University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Vermont
Offensive Trio Leads Women's Lax Past Vermont 16-7
April 08, 2015 | Women's Lacrosse
April 8, 2015
AMHERST, Mass. - Paced by the trio of Hannah Murphy, Amy Tiernan and Holly Turner, the UMass women's lacrosse team defeated Vermont 16-7 on Wednesday afternoon in the Minutewomen's final non-conference tilt of the season. Murphy netted a game-high four goals, while Tiernan and Turner each had three on the day.
The win improved UMass to 11-1 overall as the Minutewomen prepare to head to Davidson on Sunday afternoon for the first-ever Atlantic 10 match-up between the two squads.
Vermont (9-5) was led by Vanessa VanderZalm who tallied three goals and Elena McWright who had two goals. Goalie Meg Hopkins made nine saves taking the loss in goal.
In addition to their goals, Tiernan and Murphy each added two assists. Turner added an assist as well, while Eileen McDonald pitched in two goals and an assist. Murphy's play in the center circle was key in the game as she controlled nine of the 25 draws.
Defensively, Rachel Vallarelli earned the win in cage making six saves while Anne Farnham held the nation's third-leading scorer Jessica Roach (49 goals entering the game) to just two assists.
UMass held a 35-to-17 advantage in shots and won 19-of-25 draws.
The game was nip-and-tuck throughout much of the first half. Both teams traded goals in the first 90 seconds of play. Back-to-back goals from Murphy and Turner put the Minutewomen up 3-1 at the 22 minute mark.
VanderZalm pulled the Catamounts back within a goal just over two minutes later.
After the two teams again traded goals keeping it a one-score game, UMass closed the final six minutes of the first half on tear scoring four straight goals. Tiernan and Murphy combined for a pair of goals in the final 21 seconds of the stanza giving the Minutewomen an 8-3 lead at the intermission.
Vermont was able to close the gap to four goals to start the second half, but another three goal spurt over a five minute span gave UMass the separation it needed. McDonald, Murphy and Turner each scored putting the Minutewomen up 12-5 with 17:50 to go.
Turner notched her third goal of the game with 9:27 left in the game, while Katie Ott scored back-to-back tallies in the final three minutes to close out the scoring.
