University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Soccer Set To Open Up Rudd Field
September 06, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 6, 2002
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GAME-DAY ...
While the official dedication of Rudd Field, the new home of UMass Soccer, will not be until Sunday, the Minutewomen host Rhode Island this afternoon in the first game played on their new turf. The Minutewomen have had a week off since a 1-0 loss at Boston College on Aug. 30. Meanwhile, the Rams played to a 3-3 draw with Providence College on Sept. 1. URI led 2-0 and 3-2, but had to settle for the tie. PC scored the game-tying goal with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. This is the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both squad's.
A LOOK BACK ...
Laine Ceddia recovered a loose ball in the box and put it home at the 68:55 mark as the Boston College women's soccer team downed the University of Massachusetts, 1-0, last Friday afternoon in both squads' season opener. It was the first loss for the Minutewomen in 18 games against the Eagles.
Senior Kelly Nigh (Seattle, Wash.), playing in her first action since suffering an injury in preseason training, made a career-high 12 saves in the loss.
The Eagles outshot the Minutewomen, 36-6, but Massachusetts was able to keep it close throughout the match with great defense and goaltending.
SCOUTING THE RAMS ...
Rhode Island enters today's match with an 0-0-1 record after Saturday's 3-3 draw with Providence College. Melanie Kasparek led URI with a goal and an assist in the game. Other goal scorers were Heather Kasparek and Sarah Johnston. The Rams were picked to finish seventh in the conference by the coaches. Last season, they went 10-6-2 overall and 5-4-2 in the A-10. Like the Minutewomen, Rhode Island is a young team. URI's top returners include defender Rebecca Sorensen, a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection a year ago, midfielder Claire Landon (1 goal, 2 assists), forward Heather Kasparek (2 goals, 4 assists) and goalkeeper Jamie Epperlein (1.24 GAA, .655 save pct.).
BACK IN FORM ...
After missing most of preseason training with an injury, junior co-captain Kelly Nigh surprised everyone with a career-high 12-save performance at Boston College on Aug. 30. The 12 stops marked the most saves for a UMass goalkeeper since Cori Stevens had 21 in a 2-2 draw with Syracuse on Sept. 4, 1999. The school record for saves in a game is 23 by Diane Buckhout versus Vermont on October 7, 1978.
THEY BELONG THERE ...
The Minutewomen have been selected third by the conference coaches in its annual preseason poll. Last year, UMass got off to a 7-0 conference start, but lost its remaining four games to miss the A-10 Tournament for the first time in school history. The winner of the annual tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a place UMass has been 15 times.
TOP RECRUITING CLASS ...
Soccer Buzz Magazine ranked the University of Massachusetts women's soccer recruiting class first in the Atlantic 10 Conference and 39th nationally. The 2002 UMass recruiting class was also picked fourth in the Northeast region.
Freshmen Lindsey Bellini (Webster, N.Y.), Adair Blyler (Lexington, Mass.), Sarah Davis (Ludlow, Mass.), Tiffany Hamill (Syracuse, N.Y.), Amy Maffucci (Pittsford, Mass.) and Kristen Rutland (Fayetteville, Ga.) join junior college transfer Erin Muir (Spencerport, N.Y.) on Rudy's 2002 squad.
EARLY HONORS ...
Senior Martha Conover (Liverpool, N.Y.) as well as Bellini Rutland were each named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference team. Conover was a first team selection, while Bellini and Rutland were both selected to the All-Rookie team.
Conover had a goal and eight assists for 10 points last season and the Minutewomen were 6-0 when she recorded a point. She has now tallied 26 career points on six goals and 14 assists in three years under head coach Jim Rudy. Martha was a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection as a sophomore and was a member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll last year.
RUDD FIELD ...
At 12:40 p.m. on Sunday, prior to the Minutewomen's game with Boston University, Rudd Field will be officially dedicated. The 120 x 75 yard, sand-based natural turf playing surface will be the home for both UMass soccer programs. It will feature a 100 percent solid state electronics scoreboard and will have message centers and sponsor panels.
Ground was broken on the new field thanks to a half-million dollar commitment from Jinny and Andrew Rudd of California, trustees of the Rudd Family Foundation and parents of senior Alexi Rudd (Orinda, Calif.). The total estimated cost of the project is $901,000. The remaining funds were paid in an advancement by the University to be repaid over a period of four years through Athletic Development fundraising.
