Women's Lacrosse Travels To La Salle For Friday Tilt

University of Massachusetts Women's Lacrosse Game Notes & Information
Game 12	Massachusetts (9-2, 4-0 Atlantic 10) at La Salle (3-7, 1-4 Atlantic 10)
Date \| Time	Friday, April 16, 2021 \| 1 p.m.
Location	Philadelphia, Pa. \| McCarthy Stadium
Watch	ESPN+ \| International Stream
Live Statistics	Live Stats
Record Book	2021 Massachusetts Lacrosse Record Book
Twitter	@UMassAthletics \| @UMassLacrosse
Instagram	UMass Women's Lacrosse
Facebook	UMass Women's Lacrosse

AMHERST, Mass. – Looking to remain perfect in Atlantic 10 play and extend its winning streak to nine games, the Massachusetts women's lacrosse team is back on the road on Friday afternoon when the Minutewomen travel to La Salle. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

High power offense
The Minutewomen are second in the nation averaging 17.36 goals per game this season, and have scored 19 goals or more in six of the team's 11 games. UMass is also fourth in the country averaging 26.00 points per game, led by Haley Connaughton's 50 points (20th in the NCAA).

Much of this is due in part to UMass' draw control domination throughout the year. The Minutewomen average 17.64 draw controls per game and have the nation's leader on the draw in redshirt senior Caitlyn Petro (12.20).

The series with La Salle
UMass is 22-1 all-time against the Explorers, including wins in each of the last 11 meetings. Earlier this season, Kelly Marra's eight points (seven goals, one assist) and six from Haley Connaughton (two goals, four assists) led the way for Massachusetts on a rainy Sunday afternoon in late March, 17-10.

The Minutewomen jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening four minutes of the game and never looked back, leading by no fewer than two goals the rest of the way. Eight different players found the back of the net, including multi-goal efforts from Marra, Connaughton, Olivia Muscella and Alex Finn. Brinley Anderson made an impact on the defensive end of the field all afternoon long, collecting a team-high seven ground balls and causing four turnovers, while Lauren Hillermade 13 saves.

Streaking
Massachusetts enters Friday's game winners of eight in a row. It's the 10th straight season (not including the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020) that the Minutewomen have won at least eight consecutive games in a season, all of which have come under head coach Angela McMahon.

Chasing history
Senior attack Kaitlyn Cerasi entered the 2021 season poised to rewrite the UMass record book. Cerasi, who has already left her mark on several single-season marks during her time in Amherst, is prepped to make a move up UMass' career records list this year.

Career Points
1. Katie Ferris - 330
2. Holly Turner - 280
3. Kaitlyn Cerasi – 270

Career Goals
6. Hannah Burnett - 156
7. Jackie Lyons - 143
8. Kaitlyn Cerasi – 142
9. Holly Turner - 137
10. Hannah Murphy - 135

Career Assists
1. Holly Turner - 143
2. Kaitlyn Cerasi - 128

Experience in the cage
UMass is currently 24th in the NCAA and third in the Atlantic 10 with a team goals against average of 10.45, led by the play of starting goalkeeper Lauren Hiller. The graduate student from North Andover, Mass. is 18th in the country with a 9.82 goals against average this season, while her .457 save percentage is good for 35th.

Minutewomen selected second in A-10 Preseason Poll
UMass was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 in the preseason coaches' poll released by the conference on February 4. The Minutewomen earned 93 points, including four first place votes, in the poll trailing only Richmond (96 points, six first place votes), making the two squads the clear favorites for the A-10 title this season.

Petro named Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American
Senior draw specialist Caitlyn Petro was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by Inside Lacrosse on February 1. Petro, who was named a Second Team All-American by Inside Lacrosse in 2020, led the nation in draw controls per game in 2020 with 11.2 wins per game, while her 56 draws in just five games played ranked in a tie for seventh in the NCAA.

The Manchester, N.H. native recorded double-digit draws on three occasions this season, including a career-high 17 in a victory on the road at Connecticut on March 7.

UMass welcomes Livvy Unglaub to women's lacrosse program through Team IMPACT
Ahead of the season opener, head coach Angela McMahon announced that 12-year old Livvy Unglaub has joined the Minutewomen as an official member of the program through Team IMPACT.

"We are very excited to celebrate a small all-star who is having a very big impact," McMahon said. "Livvy is a courageous 12-year-old from Feeding Hills, Mass. who has been diagnosed with TCell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, which makes playing sports a challenge. However, we all know the life-changing benefit of team, and as such, UMass women's lacrosse has created a spot for her on our roster."

Livvy comes to the UMass women's lacrosse team through Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects kids facing serious and chronic illnesses to college athletic teams across the country. As a member of the team, Livvy will be present at virtual team bonding events, and will be present at practices, games, team dinners and more when it is safe to do so.

Scoreboard

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brinley Anderson

Hannah Burnett

Kaitlyn Cerasi

Haley Connaughton

Alex Finn

Lauren Hiller

Kelly Marra

Hannah Murphy

Olivia Muscella

Caitlyn Petro

Holly Turner

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics