LOWELL, Mass. — New Haven women's soccer lost to UMass Lowell 1-0 on Sunday at Cushing Field. The Chargers put four of their eight shots on goal and finished with six saves while UMass Lowell held a 14-8 shot advantage.
New Haven absorbed an early UMass Lowell push and kept the first half scoreless, with Alexia-Mae Goodman saving shots from Emma Theoren in the 12th minute and Nuala Rodgers in the 18th during a stretch that also included three home-team corners.
Maxine Samson (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) gave the Chargers a look in between those saves, putting a shot on frame in the 13th minute that Lucie Chumanova stopped. The middle of the half featured a physical spell, with UMass Lowell whistled for three fouls and Ava Kopicko shown a yellow card between the 22nd and 29th minutes. New Haven closed the half with its most concentrated attacking sequence, as
Maria Lobo (Porto, Portugal/Escola Secundaria Fontes Pereira de Melo) forced a save in the 45th minute, the Chargers earned a corner moments later, and
Emma Mitchell (Edinburgh, Scotland/Liberton) sent a shot high before the half ended without a goal.
The Chargers spent the final stretch chasing a 1-0 deficit after UMass Lowell's Nina Hertz-Saebbo scored off Diana Jedrychowski's assist at 71:01, and New Haven responded with three shots in the final 12 minutes. Earlier, the half became physical when
Molly Heras (Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Borough High School) and Anneliese Collin received yellow cards at 51:10 during a stretch that included seven combined fouls and cards through 60:49.
Grace Simpson (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) put a shot on target at 64:27, while Alexia-Mae Goodman made saves at 64:50 and 68:45 before
Janayah Body (West Hartford, Conn./Lawrence Academy) added another Chargers attempt at 70:27. After the goal, Goodman added two more saves, and the Chargers' late push included shots by Mitchell,
Savannah Reed (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township High School) and Samson, with Samson's effort saved at 87:56. The half ended with UMass Lowell holding the 1-0 score, which stood as the final result.
Alexia-Mae Goodman played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded six saves, including four in the second half. Samson put both of her shots on goal. Mitchell added two shots for New Haven.
Up next, the Chargers will host Howard University on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at Kathy Zolad Stadium in West Haven, Connecticut.
