Crunch Time: UMass Hosts La Salle Saturday At McGuirk

University of Massachusetts Women's Soccer Game Notes & Information
Game 10	Massachusetts (5-3-1, 4-1-1 Atlantic 10) vs. La Salle (5-2-0, 2-2-0 Atlantic 10)
Date \| Time	Saturday, April 3, 2021 \| 6 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. \| McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Fan Information	READ: UMass Athletics To Welcome Limited Spectators To Remaining Home Events
Watch	ESPN+ \| International Stream
Live Statistics	Live Stats
Twitter	@UMassAthletics \| @UMassWSoccer
Instagram	UMass Women's Soccer
Facebook	UMass Women's Soccer

AMHERST, Mass. – With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Massachusetts women's soccer team will look to get back in the win column on Saturday when the Minutewomen host La Salle at McGuirk Alumni Stadium at 6 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.

Home sweet home
UMass will play a majority of its games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in 2020-21, where it is 2-0-1 on the season. Massachusetts was 5-1-2 when playing at home last season on Rudd Field.

The series with La Salle
UMass is 12-13-0 all-time against the Explorers, including wins in each of the last three meetings. Earlier this season, Hannah Peric scored her first career goal in the 90th-minute to guide the Massachusetts to a 1-0 road win on Mar. 14 at La Salle. The rookie put home a right-footed shot into the right corner of goal off a scramble in front of net after a late UMass free kick.

Cardiac kids
UMass has had a flair for the dramatic in recent weeks, netting the game-winning goal in the 90th minute at La Salle on Mar. 14 off the foot of Hannah Peric before Lauren Bonavita gave the Minutewomen their first double overtime victory since 2015 with the game-winning strike in the 106th minute at Fordham on Mar. 21.

Last week, Jenny Hipp scored the game winning goal in the 82nd minute against Saint Joseph's to lift UMass to a 1-0 victory before Olivia Gouldsbury scored the OT game-winner in the 100th minute at Rhode Island.

Stingy
Alyssa Chase, Bella Mendoza and the UMass defensive corps combined to record its fifth clean sheet of the season and fourth in the last five games last Sunday. The Minutewomen have only allowed two goals in league play this season, and had a shutout streak of 316 minutes snapped on Wednesday.

UMass is 50th in the NCAA and second in the Atlantic 10 in shutout percentage (.556) this season, and 49th in the nation (third in the A-10) in goals against average (.631).

Last time out
Massachusetts outshot Saint Joseph's 13-2 in the match, but a Hawks goal in the 62nd minute proved to be the difference as SJU nipped the Minutewomen on a rainy Wednesday night on Sweeney Field, 1-0.

UMass carried the play for most of the night, and heavily pressured Saint Joseph's down the stretch in search of the tying goal, but couldn't sneak one past SJU goalkeeper Katie Cappelletti (two saves). Bella Mendoza got the start in goal for Massachusetts for the second straight match before giving way to Alyssa Chase in the second half.

Barry and Sclafani named 2020-21 captains
Head coach Jason Dowiak announced on Feb. 8 that seniors Fatou Barry and Dani Sclafani will serve as co-captains for the 2020-21 season.

"Fatou and Dani have displayed great leadership qualities throughout their time at UMass," Dowiak said. "They always display genuine care and concern for their teammates, the coaches, and our support staff. They truly embody our core values of Prepare, Actions, Compete, Serve, and Informed which gives me great confidence in naming them our captains."

UMass picked third in Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
Massachusetts was picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 in the conference's preseason coaches' poll released on Feb. 3. The Minutewomen earned 155 points in the poll, trailing only defending conference champion Saint Louis (194 points, 12 first place votes) and George Washington (171 points, one first place vote).

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Fatou Barry

Lauren Bonavita

Alyssa Chase

Olivia Gouldsbury

Jenny Hipp

Bella Mendoza

Hannah Peric

Dani Sclafani

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics