University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Saint Louis
Field Hockey's Homestand Continues With Saint Louis, Harvard
September 15, 2016 | Field Hockey
Minutewomen take on Billikens Friday, Crimson visit Amherst on Sunday
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes | |
| Game Six | Massachusetts (2-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10) vs. Saint Louis (1-4, 0-0) |
| Date | Time | Friday, Sept. 16 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | Gladchuk Sports Complex; Amherst, Mass. | Parking (Lot 11) |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 13-0. Last meeting: UMass 3, Saint Louis 2; Oct. 2, 2015 |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Watch Live | Atlantic 10 Digital Network (subscription required) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Saint Louis |
| @UMassFH | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Field Hockey | |
The Massachusetts-Saint Louis Scouting Report
University of Massachusetts field hockey continues its four-game homestand with back-to-back contests at the Gladchuk Sports Complex starting Fri., Sept. 16 versus Saint Louis at 3 p.m.
The Minutewomen are undefeated all-time against the Billikens with a 13-0 record. The most recent contest in the series proved the closest outcome, a 3-2 triumph by the Maroon and White on the road on Oct. 2, 2015. Anne Dijkstra, Sarah Hawkshaw and Nicole Kuerzi collected a goal each during the game.
Saint Louis collected its first win of the year on Sun., Sept. 11 with a 4-1 decision over Missouri State. Scoring was split over four Billikens as the squad rallied from an early one-goal deficit for the win. Saint Louis is 1-4 on the year overall, including losses to Fairfield (5-1), Iowa (11-0), Longwood (6-2) and Miami (Ohio) (9-0).
Carly Kissinger's six points (two goals, two assists) leads all Billikens in scoring. Molly Feid follows with five (two goals, one assist) while Maya Bently owns three points on a goal and assist. Jessie Bryan is the primary goalkeeper through five games, with 280 of a possible 350 minutes. Bryan sports a 5.75 goals-against average and .589 save percentage.
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes | |
| Game Seven | Massachusetts vs. Harvard |
| Date | Time | Sunday, Sept. 18 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Location | Gladchuk Sports Complex; Amherst, Mass. | Parking (Lot 11) |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 14-6-1. Last meeting: UMass 3, Harvard 0; Sept. 6, 2013 |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Watch Live | Atlantic 10 Digital Network (subscription required) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Harvard |
| @UMassFH | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Field Hockey | |
The Massachusetts-Harvard Scouting Report
University of Massachusetts field hockey caps its weekend slate with a renewal of its series against Harvard on Sun., Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. The teams last met during the 2013 season and Massachusetts holds the all-time lead in the series, 14-6-2.
Harvard split its opening four games and has a home contest against Northeastern on Fri., Sept. 14 prior to its cross-commonwealth venture on Sunday. The Crimson downed Holy Cross and Pacific by identical 2-1 scores, needing 10 rounds of shootout to secure the triumph over the Crusaders. They fell at New Hampshire, 2-1 and were blanked, 4-0 by No. 4 Connecticut as well.
Marissa Balleza and Hannah Wellington own a pair of goals each as the top scoring threats, including one penalty stroke for Balleza. Junior Olivia Startup mans the cage with a 1.40 goals-against average and .600 save percentage.
Offensive Firepower On Full Display
University of Massachusetts field hockey posted eight goals at UMass Lowell on Sun., Sept. 4. It marked the most offense by the Minutewomen since a 9-1 win over Saint Joseph's on Oct. 20, 2013 – a span of 53 games between the eight-goal outing.
Melanie Kreusch and Nicole Kuerzi each posted two-goal games while Izzie Delario, Sarah Hawkshaw, Celina Hocks and Nicole Miller scored once apiece. Delario and Cliodhna Loughlin also had three assists each while Hocks added two and Katie Clark earned her first collegiate point via an assist.
Keeping The Kennedy Cup
The University of Massachusetts and UMass Lowell started a new tradition during 2013 in tandem with UMass Lowell's elevation to Division I: the Kennedy Cup. Through four meetings, the Minutewomen have not relinquished the game trophy.
The Maroon and White blanked UMass Lowell during the inaugural game, 6-0 on Sept. 3, 2013. One year later, Massachusetts traveled to the River Hawks for a 3-1 victory on Sept. 14, 2014. Last season, offensive fireworks were displayed through the 4-3 UMass win on Sept. 11. This year, the Minutewomen controlled the tempo en route to an 8-0 victory.
The Kennedy Cup is named in honor of University of Massachusetts and UMass-Lowell alumnus, John F. Kennedy, who is a strong supporter and graduate of both institutions.
Robertson Returns To Her Alma Mater
1988 University of Massachusetts graduate Amy Robertson returned to her alma mater to serve as the UMass field hockey interim head coach for the 2016 season. Robertson previously held an assistant coach position with the Minutewomen from 1992-96 and was a standout defender from 1984-87.
Robertson led the Indiana University field hockey program for 15 seasons from 2000-14, accumulating 134 victories and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances during her tenure. She oversaw the team's elevation from club level to NCAA Division I varsity status in 2000 and led the program to the Elite Eight during its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2005.
She also served as an assist at Iowa (1989-91) and Wake Forest (1997-99) prior to her 15-year tenure at Indiana. Over the previous three decades, Robertson accumulated 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and more than 350 victories as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach.
The Quicker Goal Picker-Upper
Senior forward Nicole Miller provided the Minutewomen their first goal of the season in three of her four campaigns with the program, including her freshman, sophomore and senior years.
Miller scored unassisted less than 15 minutes into her first collegiate game, a 2-1 win over Maine on Aug. 20, 2013. As a sophomore, she totaled both goals in a hard-fought 3-2 loss to No. 1 Maryland. Two years later, Miller returned to her first-game form with a tally at New Hampshire in the 2016 opener.
Three Minutewomen Tabbed A-10 Preseason All-Conference
Senior Izzie Delario and juniors Sarah Hawkshaw and Melanie Kreusch collected Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Team. It marks the second consecutive season this trio of Minutewomen appeared on the preseason all-conference team.
Delario led the squad in points (26) and assists (12) as a junior during 2015, when she was named a NFHCA Third Team All-American.
Kreusch paced the Minutewomen in goals (11) and only finished one behind Delario in the points column. The 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player begins her junior season with 49 career points on 21 goals and seven assists.
Hawkshaw, the team's starting center midfielder, poured in nine goals and assisted on two more as a sophomore for a personal-best 20 points on the year. She returns as an NFHCA All-Region and Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection one season ago.
Fresh Face In The Cage
University of Massachusetts field hockey features a new starter in the cage for the first time since the 2012 season in redshirt junior Emily Hazard.
Hazard, a Highlands Ranch, Colo., native saw limited time behind previous starter Sam Carlino over the last two seasons. She enters the year with 24 minutes, 15 seconds in the cage and a career 2.89 goals-against average.
