University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, October 30
Amherst, Mass.
2:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
(17-1)
3
vs
0
James Madison
(8-8)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UMass | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
October 30, 2026 | Field Hockey
The Minutewomen have now scored 29 straight goals since their last goal allowed
AMHERST, Mass. – The fourth-ranked University of Massachusetts field hockey team opened the scoring late in the second quarter, then added two more goals in the fourth to pick up a 3-0 win over visiting James Madison on Friday afternoon at the Gladchuk Field Hockey Complex. Niamh McKenzie, Elani Sherwood and Neva Eisenga all scored goals while the Minutewomen held the Dukes without a shot until the third quarter. It was Senior Day and with the win, UMass clinched the outright MAC Regular Season Championship, its second consecutive regular season title.
The win improves the Minutwomen's record to 17-1 and 9-0 in conference play. The 17 regular season wins is UMass' most since the 1992 season when the Minutewomen were 18-1 heading into the postseason. Friday was also UMass' 50th win since the start of the 2024 season.
"We spoke a lot about how JMU has a very good structure," said Eisenga, who finished with a goal and assist. "They're very organized, very disciplined, so we had to move the ball a lot to be able to break them. As a team, we did a very good job of investing time and speed on the ball and eventually finding those little gaps. Eventually, Niamh scored an amazing tip-in and we converted on two corners."
The first quarter saw just two shots, both by UMass, and zero shots on goal. The Minutewomen also had the only two corners of the opening 15 minutes.
Late in the second, the Minutewomen turned a chance into the game's opening score. After a Kristy Leonard shot was saved, Megan Carpenter made a sensational play to get free and find McKenzie, who finished a diving goal with 2:47 until halftime. McKenzie's goal was her team-leading 19th while Carpenter's assist marked her team-leading 17th, both at or near the top of the nation in those categories.
A scoreless third quarter wasn't for a lack of chances. The Dukes held a 4-3 shots edge, with Rozárie Mrázová stopping all four of JMU's shots.
The Minutewomen turned momentum back into their favor in the fourth, holding a 4-1 shots edge. They turned a pair of penalty corners in the span of 1:04 into goals. First, the inserter Elani Sherwood scored her second of the season on a tremendous give-and-go with Eisenga. Moments later, Eisenga fired a hard shot perfectly placed into the corner for a 3-0 advantage at the 49:04 mark, which proved to be the final.
"We talked about just moving the ball quicker," said head coach Barb Weinberg. "JMU closes the spaces really well. When we started to be a bit more creative in our attacking third, move the ball quicker and throw the ball into the D to try to get an outcome, that's when we really found success."
Final shots were 12-5 in favor of UMass, with the Minutewomen holding a 7-3 edge in penalty corners. Mrázová made five saves across Hannah Popolis, who made three.
UMass has earned the MAC's top seed and will travel to Miami next week for the conference tournament. The Minutewomen will face the winner of No. 4 App State and No. 5 Kent State in the semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 11:30 a.m.
"[The team has] taken things one game at a time and focused on what's important now," said Weinberg. "Now, day off tomorrow and onto training on Sunday and we'll prepare for our next opponent next Thursday."
The win improves the Minutwomen's record to 17-1 and 9-0 in conference play. The 17 regular season wins is UMass' most since the 1992 season when the Minutewomen were 18-1 heading into the postseason. Friday was also UMass' 50th win since the start of the 2024 season.
This team ???? #Flagship ?? https://t.co/FKS3HzD6MM
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 30, 2026
"We spoke a lot about how JMU has a very good structure," said Eisenga, who finished with a goal and assist. "They're very organized, very disciplined, so we had to move the ball a lot to be able to break them. As a team, we did a very good job of investing time and speed on the ball and eventually finding those little gaps. Eventually, Niamh scored an amazing tip-in and we converted on two corners."
The first quarter saw just two shots, both by UMass, and zero shots on goal. The Minutewomen also had the only two corners of the opening 15 minutes.
Late in the second, the Minutewomen turned a chance into the game's opening score. After a Kristy Leonard shot was saved, Megan Carpenter made a sensational play to get free and find McKenzie, who finished a diving goal with 2:47 until halftime. McKenzie's goal was her team-leading 19th while Carpenter's assist marked her team-leading 17th, both at or near the top of the nation in those categories.
This entire sequence was one for the highlight-reels ?? #Flagship ?? | #SCTop10 https://t.co/zu3sIicaPd
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 30, 2026
A scoreless third quarter wasn't for a lack of chances. The Dukes held a 4-3 shots edge, with Rozárie Mrázová stopping all four of JMU's shots.
The Minutewomen turned momentum back into their favor in the fourth, holding a 4-1 shots edge. They turned a pair of penalty corners in the span of 1:04 into goals. First, the inserter Elani Sherwood scored her second of the season on a tremendous give-and-go with Eisenga. Moments later, Eisenga fired a hard shot perfectly placed into the corner for a 3-0 advantage at the 49:04 mark, which proved to be the final.
"We talked about just moving the ball quicker," said head coach Barb Weinberg. "JMU closes the spaces really well. When we started to be a bit more creative in our attacking third, move the ball quicker and throw the ball into the D to try to get an outcome, that's when we really found success."
Final shots were 12-5 in favor of UMass, with the Minutewomen holding a 7-3 edge in penalty corners. Mrázová made five saves across Hannah Popolis, who made three.
UMass has earned the MAC's top seed and will travel to Miami next week for the conference tournament. The Minutewomen will face the winner of No. 4 App State and No. 5 Kent State in the semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 11:30 a.m.
"[The team has] taken things one game at a time and focused on what's important now," said Weinberg. "Now, day off tomorrow and onto training on Sunday and we'll prepare for our next opponent next Thursday."
Neva Eisenga had a goal and assist in today's win and we caught up with her after the game! #Flagship ?? https://t.co/rVqitady9I
— UMass Field Hockey (@UMassFH) October 30, 2026
Players Mentioned
M/D
/ Field Hockey
D/M
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyTeam Stats
JMU
MASS
Goals
0
3
Shots
5
12
Shots on Goal
5
6
Saves
3
5
Corners
3
7
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
McKenzie, Niamh
Assisted By: Carpenter, Megan
#5 made feed in front to #1
27:13
Sherwood, Elani
Assisted By: Eisenga, Neva
Passed back to inserter off corner
48:00
Eisenga, Neva
Assisted By: Archer, Maddie
Direct shot off corner
49:04
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Friday, October 30
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