University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
(0-1)
Fairfield
(1-0)
Field Hockey Drops Season Opener To Fairfield, 2-1
August 27, 2005 | Field Hockey
Aug. 27, 2005
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AMHERST, Mass. -- Briana Keene scored two goals in the final 23 seconds of the first half as the Fairfield University field hockey team (1-0) scored a 2-1 win over Massachusetts (0-1) Saturday afternoon at Garber Field. Sophomore Racheal Mervine (Conway, Mass.) scored UMass' goal just as the horn sounded at the end of the game. In her first collegiate start, sophomore goalkeeper Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.) made five saves.
"It was just a case of poor time management," said UMass head coach Patty Shea referring to Fairfield's two goals in the final 23 seconds of the first half. "We stopped helping each other on the field. We made some poor decisions and were passing the ball to people under pressure. We want to know what to do with the ball before receiving it, not deciding afterwards. I was glad that Racheal was able to score at the end of the game. We had some great offensive chances and can now build on that for the next game."
Both teams started off slow offensively. Freshman Katelyn Orlando (Manchester, Mass.)took the first shot of the game nearly 15 minutes in. Letourneau was tested for the first time by Keene a few minutes later, but made the save. With just under 11 minutes left in the first half, UMass put the first sustained pressure of the game on Fairfield goalkeeper Elizabeth Thomas. At 10:48, the Minutewomen got the game's first penalty corner. Junior Kwylan Jaggassar (Longdenville, Trinidad & Tobago) took the initial shot and it was saved. Senior Patricia Borneo (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago) tried to stuff home the rebound, but it was blocked by a defender. UMass got another corner out of it, but again Jaggassar had her shot saved by Thomas.
The Stags had consecutive corners a few minutes later, but Letourneau made the saves. The Stags broke into the scoring column just before halftime. Keene received a pass from Allison Mays inside the circle and slipped a shot past Letourneau. The score came with just 23 seconds left in the first half. Then second slater, Keene stole the ball from a UMass defender and stuffed a shot past Letourneau to give the Stags a 2-0 lead with just nine seconds left before halftime.
UMass had back-to-back penalty corners in the first six minutes of the second half, but were unable to score. On the first one, sophomore Kristina DoRosario (Oakville, Ontario) tipped a shot by Jaggassar just wide to the left side. On the next corner, UMass got two scoring chances. Senior Jaime Bawden (Penticton, British Columbia) had the initial shot which was saved by Thomas and then DoRosario's bid off the rebound was saved as well.
Fairfield played defensively the rest of the half and did not allow UMass any scoring chances until the final seconds. Senior Katelyn Woolfrey (Somerset, Mass.) slid the ball into the circle and on the stick of freshman Erin Parker (South Deerfield, Mass.). Parker then slid a shot past Thomas on the right side of the cage that was stuffed home by Mervine just as the horn sounded ending the game. After a few minutes of deliberation, the officials counted the goal. It was Mervine's second career goal.
UMass out-shot Fairfield for the game, 15-8. Letourneau finished with five saves, while Thomas made six on the other side. The Minutewomen had five penalty corners, while Fairfield had three.
The Minutewomen's season-opening four-game homestand continues Tuesday night against Boston College. Game-time at Garber Field is set for 7:00 PM.
Team Stats
Briana Keene (1)
Assisted By: Allison Mays
34:37
Briana Keene (2)
34:51
MERVINE, Racheal (1)
69:59
