University of Massachusets Athletics
Field Hockey Breaks Into Top 20
September 14, 2010 | Field Hockey
Sept. 14, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - Following a 2-0 weekend against previously unbeaten teams, including a 1-0 victory over No. 4 UConn, UMass field hockey (3-3) has broken into the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll at No. 20 this week.
UMass, who was receiving votes in the first two polls of the season, is now ranked for the first time since the next-to-last poll of the 2009, when the Minutewomen came in at No. 19 on Nov. 3. The Minutewowen were ranked throughout most of the 2009 season, peaking at No. 9 in the Sept. 29 poll.
On Saturday, the Minutewomen defeated the fourth-ranked Huskies, 1-0, for the program's first win over UConn since 2000, ending a run of 10-straight UConn victories in the series. The win came within three days of the date 14 years ago when UMass last defeated such a highly-ranked opponent - No. 4 James Madison, 3-2 in double-overtime on Sept. 14, 1996.
On Sunday, after falling behind 2-0, UMass scored two late goals to force overtime before scoring again in the extra period to defeat Yale, 3-2.
The Minutewomen hit the road to face a pair of ranked opponents this weekend. On Saturday, UMass plays at defending Patriot League champion and No. 18 American (3-2) at noon. On Sunday, the Minutewomen face winner of three out of the last five National Championships and No. 2 Maryland (5-0) at 2 p.m.
