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University of Massachusets Athletics
Walker Stands On Her Head
October 19, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 19, 2006
The Massachusetts women's soccer team (10-4, 4-2 A-10) won both of its games last weekend, blanking the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 2-0, on Friday and the Temple Owls, 1-0, on Sunday. The sweep included goalkeeper Kristin Walker's second and third consecutive shutouts, and the fifth and sixth she has registered this season. It was the first time the redshirt junior has recorded back-to-back shutouts in her collegiate career.
After sitting out her freshman year in 2003, Walker started the first game of the following season and has pioneered the Minutewomen between the posts - starting in 48 of UMass' 50 contests since. In that span of time she has goose-egged her opponents 19 times.
Aside from her 10 wins and eight shutouts this season, she has racked up more impressive statistics in other categories.
Despite tearing her ACL in the final game of last year's season, Walker has remained as solid and stable as the medical brace she had been forced to wear on her injured left knee.
Since the season-opener on Aug. 26, the psychology major has accumulated a 0.95 goals-against average and has blocked 67 of the 137 shots she's seen.
UMass' leading scorer, junior forward Britt Canfield, says all of Walker's teammates recognize and appreciate her consistent dominance in goal, calling her the "backbone" of the team.
However, this dependable leadership is all that UMass coach Jim Rudy expected from the New Jersey native when he first bumped her up to starter at the beginning of the 2004 season.
"[Walker is] a very solid keeper who has a calming influence of defense," Rudy commented.
Walker, along with Massachusetts football player Brandon London, was recently named UMass/Dinn Bros. Co-Athlete of the Week. Both athletes were the guests of honor yesterday at the UMass Sports Luncheon.
Villarroel and Barrett: Old Reliables
Last weekend's heroics were provided by junior midfielder Jenny Roehrig and senior co-captains Nadia Villarroel and Stephanie Barrett.
In the 39th minute of an exciting defensive dual, Temple committed a hand-ball, setting up a UMass free kick about nine yards outside the penalty area. Barrett, a defender, stepped up and booted a 27-yard shot that went over a wall of Owl defenders and glided in just under the crossbar. It proved to be all that the Minutewomen would need, as Temple couldn't get anything going, giving the Maroon and White the win.
The previous game was just as dominating for the UMass defense, blanking St. Joe's. In the game's seventh minute, sophomore defender Melissa Toulouse launched a 50-yard pass downfield that was headed into the net by Villarroel. The goal (her fourth) ties her for second on the team with sophomore forward Vanessa Patry.
UMass didn't have to wait long for an insurance goal, as Roehrig punched in a goal in the 20th minute. Freshman Sydney Stoll, playing as a withdrawn center-forward, took a pass from Canfield and moved it along to Roehrig. "J-Ro" - as she is known to coaches and teammates - launched a 37-yard bomb into the upper left-hand corner.
A First Since 2001
The Minutewomen's current record gives them the most wins they've accumulated in a season since going 10-6 in 2001. Freshman Stephanie Santos, who was tragically killed in a car accident on June 9 of that year, was the team's leading scorer with seven goals and five assists for a total of 15 points.
Stoll Still to Start
Stoll is seeing a lot more action due to the season-ending injury to senior midfielder/defender Tina Rodriquez. "T-Rod" - adding to the list of UMass nicknames -tore her ACL in a 3-1 loss to La Salle.
Stoll, who has a goal and an assist on the year, has become a regular starter after Rudy made some strategic maneuvering to the positioning of his other players on the field.
Canfield Can't go Wrong
Canfield is the team's leading scorer, having recorded six goals and three assists for 15 total points. She was neutralized on Sunday by a relentless Temple defensive scheme that sent her to the grass on numerous occasions, but will be looking to rebound in next Sunday's game against Rhode Island (9-8, 5-1 A-10).
Next Sunday will also be Senior Day for the Minutewomen. The team's seniors - Barrett, Villarroel and midfielder Elizabeth Weinstein will all be honored prior to the season's home finale and thanked for their priceless contributions to UMass soccer.