University of Massachusets Athletics
blog 2014 02
February 2014 Archives
Sid Saraf of FoxSports.com has a feature story on Victor Cruz and how he was able to be successful in reaching the NFL despite not being invited to the NFL Combine. The story also touches on his work with a company called GamePlan4Me.com which helps young people attain career and health-care goals.
Kevin Cullen of the Boston Globe has a feature today on UMass' Chaz Williams. Cullen looks at the significance of the current season the Minutemen are having and how opportunities missed last year are used as motivation for Williams.
Women's basketball forward Kiara Bomben provided an update to her on-going team blog today ahead of the 2014 Senior Night contest in the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. Bomben, a redshirt-senior, will be honored before the game as the Minutewomen host their final opponent of the season.
"Hey Everyone,
I cannot believe it's senior night already! Honestly, where has the time gone? The last month of has flown bye! It seems like only yesterday when we were conditioning at Curry Hicks Cage during preseason and running outside on Garber during the summer.
No matter what the outcome of today's game is, I'm thrilled and honored to have been a part of such an amazing group at the University of Massachusetts. UMass has been my home for three years ow and the memories I have created and shared with my teammates, coaches and everyone else have been unbelievable and something that I'll cherish forever and never forget. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this team..."
Check out all of Kiara's blog update and read through her old posts through Blogging With Bomben. More on UMass women's basketball and its Senior Night game can be found here.
Anthony Chiusano of the Daily Collegian spoke with women's basketball head coach Sharon Dawley, forward Kiara Bomben and guard Jasmine Harris for a preview of the UMass-Saint Joseph's game scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The Minutewomen will celebrate Senior Night before the game to honor the lone competitor of the 2014 senior class, Bomben, as well as graduating team manager Steve Baruffi.
"Backed up by an aggressive offense and active press defense, the Massachusetts women's basketball team defeated Rhode Island on Sunday, to pick up its first victory since Dec. 17.
Now, the Minutewomen (4-24, 1-13 Atlantic 10) are heading into Thursday's game against Saint Joseph's (20-7, 9-5 A-10) with the potential for a winning streak on their minds.
Prior to Sunday's game, UMass coach Sharon Dawley said that the team had decided to implement a press defense from early on in the game against the Rams. As a result, the Minutewomen scored 18 points off of 19 caused turnovers. Heading into Thursday's matchup against the Hawks, Dawley said that early pressure will once again be part of the game plan.
'We pressed early to get everyone aggressive, and we'll do the same thing (on Thursday),' Dawley said. 'We just have to not get exhausted and stay out of foul trouble. But we'll throw it in there to get everyone going again.'
Dawley added that maintaining similar aggression on offense will be important in attacking Saint Joseph's "smart" defense..."
Read the conclusion of Chiusano's article through the Daily Collegian website. More on the women's basketball program can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
Andrew Cyr has your Daily Collegian preview for UMass men's lacrosse's next contest, a rematch with Brown after the Bears defeated the Minutemen in overtime, 9-8 one season ago.
"They say that history always finds a way of repeating itself.
Just one season ago, the Massachusetts men's lacrosse team was 3-0 as it prepared to take on Brown. The Minutemen had wins over Army and Harvard, as well as an upset win over a nationally ranked team.
However, UMass (3-0) still feels as though it has unfinished business to deal with in a rematch with the Bears this Saturday in Providence.
'(This game) is going to be hard,' UMass coach Greg Cannella said. 'If they spread the ball out like they did last year, it's going to be hard. Last year, a bunch of different guys scored on us, so it's going to be hard to stop. We only have one film on them, so they might do some things we aren't prepared for. So we just have to stick to our principles.'
Brown (1-0) defeated the Minutemen 9-8 in overtime last season at Garber Field, after Daniel Mellynchuk put one past goalkeeper Zach Oliveri. Mellynchuk finished the game with a pair of goals, and attacker Kylor Bellistri finished with a hat trick..."
Read the rest of Cyr's preview through the Daily Collegian website. ore on the men's lax squad is available through UMassAthletics.com.
