LOWELL, Mass. – Earning the opportunity to continue to play, Stanford field hockey scored early and often in a 3-0 win at UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinal clinched the sixth and final seed in the America East Tournament with the win.
"Today was about wrapping our passion around our DNA," said head coach Roz Ellis. "It's not easy playing Lowell at home on their senior day, they have a lot of attacking threats. I am proud of the team because they chose to compete and have fun. That's the sweet spot of hockey."
Redshirt junior Lily Croddick enjoyed a career day with four points, coming on one goal and two assists, while Molly Redgrove and Rose Winter also scored for the Cardinal. Haley Mossmer assisted Croddick's game-winning goal, while Cara Sambeth made two saves between the posts in just her third game as a goalkeeper.
"For our game plan today, we really wanted to focus on controlling the tempo and being gritty on attack and being organized on our press and stepping up on defense," said Croddick." Our team did an amazing job shutting down the UMass Lowell player and creating good counter attack opportunities that ended in goals for us. Ultimately, we were able to execute the game plan and have fun while doing it."
Croddick scored in the seventh minute on the breakaway, slotting into the lower left corner after a precise feed from Mossmer. Redgrove doubled the Cardinal tally just before the end of the opening frame, firing a laser into the back of the cage off the penalty corner.
Stanford led 3-0 at the half, with Winter adding to the tally in the 29th minute. Croddick played Winter through on goal, who poked a shot between the legs of the goalkeeper for her first of the season.
The River Hawks had an opportunity to score on a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter, but Sambeth saved the attempt to preserve the shutout.
"Our team has been through so much adversity over the past year and a half, and I think going to the tournament will be an opportunity for us to show what a good team we are despite this adversity," continued Croddick. "I think all of the pieces are starting to click for us right now and we are excited to prove ourselves as a competitive team this weekend and defend our America East title."
The Cardinal will travel to Maine for the America East Tournament, and is set to face third-seeded Albany in the opening round.