University of Massachusets Athletics
Sunday, April 14
Amherst, Mass.
1 PM
University of Massachusetts
13-3, 8-0 A-10
13
vs
12
Richmond
13-3, 6-2 A-10
1
2
OT
F
Richmond
7
5
0
12
Massachusetts
5
7
1
13
Cerasi Nets OT Winner As Women's Lax Downs Richmond 13-12
April 14, 2019 | Women's Lacrosse
Minutewomen win Atlantic 10 Regular-Season title with final regular-season weekend coming up.
AMHERST, Mass. - Kaitlyn Cerasi's overtime game-winner alongside a career-high 17 saves by goalie Lauren Hiller gave the UMass women's lacrosse team a 13-12 victory over Atlantic 10 rival Richmond on Saturday afternoon at Garber Field. The win secures the 2019 Atlantic 10 Regular-Season title for the Minutewomen with the final weekend of league play coming next Saturday as UMass hosts George Washington.
Hiller's play in goal was instrumental in keeping the Spiders (13-3, 6-2 A-10) at bay during the game. Her 17 saves were not only a career-high, but also rank as the second-most for a single game in program history - just one behind 2012 graduate Katie Florence who was in attendance as part of Alumnae Weekend. Perhaps her biggest save of the day was her 17th which came with 20 seconds remaining in regulation and UMass down a player following a penalty.
Cerasi finished with a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. Her game-winning tally was just 1:12 into the overtime period following a draw control win by Caitlyn Petro allowing UMass (13-3, 8-0 A-10) to have the first offensive possession of the extra stanza.
Haley Connaughton, Cassidy Doster and Hannah Palau each scored twice to pace the UMass offense. Doster's two goals came late in the second half with her first tying the game 11-11 with 11:25 remaining and her second coming just over a minute later to put UMass up 12-11.
In a game which featured eight ties and six lead changes, it was Richmond that started the scoring early taking a 5-2 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
Cerasi, Olivia Muscella and Haley Connaughton each scored consecutive goals to tie the game at 5-5, but the Spiders went into the locker room with a two goal lead after a pair of goals in the final two minutes.
The Minutewomen scored three straight to open the second half with Palau giving UMass its first lead of the game, 8-7, at the 26:11 mark. Richmond then scored twice to re-take the lead and the two teams traded two-goal spurts for the next 12 minutes.
Katie Sciandra notched her game-high sixth goal of the game with 9:13 to go tying the game at 12-12. Both goalies came up big down the stretch with Hiller making three saves and Megan Gianforte making two as the defenses stood tall to close out regulation.
Along with Sciandra, Sam Geiersbach led the Spiders with three goals and an assist. Gianforte made 14 saves with several efforts matching Hiller's performance in the game.
Overall, the Spiders held a 39-to-33 shot advantage and a 24-to-14 edge in groundballs which overcame UMass winning 19-of-27 draw controls.
The Minutewomen will close out the regular-season next Saturday, April 20 against George Washington (Noon) as part of a double header with the men's team at Garber Field. Attendance is free and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Prior to the game, the UMass women's lacrosse team will hold a special ceremony to honor its 2019 Senior Class.
Â
Hiller's play in goal was instrumental in keeping the Spiders (13-3, 6-2 A-10) at bay during the game. Her 17 saves were not only a career-high, but also rank as the second-most for a single game in program history - just one behind 2012 graduate Katie Florence who was in attendance as part of Alumnae Weekend. Perhaps her biggest save of the day was her 17th which came with 20 seconds remaining in regulation and UMass down a player following a penalty.
Cerasi finished with a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. Her game-winning tally was just 1:12 into the overtime period following a draw control win by Caitlyn Petro allowing UMass (13-3, 8-0 A-10) to have the first offensive possession of the extra stanza.
Haley Connaughton, Cassidy Doster and Hannah Palau each scored twice to pace the UMass offense. Doster's two goals came late in the second half with her first tying the game 11-11 with 11:25 remaining and her second coming just over a minute later to put UMass up 12-11.
In a game which featured eight ties and six lead changes, it was Richmond that started the scoring early taking a 5-2 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
Cerasi, Olivia Muscella and Haley Connaughton each scored consecutive goals to tie the game at 5-5, but the Spiders went into the locker room with a two goal lead after a pair of goals in the final two minutes.
The Minutewomen scored three straight to open the second half with Palau giving UMass its first lead of the game, 8-7, at the 26:11 mark. Richmond then scored twice to re-take the lead and the two teams traded two-goal spurts for the next 12 minutes.
Katie Sciandra notched her game-high sixth goal of the game with 9:13 to go tying the game at 12-12. Both goalies came up big down the stretch with Hiller making three saves and Megan Gianforte making two as the defenses stood tall to close out regulation.
Along with Sciandra, Sam Geiersbach led the Spiders with three goals and an assist. Gianforte made 14 saves with several efforts matching Hiller's performance in the game.
Overall, the Spiders held a 39-to-33 shot advantage and a 24-to-14 edge in groundballs which overcame UMass winning 19-of-27 draw controls.
The Minutewomen will close out the regular-season next Saturday, April 20 against George Washington (Noon) as part of a double header with the men's team at Garber Field. Attendance is free and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Prior to the game, the UMass women's lacrosse team will hold a special ceremony to honor its 2019 Senior Class.
Â
Team Stats
UR
UMASS
Shots
39
33
Turnovers
9
18
Caused Turnovers
6
7
Draw Controls
8
19
Free-Position Shots
6
7
Ground Balls
24
14
Game Leaders
G
4
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
3
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse2025 A10 CHAMPIONS! | Massachusetts Women's Lacrosse | 5.4.25
Tuesday, May 06
Massachusetts Women's Lacrosse vs. Richmond | A10 Semifinal Recap | 5.2.25
Friday, May 02
UMass WLAX | Highlights vs George Mason | 04.26.25
Saturday, April 26
UMass WLAX vs. UMass Lowell | Broadcast Highlights | 04.22.25
Wednesday, April 23