UMass women's basketball will hosts its 2014 Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 27 when the Minutewomen battle Saint Joseph's in the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. Prior to the contest, the squad will recognize the lone competitor of the senior class, Kiara Bomben, as well as graduating team manager Steve Baruffi, with a short ceremony. More information on the contest and how to attend or follow along online is below:
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Game Notes | |
| Game 29 | Massachusetts (4-24, 1-13 Atlantic 10) vs. Saint Joseph's (20-7, 9-5 Atlantic 10) |
| Date | Time | Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Location | Mullins Center (9,493) | Amherst, Mass. |
| Live Statistics | |
| Live Video | Atlantic 10 Digital Network (subscription required) |
| Radio Broadcast | WMUA 91.1 FM (Chris Doherty & John Ryan) |
| Series History | Saint Joseph's leads, 45-9. Last meeting: Saint Joseph's 87, UMass 50; Feb. 27, 2013 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts  | Saint Joseph's |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Saint Joseph's |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics  | @UMassWBB |
| Attend The Game | UMass Ticket Central |
More on the UMass women's basketball team is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Tom Renner from the Daily Voice spoke with UMass men's lacrosse freshman Nick Mariano to discuss Mariano's immediate impact with the Minutemen, as the Yorktown, N.Y., native has nine goals through three games.
"Yorktown's Nick Mariano just wanted to contribute as an incoming freshman for the powerful lacrosse team at the University of Massachusetts. He has, and in a big way.
Mariano has nine goals in UMass' first three games and earned Player of the Week and co-Rookie of the Week honors from the Colonial Athletic Association.
The freshman attack's early success has helped UMass spurt to a 3-0 start, including a win over No. 14 Ohio State. Mariano scored the game-winning goal in overtime and had three goals in the contest.
'I wanted to come into the season with an open mind,'' Mariano said. 'I just wanted to go out and play and have fun and just contribute for the team. I prepare myself the right way every week. I go into the game with confidence, and that's been a big help.'
Mariano came from the powerful program at Yorktown High School, where he was four-year letterwinner under head coach Dave Marr. He helped Yorktown win three sectional titles, and led Section 1 with 63 goals and 48 assists as a senior, earning All-America honors..."
Read the rest of Renner's feature story through the Daily Voice website. Fans can keep up with the men's lacrosse team through UMassAthletics.com.
Joe Dzuback is the Rush The Court correspondent for the Atlantic 10 Conference.He's also on twitter at @vbtnBlog.
In Wednesday's check-in on the A-10, he discusses team efficiency ratings, league player/freshman of the year and all-conference debates and possible tournament scenarios. He mentions UMass and GW making a run at VCU for the No. 2 spot in the league... not sure he realizes Saint Joseph's is alone in second and playing pretty well right now.
Read the entire article here...
UMass continued its recent dominance over Rhode Island, winning 70-67 at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen struggled to start the game but took control down the stretch, while dominating the glass all game long.
Next up is a trip to Dayton, where the teams will meet at 11 a.m. in a game televised nationally on ESPNU.
Behind strong games from Erika Eipp and Sam Rush, UMass won it's 28th straight home game by defeating Boston University 11-8 on Wednesday at McGuirk Stadium.
Behind four goals from Erika Eipp and three from Sam Rush, the No. 10 UMass women's lacrosse team was able to hold off long-time Commonwealth rival Boston University, 11-8, on Wednesday afternoon at McGuirk Stadium. The win improves UMass to 4-0 this season.
Michael Whitmer of the Boston Globe has a feature story on Trey Davis and how he has developed in his short time at UMass.
Off the ice, Conor Sheary is pretty unassuming.
"He's a real mellow guy," teammate Michael Pereira said. "He comes off as a quiet and humble and nose-to-the-grindstone type kid. But when he gets down to the rink, he means business."
Notoriously competitive and difficult to play against, Sheary has attracted a lot of attention on the ice lately in what's been an otherwise down year for Massachusetts. He posted an eight-game point streak from Jan. 24 to Feb. 21, totaling five goals and five assists. Over that span, he also strung together a five-game goal streak despite facing two of the top goalies in college hockey, Northeastern's Clay Witt and Massachusetts-Lowell's Connor Hellebuyck, twice each.
"He's just continued to will our team to keep moving forward and stay in games," head coach John Micheletto said. "He's scored some big goals during that stretch."
Read more: Fighting To the End - Sheary a Bright Spot for Massachusetts
It's time for the final Wednesday home game of the season and it comes against Rhode Island tonight at 7 p.m. The Minutemen are looking for their fifth-consecutive win over the Rams and second-straight season sweep. The game is broadcast in Rhode Island and central Connecticut by Cox Sports (URI broadcasters). You can listen to Josh Maurer, Tim Collins and Jason Germain on the UMass Sports Network with a simulcast on the Atlantic 10 Digital Network (video stream broadcast).
