Minutewomen Host No. 13 Boston College Wednesday

University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Game Notes & Information
Game Nine	Massachusetts (6-2 overall) vs. No. 13 Boston College (5-5 overall)
Date // Time	Wednesday, April 7 // 4 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. // Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex Please click here for protocols on fan attendance restrictions
Series History	UMass leads, 22-12 Last Meeting: No. 12 Boston College 6, Massachusetts 1 Oct. 14, 2018 • Newton Field Hockey Complex • Newton, Mass.
Live Statistics	Sidearm Sports
Watch	ESPN+ Domestic // International
Social Media	Twitter \| Instagram \| Facebook
Attendance	Please click here for protocols on fan attendance restrictions

Setting the Scene
After a three-game road swing, Massachusetts returns to the home confines of the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex for a Wednesday tilt against cross-state rival, No. 13-ranked Boston College. Starting whistle is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (in the United States) and the Atlantic 10 Digital Network (international).

Recap in a Minute
Playing in just a single game last weekend, the Minutewomen trekked to Lock Haven and came away with a 2-1 win in overtime. After the Bald Eagles struck first in the 41st minute, sophomore Jess Beech leveled the score at one-all with a penalty stroke tally in the 45th minute. Beech then set up the game-winning marker in overtime, intercepting an LHU pass in the attacking third and feeding freshman Josephine Ang in the circle.

Ang, who was sidelined earlier in the contest due to a minor injury, battled through with some help from the UMass athletic training staff and returned in time to bury the game-winner. For her performance, Ang was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week.

Defending the 'Chuk
UMass is looking to extend a five-game winning streak at the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex, a run that dates to a 2-1 triumph over La Salle on Oct. 25, 2019. A victory Wednesday would be the first over Boston College since the Minutewomen took an overtime thriller in 2016, the first in Amherst since '13.

The Maroon and White are seeking their first victory over the Eagles on Gladchuk, which opened ahead of the 2015 season.

Crunching the Numbers
UMass sits at a 6-2 overall record, matching the team's best start through eight games since 2017. That year, the first in Amherst for head coach Barb Weinberg, the Minutewomen ultimately reached the Atlantic 10 Championship Game.

Three different Minutewomen share the team lead with four goals in freshman Josephine Ang, sophomore Jess Beech, and senior Georgie McTear, while both Beech and McTear own 10 points apiece. It's been a fairly balanced effort in the attacking circle with seven different Minutewomen finding the back of the cage at least once and 10 players recording a point through seven games.

Freshman Brooke Richards has carried the load in goal this Spring, logging a 1.43 goals-against average to date and aided on the backline by sophomore Josie Rossbach. Richards made a season-high five saves in wins against Northeastern (March 5) and Maine (March 12), and also turned aside a penalty stroke in her collegiate debut at New Hampshire on Feb. 26.

Massachusetts: Wicked Smaht (how do you like them apples?)
The Minutewomen were included in a trio of academic award announcements throughout March from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). For their efforts in the classroom, UMass placed 21 honorees on the NFHCA National Academic Squad, including seven Scholars of Distinction. The program also received the National Academic Team Award after tallying a 3.79 overall grade-point average during Fall 2020. It narrowly missed a three-way tie for the fifth highest team figure in the country.

During an unprecedented Fall '20 semester, the Minutewomen still managed remarkable individual performances hitting the books. Along with the upper-tier team GPA, every student-athlete on the team finished the term with a cumulative mark above 3.5 and five had perfect 4.0 averages.

Team Leadership Announced
UMass field hockey elected a four-woman leadership group ahead of the 2021 spring season. The quartet includes team co-captains Sophie Johnson and Georgie McTear, as well as Jess Beech and Emilie Keij. The team elected the captains and leadership group through a player-wide vote.

A Dependable Center "Bach"
Now-sophomore Josie Rossbach started at center back for the Minutewomen during the 2019 season and played a team-high 1,181 minutes of a possible 1,226 during the 20-game season (96.3 percent). Her total time played breaks down to 59 minutes, five seconds per appearance. She was the first Minutewoman to start at center back as a true freshman since Lauren Allymohamed did so in 2011.

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Josephine Ang

Jess Beech

Sophie Johnson

Emilie Keij

Georgie McTear

Brooke Richards

Josie Rossbach

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics