Johnson Backstops UNH to 4-0 Win vs. UMass Lowell

Friday, October 25

Durham, N.H.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

(1-0, 1-0)

UMass Lowell

(8-7, 2-3)

UMass Lowell

New Hampshire

Photo by: Connor Herity

10/25/2024 7:08:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Freshman goalkeeper Abby Johnson (Walpole, Mass.) recorded six saves and a balanced Wildcats' offense led the University of New Hampshire field hockey team to Friday afternoon's 4-0 victory against UMass Lowell at Memorial Field.

Junior captains Tasmin Cookman (London, England) and Nicole Poulakis (Ajax, Ontario) as well as sophomores Kathelijne Knuttel (Groningen, Netherlands) and Carly Warms (Chicago, Ill.) each scored a goal.

Johnson made three of her six saves in the third quarter as she recorded her third shutout of the season.

UMass Lowell starting goalie Christina Calandra made four saves and allowed three goals. Marie Oliemans played the second half and stopped four of five shots on goal.

UNH improves to 8-8 overall and 4-1 in America East while UMass Lowell is not 8-7, 2-3.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats return to Memorial Field on Oct. 27 (1 p.m.) for Senior Day vs. Merrimack.
The 'Cats travel to the UMaine Field Hockey Complex in Orono, Maine on Nov 1 (3 p.m.) to close the regular season against UMaine in the annual Border Battle presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.

FIRST QUARTER

The 'Cats came out strong in the first four minutes of the first quarter and took a 1-0 lead with Knuttel's goal from the middle of the circle at 3:36. Faye Meijer (Purmerend, Netherlands) sent the ball down the middle to Knuttel and was credited with an assist.
The River Hawks attempted to level the score, but Johnson made an incredible pair of saves with a stop in front of the cage to deny Madison Leeper, and then she quickly spun into position and made a diving save at the left post to stop Mirthe Gans.
UNH kept the momentum going when Cookman extended the lead 2-0 in the 10^th minute by sweeping a one-timer in from the middle of the circle. Sophomore Addison MacNeil (Brentwood, N.H.) was credited with the assist with an entry from outside the top of the circle.
UMass Lowell recorded a 5-3 shot advantage in the first quarter but UNH had a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.

SECOND QUARTER

UNH continued to control play in the second quarter as Warms scored the first goal of her career to push the Wildcat lead to 3-0 at 22:50. Calandra stopped the initial shot by Knuttel, but Warms corralled the rebound on the left side and deposited the ball into the open cage.
Knuttel went on a breakaway with 40 seconds left on the clock, but her shot was saved Calandra.
UNH recorded a 5-1 shot advantage in the second quarter, as well as a 4-1 shots on goal advantage.

THIRD QUARTER

With 11 minutes left in the third quarter, the River Hawks earned a penalty corner but Maxine Van Havere was shut down by Johnson.
The River Hawks had a 6-4 edge in shots in the scoreless third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

UNH earned a penalty stroke in the 46^th minute and scored to make it a 4-0 game. Poulakis ripped a shot into the top left corner to score for the 'Cats at 45:35.
UMass Lowell was awarded a penalty corner in the 53^rd and 56^th minutes but was unable to generate a shot.

UNH NOTEBOOK

UNH has shut out each of the last two opponents and the 'Cats have a total of four shutouts this season.
Johnson extended her shutout streak to 119 minutes, 26 seconds.
Meijer has a team-high eight assists this season.
Warms scored the first goal of her career in the second quarter.
Knuttel has scored in 11 of 16 games this season.
Cookman has scored a goal in seven of the last eight games with nine goals and an assist in that span.
Poulakis has a goal in six of the last eight games. Four of her eight goals this season have been scored on penalty strokes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS