University of Massachusets Athletics
Falconer Earns MAC Defensive Player of the Week Recognition
October 13, 2026 | Field Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – Junior Cara Falconer of the UMass field hockey team was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday following a tremendous weekend at both sides of the field. Falconer is UMass' fourth different MAC Defensive Player of the Week this season, joining Chiara Curcio (twice), Megan Carpenter and Sophie Kent.
Over the weekend, Falconer helped UMass to a pair of shutouts in outscoring opponents 9-0 and allowing just six shots (four shots on goal) over the 120 minutes. She dished two assists in Friday's 5-0 win over App State, assisting on the Minutewomen's second and fourth goals to help pull away for the MAC victory. She was a key part of a defense that allowed just three shots, all on goal, and all coming in less than 10 seconds in a second-quarter sequence. Then in Sunday's 4-0 win at Brown, UMass allowed just three shots (only one on goal). The Minutewomen held the Bears to their fewest shots on goal in a game since Oct. 21, 2022 when Brown also had just one against Cornell. In the end, UMass posted its second straight shutout and eighth this season.
For the season, Falconer is tied for second on the team in assists with six. The Minutewomen's goals against average as a team is down to 0.64.
Now at No. 4 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, UMass returns to action on Friday at Ball State on and Bellarmine on Sunday. Both games are set to begin at 1 p.m.
Over the weekend, Falconer helped UMass to a pair of shutouts in outscoring opponents 9-0 and allowing just six shots (four shots on goal) over the 120 minutes. She dished two assists in Friday's 5-0 win over App State, assisting on the Minutewomen's second and fourth goals to help pull away for the MAC victory. She was a key part of a defense that allowed just three shots, all on goal, and all coming in less than 10 seconds in a second-quarter sequence. Then in Sunday's 4-0 win at Brown, UMass allowed just three shots (only one on goal). The Minutewomen held the Bears to their fewest shots on goal in a game since Oct. 21, 2022 when Brown also had just one against Cornell. In the end, UMass posted its second straight shutout and eighth this season.
For the season, Falconer is tied for second on the team in assists with six. The Minutewomen's goals against average as a team is down to 0.64.
Now at No. 4 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, UMass returns to action on Friday at Ball State on and Bellarmine on Sunday. Both games are set to begin at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Field HockeyFriday, October 09
Saturday, October 03
Friday, October 02
Monday, September 21