Field Hockey Falls To New Hampshire, 4-1

Oct. 25, 2006

AMHERST, Mass. - Emily Colton and Megan Shea connected for three goals as New Hampshire (2-15) defeated Massachusetts (6-13) 4-1 Wednesday afternoon at Garber Field. Shea came into the game with one goal on the season, but had three on the afternoon for the Wildcats. Sophomore Lauren Gillespie (Casco, Maine) scored her team-high 13th goal of the season for the Minutewomen who close out the regular season Saturday at Noon against Rhode Island at Garber Field.

UMass had all of the momentum early with four quick shots in the first two minutes, but had nothing to show for it. Then just 1:40 into the start of the game, New Hampshire was whistled for a foul in the cage giving UMass a penalty stroke. Junior Erin O'Brien (Annandale, Va.) took the stroke, but was unable to convert.

After that, it was all New Hampshire for the next 15 minutes. With 28:39 left, the Wildcats got the game's first goal as Emily Colton stole the ball deep in the UMass defensive zone and passed to Megan Shea for the score as she flicked the ball high into the cage. 12 minutes later, the Wildcats scored again to make it 2-0. After a penalty corner, Sam Geary blasted a shot from the near side. It was saved by UMass freshman goalkeeper Sarah Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo.), but the rebound went right back to Geary in front of the cage. She passed over to Jen Mooney who was able to slide the ball into the cage.

UMass then began to get some momentum and with just under 10 minutes left in the first half, it cut the UNH lead in half. O'Brien got possession of the ball at midfield and sent a long pass into sophomore Lauren Gillespie (Casco, Maine). Gillespie worked into the circle and blasted the ball into the back of the cage making it a 2-1 game.

With just 2:56 left in the half, New Hampshire got a fluke goal making the score 3-1. Colton had a long pass in that glanced off the stick of Shea right in front of the net and found the back of the net. UMass had a chance right before intermission to score but could not convert on its first corner. Freshman Cher King (Christ Church, Barbados) blasted the first shot, but UNH goalkeeper Margaux Shute made the save. The rebound bounced off a UNH player giving the Minutewomen another corner, but they were unable to convert. Each team had 14 shots in the half, while UNH held the edge in penalty corners 6-2.

UNH came right out and made it 4-1 with a goal just three minutes and change into the second half. Colton passed through a sea of UMass defenders that somehow found Shea on the far post. She was able to one-time the ball into the cage completing her hat trick.

Unable to get anything going offensively, UMass called a timeout with 12:09 left in regulation looking for a spark to get back into the game. It did not happen as the Wildcats were ab;e to keep the Minutewomen from getting any sustained pressure.

The teams each finished the game with 21 shots, but New Hampshire held a 9-4 edge in penalty corners. Williams and Shute each had 10 saves.

UMass closes out the regular season by hosting Rhode Island Saturday at Noon. Live video and stats via Gametracker will be available at www.umassathletics.com. Senior day festivities will begin at approximately 11:50 a.m.

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Team Stats

GILLESPIE Lauren

O'BRIEN Erin

SANDERS Gina

ORLANDO Katelyn

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics