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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Rhode Island
UMass Takes A-10 Opener Vs. URI, Wins 5th Straight
October 01, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 1, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's soccer team rode a pair of first half goals to its fifth straight win on Saturday afternoon at Rudd Field, defeating Rhode Island, 2-0, in the squads' Atlantic 10 opener. With the victory, the Minutewomen improve to 7-2-1 on the season, 1-0-0 in A-10 play, while the Rams fall to 5-5-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference.
After pressuring URI's defense from the outset, UMass capitalized on a corner kick in the 21st minute. Freshman Tori Sousa sent a service into the opposite side of the box from the right corner to senior Deanna Colarossi, who knocked the ball down with her head and sent a shot home for her third tally of the year.
Then at the 36:32 mark, the Minutewomen added an insurance goal courtesy of senior Julie Morrissey. After collecting a pass from sophomore Brittany Moore along the right sideline, Morrissey broke towards goal and, upon entering the six-yard box, chipped a shot into the left side of the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
That was all UMass would need as the defense allowed just one of Rhode Island's shots in the second half to reach netminder Emily Cota. Cota tallied five saves on the afternoon in her fifth straight shutout and is now 5-1-0 on the year. The Minutewomen have held their opponents scoreless for five consecutive games to date, which equals the highest total since the team logged eight straight clean sheets in 1996.
UMass nearly doubled the Rams' shot total in the match, 18-10, and led in corner kicks, 7-2. Fouls were 11-3 against the Minutewomen. Ashley Harris had four saves in goal for Rhode Island.
The Minutewomen will be back in action next weekend with a pair of conference road matches, playing at Charlotte on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. and at St. Louis on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m.
