University of Massachusets Athletics
Season Review: Women's Lax Finds Strength, Success In Defense
May 22, 2015 | Women's Lacrosse
Heading into the 2015 spring season, the number one question surrounding the UMass women's lacrosse program was how the team would replace seven key starters from the year before. After winning its seventh-straight Atlantic 10 Championship title, a first round NCAA tournament game and posting 19 wins, it's fair to say the Minutewomen answered that question early and often.
Paced by what was ranked as the No. 1 defensive unit for much of the season, UMass was able to slot new players in key roles and saw growth throughout the year. Goalie Rachel Vallarelli turned in one of the best campaigns in NCAA history as she anchored a group which allowed double-figure scoring just once.
The emergence of Hannah Murphy into one of the top overall players in the Atlantic 10, the play-making ability of Erika Eipp on the offensive side of the ball, and a quartet of lockdown defenders, UMass became a multi-faceted program as the season progressed.
Seniors Amy Tiernan, Morgan Walker and Vallarelli provided leadership to what was a team made-up of mostly underclassmen and each turned in the best seasons of their careers. They are also the only starters who will be gone from next seasons team giving head coach Angela McMahon the bulk of her scoring and defense back for 2016.
Speaking of McMahon, the first win of 2016 will make her the most winningest coach in program history passing Hall of Fame legend Pam Hixon who had 91 wins from 1979-87. UMass will also look to make a bit of NCAA history as the Minutewomen carry a 36-game Atlantic 10 regular-season win streak into the new year. That gives the Maroon & White the second-longest league win streak in NCAA history and is just three shy of setting a new record.