University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Duquesne
Minutewomen Defeat Dukes, 1-0 For 10th Win
October 21, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's soccer team picked up its 10th win of the season on Friday, defeating Duquesne, 1-0 at Rudd Field. With the victory, the Minutewomen improve to 10-3-2 on the year, 4-1-1 in the Atlantic 10, marking the first 10-win season for the squad since 2006. The Dukes fall to 3-11-1 (2-4-0 A-10) following the setback.
The victory also marked head coach Ed Matz' 200th of his career as a collegiate head coach, combined women's and men's. He is now 200-179-43 all-time, including nine years as the Northeastern men's coach, 11 with the NU women and is in his second season at UMass.
After coming up empty on scoring chances by freshmen Moa Mattsson and Tori Sousa, the Minutewomen managed to break through for a tally in the 30th minute. Freshman Emily Benjamin won a ball in the midfield and quickly fed Sousa. Sousa then played a ball ahead to senior Julie Morrissey in the box that she sent home for her sixth tally of the season at 29:33.
Kristin Vinicky came dangerously close to netting the equalizer for Duquesne in the 31st minute, but was denied on a diving save by junior goalkeeper Emily Cota.
UMass kept the pressure on in the second half with several more scoring chances in the second half, though the squad would not need any additional offense. Cota stopped all six shots she faced from the Dukes en route to her seventh shutout of the season, the most by a Minutewomen netminder since Kristin Walker logged seven in 2006.
UMass out-shot Duquesne 18-12 on the afternoon and led in corner kicks 5-4. Fouls were 9-7 against the Dukes, while goalkeeper Ashley Szalwinski recorded five saves.
The Minutewomen will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 23, for the team's home finale against St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m. UMass' six seniors will be honored prior to the match with a Senior Day ceremony.
