Minutewomen Claim A-10 Regular Season Championship With 3-0 Shutout Win Over Richmond

RICHMOND, VA. -- No. 15 Massachusetts (13-4, 6-0 A-10) controlled the action, claiming a 3-0 shutout victory over Richmond (10-6, 4-2) on Friday at Crenshaw Field.

With the victory Massachusetts secured its first Atlantic 10 regular season championship since 2014 and the no. 1 overall seed in the A-10 Championship Tournament. The championship marks the first conference championship for Head Coach Barb Weinberg.

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With today's shutout ?? the Minutewomen are officially the 2024 A-10 Regular Season Champions!!!#RollUMass x #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/tU1M2vy776
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 25, 2024

The Minutewomen remained undefeated in conference play, recording their seventh shutout of the season, and third against an A-10 opponent. Massachusetts allowed just one shot, holding a 13-1 advantage in total shots on the afternoon.

Freshman Elani Sherwood recorded her seventh goal of the season, sitting just one behind Elena Clococeanu for the team lead. Sherwood now ranks second on the team and 12th in the A-10 with 18 points on the season.

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Officially heading into the @atlantic10 Championship as the top overall seed!!#RollUMass x #Flagship?? pic.twitter.com/2TqAl4cscx
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 25, 2024

Graduate Student Paula Lorenzini continued to convert in high-pressure situations, converting her second penalty stroke of the season, notching her fifth goal of the season. Senior Hannah de Gast secured Massachusetts' final goal of the day, firing in a penalty corner deflection from the left baseline after inserting. The goal marks De Gast's third of the season, just one off her single-season career high.

Richmond was led by Clara Larripa who recorded the Spiders lone shot on the day.

Breaking Down The Action

The Minutewomen struck first as Sherwood dribbled through multiple Spider defenders and fired in a goal from the left side of the shooting circle, providing a 1-0 lead just 4:48 into the first quarter.
Massachusetts controlled the action through the first 15 minutes of play, holding a 3-0 shot advantage and the lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Minutewomen defended Richmond's first and only shot of the first half, forcing it wide with 4:11 left in the second quarter.
Massachusetts went into the halftime break with the lead and a 3-1 advantage in shots and 2-0 lead in penalty corners drawn.
The Minutewomen defensive penalty corner unit made its first stop of the day, forcing the Spiders lone penalty corner of the day wide with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter.
Massachusetts made it a two-goal advantage as Lorenzini converted a penalty stroke with 2:33 left in the third quarter.
The Minutewomen headed into the final quarter of play holding a dominant 9-1 advantage in shots on goal, with five shots coming in the third quarter alone.
Hannah de Gast gave Massachusetts a 3-1 lead, firing in a deflection off a penalty corner with 10:25 left in regulation.
Richmond pulled its goalie with 2:35 remaining in the fourth but could not score in the empty net situation, giving Massachusetts a 3-0 shutout victory.

Notable Numbers

1: Massachusetts secured the no. 1 overall seed in the 2024 A-10 Championship Tournament.
1: The Minutewomen allowed just one shot against over the entire 60-minute contest.
3: De Gast scored her third goal of the season.
5: Lorenzini scored her fifth goal of the season, converting her second penalty stroke.
6: The Minutewomen drew six penalty corners on the day.
7: Sherwood tallied her seventh goal of the season.
7: The Minutewomen recorded their seventh shutout of the season.
10: Massachusetts won its first A-10 regular season championship in 10 years.
13: The Minutewomen tallied 13 shots on the day, eight on goal.
16: Massachusetts won its 16th A-10 regular season championship.

Series History

With the win, Massachusetts now holds an 18-19-0 record all-time against the Spiders.

Up Next

The Minutewomen returns to Amherst to host Davidson for Senior Day on Friday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and can be followed live on umassathletics.com or UMassFH on Twitter.

Scoreboard