University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Travels To Vermont To Play Catamounts And UNH
September 06, 2007 | Field Hockey
Sept. 6, 2007
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Field Hockey (3-1) hits the road this weekend to play in the Sheraton Catamount Classic in Burlington, Vermont. The Minutewomen will play the host Vermont Catamounts (4-0) on Saturday at 11 a.m. On Sunday, UMass will face the New Hampshire Wildcats (2-2) in a 3:15 p.m. contest. All games will be played at UVM's Moulton Winder Field.
UMass Report:
UMass is off to its best start in seven seasons. A suffocating defense has been the key to the Minutewomen's success thus far, as the last three games have all been shutouts. The goalie tandem of sophomore Sarah Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo.; 2-0, 0.00 GAA) and senior Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.; 1-1, 0.50 GAA) have led the way. Senior backs Erin O'Brien (Annandale, Va.) and Kristina DoRosario (Oakville, Ontario) bring a combined 110 games experience to the UMass defense.
On offense, Cher King (Christ Church, Barbados) has been the story. She leads the Minutewomen with four goals, nine points, and 15 shots. Her two game-winners, including one in overtime, have both come in 1-0 victories. She was honored this week with being named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week and UMass/Dinn Brothers Player of the Week. Junior midfielder Erin Parker (South Deerfield, Mass.) leads UMass with two assists, both of which set up game-winners by King. DoRosario, junior Katelyn Orlando (Manchester, Mass.), and freshman Katie Kelly (Dedham, Mass.) have a goal each.
Series History:
UMass has dominated the all-time series versus Vermont with 7-1 record. The Catamounts lone win came last season in a 6-4 game. Two goals apiece by Danielle Collins and Maegan Luce led the way for UVM. Rachael Mervine (Conway, Mass.) led the Minutewomen that day with two goals and one assist. UMass' last win came in 2005 when Orlando's goal with 49 seconds left gave the Minutewomen a 3-2 victory. Nicole Phelan (North Andover, Mass.) and Mary Shea (Foxboro, Mass.) each added goals that game.
Sunday's meeting between UMass and New Hampshire will be the 34th time the two teams have met. UMass has played only UConn and Temple more times. The Minutewomen lead the series 18-13-2. UNH won the meeting last season by a score of 4-1. Megan Shea had a hat-trick to lead the Wildcats. Lauren Gillespie (Casco, Maine) scored off an O'Brien pass to account for the UMass goal. UMass' last win versus UNH came in 2005 when Mary Shea scored 1:54 into overtime to give the Minutewomen a 3-2 victory.
Vermont Report:
The Catamounts are off to a 4-0 start and, like UMass, have three shutouts and have allowed only one goal. Vermont has been jumping on opponents early, outscoring their foes 8-0 in the first half of games. Coach Nicki Houghton is in her 10th season and was last season's America East Coach of the Year. She led the Catamounts to a 11-8 record in 2006, including 3-2 in America East. She returns ten starters from last season's team.
On Offense, Vermont is led by senior forward Danielle Collins. She leads the team in goals (5), points (12), and shots (18). She is joined on the forward line by junior Maegan Luce (3 goals, 1 assist, 7 points) and senior Kelly McClintock (2 goals).
Sophomore goaltender Kristen Heavens has played all four games in net for the Catamounts. She has posted a 4-0 record with a 0.25 GAA and a .955 save percentage.
New Hampshire Report:
New Hampshire comes into the weekend with a 2-2 record. After winning their first two games of the season, over Saint Louis and Colgate, the Wildcats have dropped their last two, to Rider and Harvard. Robin Balducci is in her 17th year at the helm of UNH. The win over Colgate this season marked her 150th victory. She is assisted by former-UMass assistant Steve Simpson. In 2006 the Wildcats went 3-15 with a 1-4 mark in America East play.
UNH is led by junior forward Sarah Craigue, She has two goals and two assists for six points on the season and leads the team 17 shots. Senior Shauna Sellenger has been the playmaker for the Wildcats with four assists to go along with one goal. Junior Brooke Bercari has two goals. Those three players account for all of UNH's scoring so far.
In net the Wildcats have senior Margaux Shute. She is 2-2 with a 2.25 GAA and a .719 save percentage.