University of Massachusets Athletics
Field Hockey Plays Host To Vermont On Saturday Night
September 20, 2008 | Field Hockey
Sept. 20, 2008
The UMass field hockey team (4-2) closes a three-game homestand this weekend when it welcomes the Vermont Catamounts (3-3) to town on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest at Garber Field. The Minutewomen will be looking to stay on track after a hard-fought 3-2 double overtime victory against Harvard on Sunday. They will also be looking to avenge last season's 3-1 loss to the Catamounts in Burlington.
Getting National Attention
UMass' play this season has drawn the attention of the field hockey community. The Minutewomen are the highest "Others Receiving Votes" team, with 79, in this week's STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll, finishing just out of the top-20. The last time UMass was ranked was at the end of the 2000 season.
WomensFieldHockey.com currently has the Minutewomen ranked 19th in their latest poll. That's up one spot from last week when they cracked the rankings at 20th.
Series History
Saturday's game will the 10th time UMass and Vermont have met on the field hockey field in a series that goes back to 1979. The Minutewomen lead the series, 7-2, but both Catamount wins have been in the last two seasons.
Last season's meeting, on Sept. 8 in Burlington, was 3-1 victory for the Catamounts. Danielle Collins' hat trick provided all of Vermont's offense, while Cher King scored UMass' lone goal. Becky Letouneau made two saves in goal before leaving the game with an injury and Sarah Williams played the final 23 minutes.
Total shots were 14-9 in favor of UMass. The Minutewomen took three penalty corners to Vermont's one.
Vermont Report
Coming off of three straight trips to the America East Semifinals, UVM has started its season at 3-3. Vermont won the championship of the tournament it hosts in Burlington with wins against No. 18 Ohio State and Monmouth University at the Sheraton Catamount Field Hockey Classic last weekend.
With the graduation of two of the Catamount's leading goal scorers in school history, Vermont will be looking for Senior Maegan Luce and juniors Maddi Martin and Megan Maynard to guide the forward line this season. Luce and Maynard, who combined to score 11 goals a season ago, have already totaled five goals together in just six games this fall. Luce leads the club with 16 shots. Senior midfielder Lauren Burke has also added to the attack with three goals thus far.
In the midfield, the Catamounts will count on Burke, along with senior Jen Angers and junior Sarah Meacham to guide the newcomers and control the pace of the game. With returners Wendy Carbone, Jenna Horowski and Kim Striegler in the backfield this season, the Catamounts are led by an experienced mid and backfield, looking to continue their success into the postseason for the fourth-straight year.
Goalie Kristen Heavens return this year as one of the strongest assets of the team. She led the conference last season, posting a .781 save percentage and a 1.43 goals against average. She is currently 3-3 on the season with a 2.97 goals against average ad .640 save percentage.
The Catamounts are led by Coach Nicki Houghton, who was named 2006 America East Coach of the Year and is in her 11th season at UVM. Houghton is a graduate of Salisbury State, where she led her team to NCAA division III Final Four in 1992. She is assisted by Robin Merrit, a 2002 graduate of Duke University, Meredith Long, a 2005 graduate of the University of Maryland, and Bruce Farquhar, who is in his sixth season as part of the Catamount coaching staff.
Last Time Out
For over 98 minutes of play, UMass and Harvard's field hockey teams dueled to a 2-2 tie until Erin Parker scored off a Katie Kelly pass with just 1:43 left in the second overtime to give the Minutewomen (4-2) a 3-2 victory over the Crimson (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at Garber Field. UMass held a 2-1 lead until Harvard's Leigh McCoy tied the game with just 1:25 left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. The Minutewomen controlled play throughout the two 15-minute overtimes, outshooting the Crimson, 11-2, before Parkers goal came on a 2-on-1 break.
Kelly, Parker, and Jaime Bourazeris all finished with one goal and one assist for UMass, while senior captain Mary Shea also picked up an assist. Freshman Alesha Widdall made two saves while earning the win in goal. She entered the game at the beginning of overtime, relieving starter Sarah Williams, who stopped two shots as well.
Webcast Schedule
Live streaming video of all UMass field hockey home game this season will be broadcast on UMass All-Access, available only at UMassAthletics.com. Free live stats are also available via Gametracker at UMassAthletics.com.
Photo Galleries
Be sure to check out the photo galleries of UMass field hockey action on UMassAthletics.com. Any photo in the galleries can be purchased in assorted sizes. Simply click on the "purchase photos" link and fill out the order form.
Looking Ahead
The Minutewomen return to action on Tuesday for a rare mid-week game when they travel to Providence, R.I. to take on the Brown University Bears in a 4 p.m. match. UMass returns home on Saturday, Sept. 27 when it hosts No. 20 Albany at noon. That game kicks off a four-game homestand for the Minutewomen.
