The Delaware State Hornets edged the UMass Lowell River Hawk’s women’s soccer team Friday night at Cushing Field by a final score of 2-1. The large and “rowdy” crowd remained supportive for their fallen team.
“I think that they [the team] feel like they let one get away,” said second year coach Joel Bancroft.
The River Hawks certainly feel as though they were robbed of at least a draw in this one. A strike from the blue line with about 3:50 left in regulation shot off the crossbar and rocketed straight down on the goal line. The ball seemed to at least partly cross the line, but it was nonetheless hurriedly played out by Delaware State defenders. UMass Lowell forwards pounced on the loose ball and definitively scored what was believed to be the 2-2 equalizer.
Unfortunately, after the UMass Lowell fan section had finished cheering, they were informed that a controversial foul had been committed by their team near the net, and the goal was disallowed.
The home team had their fair share of opportunities, outshooting Delaware State 13 shots on goal (SOG) to the Hornets’ four.
The River Hawks applied good early pressure which resulted in five shots on goal in the first half. Sophomore forward Shannon Groiffie blasted a strike off the crossbar with 28:30 left to play in the half, which was one of the many memorable SOG of the night
Finally, the River Hawks found the back of the net thanks to the foot of sophomore midfielder Rachel Morrier. The goal came off of a free kick from the blue line that bounced of multiple Hornet defender’s and eventually found Morrier in front of the net. Morrier rocketed the ball, positioned about waist-high, past Delaware State goalkeeper Michele Lammers with 23:21 left in the first half.
The River Hawk’s lead was short-lived, however, as Hornet Samantha Bahr scored her first goal of the season just eight minutes later. The equalizer came off of a cross from teammate Ayanna Smith that Bahr was able to corral and shoot into the lower right corner of the goal past UMass Lowell’s freshman keeper Julia Schnieder.
Delaware State then broke open the game only six minutes into the second half. Hornet freshman Taylor Love played the ball off of a couple UMass Lowell defensive miscues from a free kick, and she was able to find the back of the net with a strike. The free kick came from what turned out to be a costly foul.
“It’s a set piece from about half, and I thought that the whole game we were troubled with our marks,” said Bancroft on his team’s defensive approach on Delaware’s second goal. “If you don’t give up the foul, then you don’t have to defend the set piece.”
Despite the loss, the River Hawks made their fans proud with the way they continued to fight until the final whistle. Besides the goal that was taken away, UMass Lowell had numerous other opportunities to tie the game, including two straight corner kicks with 5:30 left to go.
The River Hawks will now try to shake this game off and prepare, both physically and mentally, for their next game against Holy Cross on Tuesday Sept. 8. Coach Bancroft remains confident that the team will find their first win soon.
“We had more shots…we had more corners, more time of possession…it’s easier to make adjustments when those things are going well for you,” coach said. “We did a lot of positive things, we just need to figure the other stuff out.”
