University of Massachusets Athletics
Sunday, March 31
Amherst, Mass.
1 PM
University of Massachusetts
9-3, 4-0 A-10
11
vs
8
Saint Joseph's
7-5, 3-1 A-10
1
2
F
Saint Joseph's
5
3
8
Massachusetts
5
6
11
Women's Lax Stays Perfect In A-10 With 11-8 Win Over Saint Joseph's
March 31, 2019 | Women's Lacrosse
Minutewomen grind out defensive-minded win at rain soaked Garber Field.
AMHERST, Mass. - A defensive-minded second half proved the difference maker on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon at Garber Field as the UMass women's lacrosse team ground out an 11-8 win over Saint Joseph's to stay unbeaten in Atlantic 10 play. The Minutewomen held the Hawks to just three second half goals and goalie Lauren Hiller making six of her 10 saves allowing UMass to take control of the game in the final 20 minutes of play.
With the win, Massachusetts improved to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in league play, while the Hawks fell to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in A-10 action. The result makes the Minutewomen the only unbeaten team remaining in conference play after the first two weekends.
The first 10 minutes of action was largely in Saint Joseph's favor as the Hawks built out a 5-2 lead highlighted by a pair of Hayley Sabol goals. As the early game rain began to lessen, UMass was able to cut down on its early turnovers to generate more steady offensive possessions. A three-goal run tied the game starting with a Cassidy Doster tally at the 16:24 mark off a nice feed from Emma Dotsikas. That was followed by a Brinley Anderson goal four minutes later and a Hayley Connaughton tally with 7:16 remaining in the first half. Neither team was able to score in the balance of the opening stanza sending the teams into the intermission tied 5-5.
Just over a minute into the second half, UMass took the lead on a rocket from Stephanie Croke. The Hawks answered to tie the game and the two sides traded goals again with Kaitlyn Cerasi scoring on a man-down situation before Francesa Donato knotted the score 7-7 at the 25:56 mark.
Three minutes later, a save by Hiller put UMass in transition leading to a Kiley Anderson goal which was followed by a Cerasi man-up goal at the 19:43 mark giving the Minutewomen a 9-7 lead.
The Hawks pulled within a goal just over a minute later but a man-up goal by Doster pushed the lead back to two before Kelly Marra gave UMass it's largest lead of the game when she scored with 5:58 to go.
Four of Hiller's saves game in the final 18 minutes of play which held the Hawks at bay down the stretch.
Saint Joseph's finished the game with a 30-to-25 advantage in shots and a 12-to-9 edge in draw controls. UMass was effective in transition forcing eight turnovers on SJU clears as the Hawks finished 21-of-29.
Doster led UMass with four points on two goals and two assists, while Croke had two goals and an assist. Cerasi also had two goals and Anderson finished with a goal, an assist and six draw controls.
The Hawks were led by Donato who had two goals and two assists and two goals from both Penny Green and Sabol. Corinne Buttner took the loss in cage making seven saves.
The Minutewomen will hit the road next weekend with trips to Duquesne on Friday night (7 PM) and St. Bonaventure (12 pm) on Sunday. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of the UMass women's lacrosse program, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter (@UMassLacrosse), Instagram (@UMassWLacrosse) and Facebook (@UMassWLacrosse) as well as online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
With the win, Massachusetts improved to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in league play, while the Hawks fell to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in A-10 action. The result makes the Minutewomen the only unbeaten team remaining in conference play after the first two weekends.
The first 10 minutes of action was largely in Saint Joseph's favor as the Hawks built out a 5-2 lead highlighted by a pair of Hayley Sabol goals. As the early game rain began to lessen, UMass was able to cut down on its early turnovers to generate more steady offensive possessions. A three-goal run tied the game starting with a Cassidy Doster tally at the 16:24 mark off a nice feed from Emma Dotsikas. That was followed by a Brinley Anderson goal four minutes later and a Hayley Connaughton tally with 7:16 remaining in the first half. Neither team was able to score in the balance of the opening stanza sending the teams into the intermission tied 5-5.
Just over a minute into the second half, UMass took the lead on a rocket from Stephanie Croke. The Hawks answered to tie the game and the two sides traded goals again with Kaitlyn Cerasi scoring on a man-down situation before Francesa Donato knotted the score 7-7 at the 25:56 mark.
Three minutes later, a save by Hiller put UMass in transition leading to a Kiley Anderson goal which was followed by a Cerasi man-up goal at the 19:43 mark giving the Minutewomen a 9-7 lead.
The Hawks pulled within a goal just over a minute later but a man-up goal by Doster pushed the lead back to two before Kelly Marra gave UMass it's largest lead of the game when she scored with 5:58 to go.
Four of Hiller's saves game in the final 18 minutes of play which held the Hawks at bay down the stretch.
Saint Joseph's finished the game with a 30-to-25 advantage in shots and a 12-to-9 edge in draw controls. UMass was effective in transition forcing eight turnovers on SJU clears as the Hawks finished 21-of-29.
Doster led UMass with four points on two goals and two assists, while Croke had two goals and an assist. Cerasi also had two goals and Anderson finished with a goal, an assist and six draw controls.
The Hawks were led by Donato who had two goals and two assists and two goals from both Penny Green and Sabol. Corinne Buttner took the loss in cage making seven saves.
The Minutewomen will hit the road next weekend with trips to Duquesne on Friday night (7 PM) and St. Bonaventure (12 pm) on Sunday. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of the UMass women's lacrosse program, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter (@UMassLacrosse), Instagram (@UMassWLacrosse) and Facebook (@UMassWLacrosse) as well as online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Team Stats
SJU
UMASS
Shots
30
25
Turnovers
27
26
Caused Turnovers
9
16
Draw Controls
12
9
Free-Position Shots
1
3
Ground Balls
27
24
Game Leaders
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
3
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
2
G
2
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
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