Clancy made a career-high 13 saves March 5 vs. Fairfield. She had previously matched her career high of 12 saves in consecutive games at UMass (Feb. 20) and at Dartmouth (Feb. 23).

GET THE BALL
Junior defender Hope Kissick has led New Hampshire in ground balls four of nine games with a season high of four at Monmouth (March 16); she was also credited with two caused turnovers that game to match her season high. Kissick has also led the 'Cats in caused turnovers four times with a high of two vs. Holy Cross and Monmouth. Furthermore, Kissick has recorded the most draw controls twice.

Overall, Kissick leads UNH in both ground balls (18) and caused turnovers (eight), and she is second in draw controls (16).

AT THE HALF
New Hampshire has held the lead at halftime three times and has gone on to win two of those games. UNH is 1-5 when trailing at the half.

IT'S A DRAW
Devan Miller was in the center circle for UNH's draw controls against Holy Cross on March 2. The Wildcats won 18 of 23 draws (78.3%) with Miller gaining possession on 10 of them, and that is the highest total by any 'Cat since March 28, 2009, when Allie Duclos had 11 DCs.

Also of note, Miller recorded a game-high six draw controls at Harvard (March 12). She has a team-high 23 overall this season.

NINE IN A ROW
The Wildcats scored nine consecutive goals in the second half vs. Holy Cross (March 2) to extend their lead from 7-4 to 16-4. The run spanned 22 minutes, 12 seconds and is the longest stretch of consecutive goals by UNH this season.

NO GOAL FOR YOU
New Hampshire shut out Holy Cross for a stretch of 26 minutes, 22 seconds in the second half to mark the longest scoreless streak by an opponent this season. The 'Cats also held the Crusaders without a goal for 25:41 in the first half.

SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell opens America East play with an overall record of 1-7 and the River Hawks have lost four straight since recording the first win in program history, 12-8, vs. Siena College on March 2. Last time out, UML fell 12-11 at the hands of Stetson on March 18. The River Hawks erased a 9-7 halftime deficit by scoring three consecutive goals, and they took an 11-10 lead at 7:57 but Stetson leveled the score at 7:36 and scored what proved to be the last goal of the game at 4:02.

On the season, freshman Noelle Lambert leads the River Hawks in points with 13 (9g, 4a). Freshman midfielder Kelly Moran is tied for the team lead in goals with nine and also leads UML in draw controls with 21. Kristina Keith also has nine goals and an assist for 10 points, while Taylor Sokol has a team-high four assists and ranks second in points (12).

Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Barrett holds down the fort in net for the River Hawks. Barrett has started all eight contests with a save percentage of .473 and 12.28 GAA. Barrett leads America East in saves per game with 10.0, and she is atop the team leaderboard in both ground balls (39) and caused turnovers (eight).

As a team, UMass Lowell is averaging 6.88 goals and 19.6 shots while allowing 12.5 goals and 30.6 shots per game. The River Hawks are first in the America East in saves per game with 10.5 and second in ground balls per game with 15.88.

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