We've also got a couple of nice promotions to remind you of. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is still holding its food drive for the Amherst Survival Center. Please bring a nonperishable food item or items such as soap, shampoo and other necessities to the Mullins Center and drop them in the bins near the North and South entrances.
Also, if you are a student who wants to ensure you get a ticket to the March 9 finale against Saint Louis, come to tonight's game and pick up your "Early Bird Voucher" that will guarantee you a spot in the student section against the Billikens.
| Massachusetts (21-5, 8-4) vs. Rhode Island (12-16, 3-10) | |
| Date | Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | Mullins Center |
| Tickets |  866-UMASS-TIX | Buy Tickets here |
| TV |  COX Sports/Ocean State Network - RI & Central Conn. only |
| Radio |  105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | A-10 Digital Network |
| Live Stats |  |
| Social Media |  Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | URI Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |
Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has a story covering last night's Meet & Greet event in Worcester for UMass football head coach Mark Whipple. Included in the story is part of how Whipple is going to shape the program next year.
As Whipple looks over his 2014 roster, he says it looks better than he thought it might be at first glance. It will be a young team, probably with just one senior starting, and it should be a typical Whipple team. The first time around, that meant there was a lot going on.
"I'm not here to set up a punt," he said. "I like to throw the ball down the field, be up-tempo, some no-huddle, be aggressive. If it's fourth-and-one, we're probably going for it. You've gotta win, but how you win matters, too."
Quint Kessenich of Inside Lacrosse gave his look at the Top 20 in men's lacrosse yesterday and had the following to say about the Garber Gorillas.
12. UMass (3-0)
UMass is off to a fantastic start, most recently beating Harvard 8-4, while holding their in-state rival to one second half goal. Nick Mariano earned his second consecutive hat trick. Joe Calvello won 11 of his 16 face-offs and scooped up 10 groundballs, and goalie Zach Oliveri made 14 saves. Gorillas are holding one-goal wins over Army and Ohio State and play Brown next.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a preview of tonight's hoops match-up against Rhode Island. He focuses on what UMass' will have to do defensively to contain an explosive Ram offense.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview of tonight's basketball game against Rhode Island in the Mullins Center (7 PM). The match-up between the long-time rivals especially after UMass' late come-from-behind win earlier this year at the Ryan Center.
Mark Chiarelli of the Daily Collegian has a look at tonight's match-up between UMass and Rhode Island. In particular he highlights the superb guard duo for the Rams in Xavier Munford and E.C. Matthews.
Patrick Strohecker of the Daily Collegian has a story today on how UMass' more consistent guard play has been leading to better results for the basketball team this season and will be key as the regular-season winds down.
Anthony Chiusano of the Daily Collegian has a feature story on Hannah Murphy and her development as a player early in the start of the 2014 women's lacrosse season.
Jesse Mayfield Sheehan of the Daily Collegian has a preview of today's women's lacrosse game against Boston University at McGuirk Stadium (3 PM).
Tom Bovee of LaxDirt.com spoke with UMass men's lacrosse alumnus and current Boston Cannons attackman Will Manny to get his thoughts on the program for a feature article.
So Will what made you pick UMass?
I wasn't really recruited by any of what you would call the big time schools. This ended up not mattering at all. I felt a great connection with Coach Cannella and he was interested in me right away. I wanted to go to a school that offered me all the things I was looking for, not sure I would have found that had I gone anywhere else. I was going to get to play right away and they had just graduated Jimmy Connelly and Tim Balise, so I knew I would get the chance to play right away, that was important to me. It really just worked out plus you earn what you put in at UMass and it's a real blue collar mentality about everything. I love that about Coach Cannella, you have to earn it.
You played on one of the best UMass teams in history who is one teammate from college you wish was on your team now?
I had a good talk with Cannons GM Kevin Barney and Head Coach John Tucker in the offseason and they were able to add a few UMass guys and I am really excited about it so I am fortunate to already have the chance to play with many of them but I would go with Jake Smith, he is one of the toughest, meanest most fundamental defensemen I've ever played and he is now in the MLL. Going against him you know you're going to be on the ground on a regular basis. I would want him on my defensive end, if I'm on attack watching out defense I know I'll have the ball soon if he is back there.
What was your favorite tradition on campus lacrosse related or otherwise?
