University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
No. 1 Connecticut
Midweek Rumble Sends UMass to No. 1 UConn
September 27, 2016 | Field Hockey
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes | |
| Game 10 | Massachusetts (5-4) at No. 1 Connecticut (9-0) |
| Date | Time | Wednesday, Sept. 28 | 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | Sherman Family Sports Complex; Storrs, Conn. |
| Series History | Connecticut leads, 35-13-3. Last meeting: No. 4 UConn 2, UMass 1; Sept. 9, 2016 |
| Live Statistics | GameTracker |
| Watch Live | HuskyVision (subscription required) |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| @UMassFH | @UMassAthletics | |
| UMass Field Hockey | |
The UMass-UConn Scouting Report
UMass field hockey will make a bus trip South to Storrs, Conn., to face the No. 1 nationally ranked UConn Huskies at the Sherman Family Sports Complex on Wed., Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
It marks the second meeting of the season between the squads after then-No. 4 UConn took a 2-1 game at the Gladchuk Sports Complex in Amherst, Mass., on Fri., Sept. 9. The sides have previously met on multiple occasions during the same season in 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1990 and 1999. They have never squared off twice in the regular season prior to 2016.
The upcoming tilt marks Connecticut's first game since the team took over the No. 1 ranking in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top-20 Poll. A strong weekend (W, 6-0 vs. Temple; W, 5-1 vs. No. 9 Boston University) coupled with losses by last week's top two teams (No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Duke) guided the Huskies into the top spot.
Charlotte Veitner's 31 points (12 goals, seven assists) paves the way for a dangerous offense that averages 4.56 goals per game via a barrage of 17.3 shots on average in each contest. Amanda Collins (21 points), Casey Umstead (19) and Anna Middendorf (14) round out the Huskies quartet in double-figures through nine games. Nina Klein has played all 630 minutes in the cage to the tune of a .619 save percentage and 0.89 goals-against average.
Clipping The Eagles
University of Massachusetts field hockey took a 3-2 overtime game at No. 9 Boston College on Sun., Sept. 25. It marked the highest-ranked team downed by the Minutewomen since the squad defeated No. 7 Virginia, 4-3, in overtime during the NCAA Tournament First Round on Nov. 16, 2013. UMass rallied from down one goal on two occasions against the Eagles as BC led 1-0 following a 23rd-minute goal and 2-1 in the 42nd minute. Sarah Hawkshaw provided the game-tying tally at the 54:23 minute mark to force overtime. Anne Dijkstra ended it with her first goal of the year in the 82nd minute as Dijkstra forced a turnover near the Boston College circle, dribbled in and shot into the right side for the sudden victory.
Gunning For The Goals Record
University of Massachusetts field hockey dropped 12 goals on Saint Louis in a shutout win at the Gladchuk Sports Complex on Fri., Sept. 16. It reset the program record for goals scored in a single-game. Previously, UMass scored 11 on two occasions, including one performance accomplished by the current seniors during their freshman year. The Minutewomen had 11 at Saint Louis in a shutout of the Billikens on Sat., Oct. 12, 2013 and also posted 11 at Smith College on Oct. 25, 1979.
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 entered the year with 24 minutes, 15 seconds in the cage and a career 2.89 goals-against average.
