Minutewomen Defeat Yale In Heart-Stopping Penalty Shootout Victory

Amherst, Mass. -- The Minutewomen (7-5, 2-1) claimed a heart-stopping 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Yale (3-7, 0-2) on Sunday afternoon at Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex. Massachusetts claims its second overtime victory of 2023 and seventh at Gladchuk over the last four seasons.

Sophomore goalkeeper Myrte van Herwijnen led the way for the Minutewomen recording a season-high 14 total saves. The Huizen, The Netherlands native was a stalwart in net, stopping all four Yale shootout attempts, boosting the Minutewomen to victory.

Sophomore Mali Herberhold and Junior Hannah De Gast also got in on the penalty shootout action, each converting in crucial moments to help boost Massachusetts in the down to the wire victory.

Graduate student Jess Beech remained a consistent force for the Minutewomen recording her fourth goal of the season. Beech is now second on the team with nine points through 12 games.

Yale was led by goalkeeper Luanna Summer who recorded nine saves of her own. The Bulldogs drew a game-high 15 penalty corners and 15 shots on goal.

Match Quote

"A very impressive performance today from Yale's goalkeeper who made some incredible point-blank saves," assistant coach Holly Turbill said. "Yale fought really hard today, but I do think we could have finished the game much earlier, Myrte is one of the best goalkeepers in the country and it showed today."

Breaking Down The Action

Yale opened the scoring as Ellie Barlow made it 1-0 Bulldogs with 2:33 left in the first quarter.
Despite 10 shots in the second quarter alone, the Minutewomen entered the halftime break facing a 1-0 deficit.
Jess Beech scored the equalizer, finding the net off a deflection with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
Action remained scoreless despite 27 combined shots through the second half and overtime, forcing the game into a penalty shootout.
Myrte Van Herwijnen remained stout in penalty shootouts, denying all four Yale attempts.
Hannah De Gast and Mali Herberhold each converted on penalty shootout attempts, lifting the Minutewomen to the 2-1 victory.

Notable Numbers

2: The Minutewomen claimed their second overtime victory of 2023.
4: Beech scored her fourth goal of the season.
7: Massachusetts tallied its seventh win in overtime or penalty shootouts at home over the last four years.
9: With her goal in the third quarter Beech now sits second on the team with nine total points.
14: Van Herwijnen recorded 14 saves, setting a new season-high.
29: Massachusetts recorded 29 shots on Sunday, 14 of those shots were on-goal.

Series History

The Minutewomen are now 24-4-1 all-time against Yale after defeating the Bulldogs in New Haven last season.

Up Next

Massachusetts continues its three-game homestand as they host Saint Joseph's in a conference clash on Friday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and can followed live via umassathletics.com or UMassFH on Twitter.

Scoreboard