Field Hockey Falls To #15 UConn, 2-1

Sept. 24, 2005

STORRS, Conn. - Freshman Katelyn Orlando (Manchester, Mass.) scored her team-high third goal of the season, but the Massachusetts field hockey team (3-7) lost to 15th-ranked Connecticut (6-3), 2-1, Saturday afternoon. UConn held a 1-0 lead late in the second half before scoring on a penalty stroke with just 2:44 remaining to make it a two-goal game. Orlando then scored 41 seconds later to make it a one-goal game again.

"We had opportunities early in the game, but were unable to take advantage," said head coach Patty Shea. "When we play individually there is no flow to the game and that is what we did today. We weren't disciplined and allowed UConn to control the tempo. The brilliance of our team showed when we were able to bounce right back after the penalty stroke and score."

Less than two minutes into the game, UMass had the first scoring chance. Orlando got the ball at midfield and sent in freshman Erin Parker (South Deerfield, Mass.) alone. UConn goalkeeper Melissa Bostwick came out the net and challenged Parker. Parker got a shot off, but it was saved. The Huskies controlled play for the remainder of the half. Uconn had an apparent goal with 12:53 left on a shot by Lizzy Peijs. After a meeting by the officials, the goal was waved off because it was tipped in by a high stick. Eight minutes later, Connecticut scored the first goal of the game following its eighth penalty corner of the half. Rebecca Helwig re-directed a shot by Laura Puddle in front of the net for her seventh goal of the season.

UMass had another offensive spurt at the end of the half. Bostwick made a save on a shot by freshman Lauren Gillespie (Casco, Maine), but the Minutewomen were awarded a corner. Senior Katelyn Woolfrey (Somerset, Mass.) got off a shot, but Bostwick got a piece of it and deflected the ball over the cage.

UConn took its 1-0 lead into halftime. The Huskies out-shot UMass, 10-4, and held the edge in penalty corners, 8-1 in the half. All four shots by the Minutewomen were on goal resulting in four saves by Bostwick. UMass sophomore goalkeeper Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.) made five saves.

Neither team could muster much of a scoring threat early in the second half. It was 13 minutes in before the Minutewomen earned the first corner opportunity, but junior Kwylan Jaggassar (Longdenville, Trinidad & Tobago) had her shot blocked by a defender. UMass kept control of the ball and was awarded another corner less than a minute later. Senior Jaime Bawden (Penticton, British Columbia) tried to flick the ball up high into the cage, but Bostwick knocked it away with her blocker.

UConn then turned up the pressure offesnively, but Letourneau stood her ground. She faced several shots off corer opportunities, but was able to keep it just a 1-0 game.

With 9:00 left, senior Patricia Borneo (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago) sent a pass intended for Gillespie to the far post which was just a little long. Bostwick had left the net and Gillespie was all alone on the far post. A couple minutes later, Bawden set up junior Gina Sanders (Morgan Hill, Calif.) in the middle of the circle, but Sanders' one-time shot was wide.

With 2:44 left in regulation, UConn's Lizzy Peijs was awarded a penalty stroke. Letourneau went to the correct side, but Peijs was still able to slide the ball past her and give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.

UMass did not give up and scored just 41 seconds later. Sophomore Kristina DoRosario (Oakville, Ontario)set up Orlando on the near side post. Orlando stuffed it in for her team-high third goal of the season and cut the UConn lead to 2-1. UMass did get one last rush, but were unable to get off a shot.

UConn finished the game with an 18-8 edge in shots and an 11-3 advantage in penalty corners. Letourneau made 10 saves, one off her career-high. Bostwick made five saves for the Huskies.

The Minutewomen will next be in action on Friday, Sept. 30 at Syracuse. Game time is set for 7:00 PM. Live stats will be available via Gametracker at www.umassathletics.com.

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Team Stats

ORLANDO Katelyn

DoROSARIO Kristina

PARKER Erin

BAWDEN Jaime

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics