Information Provided By UMass Lowell Sports Information

Junior forward Katie Enaire (Amesbury, MA) tallied a pair of goals and added an assist as the #3 seed UMass Lowell River Hawks defeated the #2 seed Bentley Falcons in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Waltham.

The tilt was a rematch of last weekend's Northeast-10 Tournament Semifinal, which Bentley won 1-0. The teams had previously split the season series but today's victory gives the River Hawks the 2-1 advantage on the year. The River Hawks enter the NCAA Semifinal with a 17-5 record, while Bentley finishes its season at 16-5.

The River Hawks went up 1-0 with just over 20 minutes left in the first half, as UMass Lowell steadily pushed the ball up the field and junior midfielder Liz Day (North Andover, MA) weaved her way through the Bentley defenders and crossed the cage for her seventh goal of the year in the 14th minute of play (13:50).

The Falcons retaliated, though, as freshman forward Nicole Dion (Lunenberg, MA) 21st minute of play (21:10) to even the score at one apiece.

UMass Lowell bounced back quickly, as Lizzy Ales (Arlington, MA) netted her eighth goal of the year in the 28th minute of play (27:27). Senior defender Ashley Smith (Killingworth, CT) carried the ball into the circle and Ales got behind Bentley goalkeeper Alyssa Sliney (Brewster, MA) to put the River Hawks up 2-1.

Bentley came back strong at the start of the second, tying it at two in the 39th minute of play (38:17) on a goal by freshman Cori Geiger (Agawam, MA).

After the Falcons were unable to convert a penalty corner, UMass Lowell sent the ball upfield and Enaire brought the ball into the circle, creating her own shot, to put the River Hawks up 3-2 in the 43rd minute of play (42:29).

Enaire struck again, just three minutes later, scoring her 22nd goal in the 46th minute of play (45:57). She shot the ball through a crowded circle and was assisted by senior forward Jaci Moulton (Baldwinville, MA). The rapid fire offense gave the River Hawks the 4-2 advantage in the second half.

Junior midfielder Jaime Hadley (Chelmsford, MA) made a crucial defensive save - her team-best fourth of the year - with just over 20 minutes left in the game to maintain the River Hawk lead. Off that save, UMass Lowell brought the ball out of its defensive zone and the scoring tandem of Moulton and Enaire struck again. This time, Moulton netted the goal and Enaire added the assist, giving the River Hawks a 5-2 lead in the 51st minute of play (50:17).

The River Hawks owned the 7-5 advantage in penalty corners on the afternoon and Bentley held the slight, 10-9 advantage in shots on the day.

With the victory, the River Hawks advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinal for the seventh consecutive year and will play Stonehill College at the Skyhawks' W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton, MA on Friday at 5:00 p.m.