FINAL SCORE 
UMass Lowell 1 (7-8, 1-3 AE)
#21 Monmouth 3 (11-4, 4-0 AE)

LOWELL, MA – The No. 21 Monmouth University field hockey team scored two first quarter goals and added another late to earn a 3-1 road victory at UMass Lowell, Friday night in America East play.  

With the victory, the Hawks claimed at least a share of the America East's East Division Regular Season Championship and secured the top seed in the upcoming tournament, which will be played on So Sweet A Cat Field.

Freshman Yasmin Pratt (Wicklow, Ireland / Kilkenny College HS) scored 3:31 into regulation, deflecting in a cross from classmate Aylin Aufenacker (Hamburg, Germany / Gymnasium Eppendorf) to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Annick van Lange (Sint-Job, Belgium / Annuntia Institute) scored off a corner for her team-leading 14th goal of the season to spot the Hawks a two-goal advantage they would bring into the break.  

UMass Lowell scored in the 38th minute to cut the lead in half.  The River Hawks fired three shots and earned a pair of attacking corners late in the fourth quarter, but Monmouth's defensive corner unit backstopped by Kate O'Hogan (Dublin, Ireland / Mount Anville Secondary) remained unscathed.   Pratt tipped in a corner with time expired to seal the sixth straight victory for the Hawks.

O'Hogan made two saves, including one with under three minutes to go in regulation, for her 10th victory of the season.
                              
NOTES & QUOTES
"I am so proud of the girls to be able to get to this point.  The progression throughout the year and to be in this position is a result of hard work from every single person on this team.  I am so honored to be their coach and so excited to be hosting the America East Championship in our first year in the league."  – Head Coach Carli Figlio

- The Hawks claimed at least a share of the program's seventh regular season title, their sixth consecutive regular season crown.
- The Hawks ran their winning streak to six games.  MU has posted a six-game winning streak in four straight seasons.
- It was the first meeting between the Hawks and River Hawks.
- Today's game was the first night game of the season for the Blue and White.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Yasmin Pratt scored her eighth and ninth goals of the season.  The rookie now has 24 points after notching her third multi-goal game of the season.
- Annick van Lange scored for the second consecutive game to increase her point total to 30.
- van Lange's 23rd career marker gives the sophomore 51 points in 35 career games.  She is 13th Hawk all-time to join the 50-point club.
- Kate O'Hogan earned her 10th win of the season, setting a new personal best for victories in a season after recording nine during her freshman campaign. 
- Aylin Aufenacker set up Pratt's first goal for her seventh assist of the season.
- Frenken registered her sixth assist of the year, taking the initial shot on the corner with time expired.
- Monmouth outshot UML, 16-7, including a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal. 
- The Hawks earned eight attacking corner, six in the first half, compared to three for UMass Lowell.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Monmouth earned the top-seed for the six-team field and will host the championship on So Sweet A Cat Field.  With its wins this afternoon, Maine and New Hampshire both earned berths in the postseason, while Stanford wrapped up the West Division earlier in the week. Next weekend's results will determine the final two spots, one coming each division, along with seeding.

NEXT
The Hawks will close out the non-conference slate on Sunday when it takes on Holy Cross.  The opening whistle against the Crusaders is slated for 11 a.m.