FARMINGTON, Maine – Freshman forward Mara Balboni (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) scored her first collegiate goals while three other Beavers added single markers to lead the University of Maine at Farmington to a 5-0 North Atlantic Conference field hockey win over Rivier University, Saturday afternoon at Prescott Field.

Balboni got UMaine-Farmington (1-2) on the board with the game winner at the 11:21 mark of the first half, tipping in a pass from Chelsea Morley (York, Maine/York). Kaitlyn Bullen (New Sharon, Maine/Mt. Blue) logged her first goal of the season with 6:26 showing on the first half clock when she finished a cross from Kashley Weymouth (Pittston, Maine/Gardiner Area).

Weymouth added UMF's final goal of the first half with 1:15 remaining, picking a pass from Annie Agnew (Guilford, Maine/Piscataquis Community) out of traffic in front of the Rivier goal and finding the back of the Raiders' cage.

Senior Lily Barry (Hermon, Maine/Hermon) brought her team-high scoring total up to four goals, beating Rivier goalie Colleen Albert just 1:40 into the second half. Morley was credited with an assist on the score. Balboni closed out the scoring with just 5:11 left in the game, weaving around a pair of Rivier defenders for an unassisted goal.

UMaine-Farmington outshot Rivier (1-5) by a 35-1 margin, with Albert and Rivier backup goalie Makenzie Flagg combining for 15 saves for the Raiders. Christina Demmons was credited with a defensive save.

UMF's Curran Brierley (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) got the start in the cage for the Beavers, and played the entire first half. Felisha Taylor (Chelsea, Maine/Cony) worked all 35 minutes of the second half. Neither UMF goalie was forced to make a save, however junior defender Renee DesPres (Skowhegan, Maine/Skowhegan) made a sensational save on a shot by Rivier's Ashley Ruocco with just over a minute left in the game to preserve the Beavers' shutout win.

UMaine-Farmington returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 16, when the Beavers travel to Waterville, Maine, to face Colby College at 1:00 p.m. Rivier is idle until Wednesday, Sept. 19, when the Raiders play at Lasell College at 4:00 p.m. in a North Atlantic Conference match.

-30-