UMass Prepares for Key Stretch of Field Hockey

University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes & Information
Game 15	Massachusetts (7-7, 4-2 Atlantic 10) vs. La Salle (6-9, 3-3 Atlantic 10)
Date // Time	Friday, Oct. 25 // 3 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. // Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex // Driving Directions
Series History	Massachusetts leads, 23-1 Last Meeting: Massachusetts 4, La Salle 1; Sept. 21, 2018
Live Statistics	SIDEARM Stats

University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes & Information
Game 16	Massachusetts at Boston University (4-10 overall) Boston University plays Holy Cross on Sat., Oct. 26
Date // Time	Sunday, Oct. 27 // 1 p.m.
Location	Boston, Mass. // New Balance Field // Driving Directions
Series History	Series tied, 18-18-2 Last Meeting: Massachusetts 2, No. 16 Boston University 1; Sept. 10, 2017
Live Statistics	SIDEARM Stats
Watch	Patriot League Network

University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes & Information
Game 17	Massachusetts at UMass Lowell (7-7 overall) UMass Lowell plays Monmouth on Fri., Oct. 25
Date // Time	Tuesday, Oct. 29 // 6 p.m.
Location	Lowell, Mass. // Cushing Field // Driving Directions
Series History	Series tied, 6-0 Last Meeting: Massachusetts 2, UMass Lowell 1; Oct. 25, 2018
Live Statistics	SIDEARM Stats
Watch	ESPN3/WatchESPN

The Need to Knows
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Setting the Scene
A busy five days await the Minutewomen as UMass plays host to La Salle for a crucial Atlantic 10 matchup on Fri., Oct. 25 before the Maroon and White trek to Boston University on Sun., Oct. 27 and UMass Lowell on Tues., Oct. 29 for a pair of non-conference games. UMass (4-2 A-10) and La Salle (3-3 A-10) are jostling for postseason participation as both sides look for a win to bolster their Atlantic 10 Tournament chances. One of the most evenly-fought head-to-head series in program history follows when the Minutewomen travel to the Terriers on Sunday as the sides have evenly split the 38 all-time meetings, 18-18-2. The final of three games in five days sends the Minutewomen to UMass Lowell on Tuesday for the annual Kennedy Cup, named in honor of alumnus John F. Kennedy, who graduated both institutions.

Recap in a Minute
UMass enters its busiest portion of this season's schedule riding a three-game win streak, including a pair of victories during its most recent weekend of competition. UMass downed Lock Haven, 3-0, on the road Fri., Oct. 18 before the squad headed to Saint Francis in Loretto, Pennsylvania, on Sun., Oct. 20 and left with a 2-0 triumph.

Junior goalie Marlise van Tonder made seven saves without yielding a goal for her third and fourth shutouts of the season. Junior forward Lucy Cooper and freshman midfielder Jess Beech each collected three points on the weekend via a goal and assist apiece, among seven total Minutewomen with at least one point.

The All-Time Series
The Minutewomen hold a 23-1 lead in the all-time series with La Salle, including victories in the last 15 consecutive meetings between the sides. Massachusetts is undefeated in 13 games played at home against the Explorers.

Massachusetts and Boston University battled to an 18-18-2 series tie through 38 all-time meetings, which includes five NCAA Tournament games between the sides. It is one of the longest running series for the Minutewomen, with the first-ever match between the teams a 2-0 shutout victory for Pam Hixon's Minutewomen on Nov. 7, 1979. Massachusetts currently rides a four-game win streak over the Terriers.

Massachusetts and UMass Lowell have met on six occasions since the River Hawks elevated to Division I before the 2013 season, with each a victory for the Flagship Campus. UMass traveled to Lowell for the latest meeting as well and took a 2-1 game from the River Hawks on their blue turf in commeback fashion on Oct. 25, 2018.

de Jonge in Elite Senior Company
Senior midfielder Sophie de Jonge was named to the Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Division I Senior Game on Wed., Oct. 16. The showcase, scheduled for Fri., Nov. 22, will take place at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium following the NCAA Division I National Semifinals. It marks the ninth time in the last 10 seasons that a Minutewoman has been tabbed to participate in the prestigious game.

De Jonge, an Amsterdam, Netherlands native, was one of just 38 student-athletes selected. In 73 career games with 54 starts, she owns 16 points on a pair of goals plus 12 assists. She was an Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection in 2018 and also was placed on the A-10 All-Championship Team (2017) and NFHCA National Academic Squad (2016).

Photo Day

Starting a thread with our top ?? from yesterday (trust us, it's hard with so many good ones)

Easily our favorite is always the family photo ??#RollUMass | #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/HkjHnlcUxb
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 15, 2019

Battling With the Best
Massachusetts tested itself right out of the gate with one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in New England, if not beyond. To date, four of the five Minutewomen losses outside the A-10 have come to foes ranked top-20 in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (top 25). Three of the ranked losses were by just one goal.

Crown Collection
Since 1995, every postseason Atlantic 10 Championship has been won by either Massachusetts (13), Richmond (8) or Saint Joseph's (3). UMass took home the league crown and automatic NCAA Tournament bid each year from 1996-2001, back-to-back in 2007-08, 2010, 2012-13 and again in 2015-16.

Next Up
Massachusetts returns to the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex for Senior Day against VCU on Fri., Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. The Minutewomen will recognize seniors Sara Davis and Sophie de Jonge and graduate student Michelle Barrett.

Roll UMass
Three University of Massachusetts alumnae are active NCAA Division I head coaches in the 2019 season, while numerous others hold assistant coaching roles around the country. Duke head coach Pam Bustin played at UMass from 1985-88, Stanford's Tara Danielson from 1990-93 and Niki Miller (2013-16) is leading Wagner field hockey through its inaugural campaign.

Sweet 16
Massachusetts has secured a league-record 16 Atlantic 10 Championships, most recently winning the postseason conference title back-to-back in 2015-16. The program's 26 NCAA Tournament appearances also stand as the top mark in the A-10.

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Michelle Barrett

Jess Beech

Lucy Cooper

Sara Davis

Sophie de Jonge

Marlise van Tonder

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics