Minutewomen Claim Dramatic 2-1 Win Over La Salle

PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- No. 15 Massachusetts (10-3, 4-0) overcame a fourth quarter equalizer, scoring the game-winning goal with 19 seconds remaining to secure a 2-1 victory over La Salle (7-5, 1-3) on Friday at The Proving Grounds. With the win, Massachusetts tallies double-digit victories for the 12th consecutive season, excluding those affected by Covid-19, while remaining undefeated in Atlantic 10 play.

Graduate Student Claire Danahy once again came up clutch late in regulation, tipping in the game-winning goal off a last chance Minutewomen penalty corner. The goal marked Danahy's fifth of the season and extended her team-high point total to 19 on the season.

Sophomore Neva Eisenga continued her steady run of form, firing in her second goal of the season off a penalty corner late in the second quarter. Eisenga now has three points in her last two games after recording a key assist in last weekend's 1-0 victory over then-no. 11 Boston College.

Graduate Student Elena Clococeanu recorded her first assist in the maroon and white, finding Danahy for the game-winning score. Junior Myrte van Herwijnen recorded another solid game in net, making seven saves to anchor the Massachusetts defense in the win.

La Salle was led by Matilda Diedrichsen who scored the Explorers lone goal of the contest.

Breaking Down The Action

The Minutewomen controlled action for the first 15 minutes of play, holding a 4-3 shot advantage while drawing one corner.
Massachusetts claimed the matchup's first goal as Neva Eisenga converted a penalty corner with 3:35 remaining in the first half to provide the 1-0 lead.
The Minutewomen maintained a stronghold on action, holding a 4-2 shot advantage in the third quarter, but could not find an insurance goal heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
La Salle found an equalizer, converting a penalty corner just 1:40 into the final quarter of play.
Massachusetts drew six penalty corners in the remainder of the fourth quarter, eventually finding the game-winning goal on a Danahy tip-in with just 19 seconds remaining in regulation.

Notable Numbers

1: Clococeanu dished out her first assist as a Minutewomen.
2: Danahy recorded her second game-winning goal of the season.
4: The Minutewomen recorded their fourth conference win of the season, remaining undefeated.
5: Danahy now has five goals on the season.
12: Massachusetts has now tallied double-digit wins for the 12th consecutive season, not counting the 2020 Covid-19 campaign.
19: Danahy leads the team with 19 points on the season.
30: Massachusetts has now defeated La Salle 30 times in the all-time series.

Series History

With the result, Massachusetts now holds a 30-1-0 advantage all-time against the Explorers.

Up Next

The Minutewomen continue their two game Pennsylvania road swing taking on Lafayette on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and can be followed live on umassathletics.com or UMassFH on Twitter.

Scoreboard

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Team Stats

Neva Eisenga

Claire Danahy

Elena Clococeanu

Elani Sherwood

Players Mentioned

Elena Clococeanu

Claire Danahy

Neva Eisenga

Myrte van Herwijnen

Players Mentioned

Elena Clococeanu

Claire Danahy

Neva Eisenga

Myrte van Herwijnen

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics