UMass Returns Home To Host Duquesne On Senior Day Sunday

University of Massachusetts Women's Lacrosse Game Notes & Information
Game 13	Massachusetts (10-2, 5-0 Atlantic 10) vs. Duquesne (6-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10)
Date \| Time	Sunday, April 18, 2021 \| 12 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. \| Garber Field
Fan Information	READ: UMass Athletics To Welcome Limited Spectators To Remaining Home Events
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. – Riding a nine-game winning streak and one of the top offenses in the country, the Massachusetts women's lacrosse team returns home on Sunday afternoon when the Minutewomen host Duquesne at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.

UMass Athletics to welcome limited spectators for remaining home games
As a result of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moving to Phase IV, Step 1 of its Reopening Plan on Mar. 22, UMass Athletics is excited to announce that it has begun welcoming limited spectators to home events. In addition, UMass students and faculty/staff may begin attending games on a first come, first served basis beginning on Apr. 1.

Please note: fans listed on the UMass player pass list will be given priority access to home events. Only student-athletes can request tickets. In addition, UMass students and faculty/staff will be allowed into the facilities on a first come, first served basis. Students and faculty/staff will be asked to show their green checkmark upon arrival in compliance with campus COVID testing protocols.

Fans of visiting teams and the general public will not be admitted to UMass home events at this time.

For complete details and limitations please click here.

Thank You, Seniors!
Following the game against the Dukes, UMass will honor the seven members of the 2021 Senior Class: Kaitlyn Cerasi, Stephanie Croke, Emma Dotsikas, Audrey Fantazzia, Lauren Hiller, Caitlyn Petro and Nikki Torres.

During their time in Amherst, this group has helped the program to 61 victories, three Atlantic 10 regular season titles, the 2017 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

High power offense
The Minutewomen are third in the nation averaging 17.36 goals per game this season, and have scored 19 goals or more in six of the team's 12 games. UMass is also fourth in the country averaging 26.00 points per game, led by Haley Connaughton's 56 points (30th 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 Duquesne
UMass is 19-7 all-time against the Dukes, including wins in each of the last 13 meetings dating back to 2011. Earlier this season, Massachusetts used a 10-0 first half run, eight points from Kaitlyn Cerasi (3-5—8) and seven from Haley Connaughton (5-2—7) en route to its sixth straight win in a 21-4 victory at Duquesne (2-1, 1-1) on April 1 in Pittsburgh.

The victory marked the fewest goals against against a conference opponent since the 2018 season (Apr. 6, 2018 vs. St. Bonaventure).

Ten different Minutewomen found the back of the net on the day while seven recorded multi-point efforts (Stephanie Croke, 3-2—5; Olivia Muscella, 3-0—3; Kelly Marra, 1-1—2; Julia Smith, 1-1—2; Alex Finn, 2-0—2). Caitlyn Petro, who entered the day second in the nation in draw controls per game, recorded another dominating effort with 12 draws, leading UMass to a 18-9 advantage on the afternoon.

Streaking
Massachusetts enters Sunday's game winners of nine in a row. It's the ninth time under head coach Angela McMahon that Massachusetts has won at least nine games in a row in a season.

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. Kaitlyn Cerasi – 283
3. Holly Turner - 280

Career Goals
6. Hannah Burnett - 156
7. Kaitlyn Cerasi – 148
8. Jackie Lyons - 143
9. Holly Turner - 137
10. Hannah Murphy - 135

Career Assists
1. Holly Turner - 143
2. Kaitlyn Cerasi - 135

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

Hannah Burnett

Kaitlyn Cerasi

Haley Connaughton

Stephanie Croke

Emma Dotsikas

Audrey Fantazzia

Alex Finn

Lauren Hiller

Kelly Marra

Hannah Murphy

Olivia Muscella

Caitlyn Petro

Julia Smith

Nikki Torres

Holly Turner

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics