University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, May 14
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
4 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
15-3
13
vs
14
Temple
13-5
1
2
F
Temple
9
5
14
Massachusetts
4
9
13
Comeback Falls Just Short As Temple Escapes UMass, 14-13
May 14, 2021 | Women's Lacrosse
Kaitlyn Cerasi had five goals, one assist and five draw controls in Friday's NCAA First Round
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – A shorthanded Massachusetts women's lacrosse team found itself down by five goals at halftime and as many as six with 22 minutes remaining before storming back and cutting the deficit to one with 3:21 left. After a defensive stand late, UMass (15-3) had the ball with 11.6 seconds remaining coming out of a timeout with a shot to level the game, but couldn't get the tying goal to go as Temple (13-5) escaped with a 14-13 victory over the Minutewomen in Friday's NCAA First Round game in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
UMass announced prior to the game that it would be playing without seven of its players in the game due to Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 protocols and in accordance with University of Massachusetts policies.
Kaitlyn Cerasi was the story for Massachusetts, leading the team with six points (five goals, one assist) along with five draw controls, teaming with Amy Moreau (six draws) to lead a UMass team that outdrew Temple 17-12 on the afternoon. Cerasi concludes her career at UMass second all-time in points (314), fourth all-time in goals (169) and first all-time in assists (145).
Lauren Hiller kept UMass in it until the very end, finishing with 10 saves on the afternoon, finishing her career tied for second in career saves (564).
Playing without seven players, UMass looked to its depth to help fill the gaps, and did just that with two goals, two ground balls and three draws from Fiona McGowan, two points from Julia Smith (one goal, one assist), and a goal from Ally Murphy that helped spark the comeback, her first and only of the season.
Temple, which never trailed during the game, was paced by six points of her own from Belle Mastropietro (five goals, one assist) along with two goals apiece from Bridget Whitaker, Mackenzie Roth and Meghan Hoffman.
After the teams played an even first 18 minutes of the game with neither squad leading by more than two goals, the Owls used a 5-0 run over eight minutes to take a 9-4 lead into halftime. The field continued to tilt in favor of Temple into the second half as the Owls went up by six with 22:01 to go after Julie Schickling found the back of the net.
The Minutewomen turned the game in its favor after that, though, with five straight goals over a six minute span, capped by a strike from Haley Connaughton (two goals) to bring the game to 12-11 with 15:19 left.
The teams went back and forth down the stretch, setting the stage for a 14-13 Temple lead with 3:21 to go after Brinley Anderson once again brought the contest back within a goal. Massachusetts was assessed a pair of yellows within a 16 second span with two minutes to go, yet made a massive defensive stand to regain possession in the final seconds.
Out of the timeout, Cerasi controlled the ball and worked her way towards the cage before her scoring bid went just wide, allowing Temple to run out the clock.
The Minutewomen finish the season 15-3 during a year that saw Massachusetts capture a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title, its first Atlantic 10 Tournament championship since 2017, and go on a 14-game winning streak that was the fifth longest in program history. UMass was making its 13th ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2017.
UMass announced prior to the game that it would be playing without seven of its players in the game due to Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 protocols and in accordance with University of Massachusetts policies.
Kaitlyn Cerasi was the story for Massachusetts, leading the team with six points (five goals, one assist) along with five draw controls, teaming with Amy Moreau (six draws) to lead a UMass team that outdrew Temple 17-12 on the afternoon. Cerasi concludes her career at UMass second all-time in points (314), fourth all-time in goals (169) and first all-time in assists (145).
Lauren Hiller kept UMass in it until the very end, finishing with 10 saves on the afternoon, finishing her career tied for second in career saves (564).
Playing without seven players, UMass looked to its depth to help fill the gaps, and did just that with two goals, two ground balls and three draws from Fiona McGowan, two points from Julia Smith (one goal, one assist), and a goal from Ally Murphy that helped spark the comeback, her first and only of the season.
Temple, which never trailed during the game, was paced by six points of her own from Belle Mastropietro (five goals, one assist) along with two goals apiece from Bridget Whitaker, Mackenzie Roth and Meghan Hoffman.
After the teams played an even first 18 minutes of the game with neither squad leading by more than two goals, the Owls used a 5-0 run over eight minutes to take a 9-4 lead into halftime. The field continued to tilt in favor of Temple into the second half as the Owls went up by six with 22:01 to go after Julie Schickling found the back of the net.
The Minutewomen turned the game in its favor after that, though, with five straight goals over a six minute span, capped by a strike from Haley Connaughton (two goals) to bring the game to 12-11 with 15:19 left.
The teams went back and forth down the stretch, setting the stage for a 14-13 Temple lead with 3:21 to go after Brinley Anderson once again brought the contest back within a goal. Massachusetts was assessed a pair of yellows within a 16 second span with two minutes to go, yet made a massive defensive stand to regain possession in the final seconds.
Out of the timeout, Cerasi controlled the ball and worked her way towards the cage before her scoring bid went just wide, allowing Temple to run out the clock.
The Minutewomen finish the season 15-3 during a year that saw Massachusetts capture a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title, its first Atlantic 10 Tournament championship since 2017, and go on a 14-game winning streak that was the fifth longest in program history. UMass was making its 13th ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2017.
Team Stats
TEM
UMASS
Shots
29
34
Turnovers
9
13
Caused Turnovers
9
3
Draw Controls
12
17
Free-Position Shots
4
9
Ground Balls
15
12
Game Leaders
Players
G
5
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
2
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseGK
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
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