If we played a game on a Saturday after practice on a Friday we would meet in our film room as a full team. We had FNR, its Film Night Reels it could be from 2-10 minutes long of highlights from past, present and all over and it really gets the guys going and shows them what they are playing for. It teaches guys about Garber's Gorillas. A lot of guys don't understand that and it means everything to the guys who live it, I might just write a book about it one day. Also after that all the seniors also would go to dinner and just get to spend the time together and not a lot of schools get to do that, it's a special time that as seniors you get to enjoy with your class.
Read the rest of Manny's thoughts on his four years with the Minutemen through LaxDirt.com here. More on UMass men's lacrosse can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
After doing media interviews, Maxie Esho shows off his skills by dunking over UMass basketball media director Brian Henry.
Post by UMass Athletics.
UMass head coach Derek Kellogg recaps his team's big win over VCU and talks about the competition level in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season on Inside College Basketball - SiriusXM College Sports Nation.
The website UniformCritics.com has a look at UMass football's current scheme for Saturday's and what modifications may be in the works for 2014.
Jason Schwartz of BostonMagazine.com has a Q&A today with UMass basketball coach Derek Kellogg. They discuss the season, the future of UMass basketball and Kellogg's relationship with his mentor John Calipari.
With UMass hockey entering a bye weekend in the final weekend of the regular season, awaiting its first round playoff opponent, Nick Canelas took a look ahead at the postseason in his column today for the Daily Collegian:
Daily Collegian - Canelas: Don't count out UMass hockey in a playoff game
Listen to head coach Derek Kellogg today at 12:30 pm ET when he joins Chris Childers (@ChildersRadio) and Mateen Cleaves (@Mateen_Cleaves) on the Inside College Basketball from Sirius College Sports (@SiriusXMCollege). The show can be heard on Sirius XM 91 from Noon-3 pm ET.
If you missed it last night, listen to the podcast of the Bud Light UMass Basketball Show, featuring head coach Derek Kellogg, center Cady Lalanne, and Jeff Goodman.
If you weren't able to be at last Saturday night's hockey game for Senior Night, here is the tribute video to this year's senior class which was honored prior to the opening puck drop.
2014 HOCKEY SENIOR CLASS HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a notebook today talking about the ups-and-downs of the season with Derek Kellogg, previewing the upcoming game against Rhode Island and looking at the AP and USA Today national polls that were released yesterday with UMass once again receiving votes.
Nick Canelas of the Daily Collegian has an editorial in today's paper saying not to look past the UMass hockey team when the Hockey East Playoffs start up. He says half of the team's losses were by one goal and the addition of Frank Vatrano to the lineup are reasons why UMass can be a scary team in the conference's opening one-game playoff round.
Marc Jean-Louis of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass softball team's opening weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla.
The Minutewomen picked up their first win of the season by defeating UConn 8-7 on Saturday.
Taylor Snow has a photo slideshow on the Daily Collegian's website featuring some of their best photos from last Friday's win over VCU for the men's basketball team.
Jason Kates of the Daily Collegian has a recap of this past weekend's Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championships where the UMass men took second place and the women finished third.
Arthur Hayden of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the UMass track and field teams and their performances at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend.
UMass hockey alum Rocco Carzo has been traded from the Florida Everblades to the Ontario Reign, it was announced earlier today.
Read about Carzo's successful rookie campaign and the trade here.
UMass senior attack Katie Ferris continues to rank among the nation's elite. The NCAA ran its first stats update of the season and Ferris pops up on several lists for her career accomplishments.
Points - 2nd (263) - just 10 behind Alyssa Murray of Syracuse
Goals - 2nd (175) - just four behind Aimee Gennaro of Navy
Assists - 6th (88) - NCAA leader is Taylor D'Amore of Johns Hopkins with 119
Points per game - 3rd (4.46) - NCAA leader is Kayla Treanor of Syracuse with 4.69
Goals per game - 3rd (2.97) - NCAA leader is Kayla Treanor of Syracuse with 3.35
UMass men's lacrosse secured its third win of the season in as many games played with an 8-4 home-opening victory over Harvard on Saturday, Feb. 22. Andrew Cyr of the Daily Collegian was at the game and has a recap encompassing the win for MinuteFans.
"With two minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Matt Whippen fired a shot that deflected off of Harvard goalkeeper Jake Gambitsky in front of the net. Nick Mariano, like he has been all year, was in the right place at the right time to scoop up the ground ball and find the back of the net, breaking a 3-3 tie.
Mariano's goal started a chain reaction of offense for the Minutemen, who scored five goals in the final 17 minutes of the game in an 8-4 win against Harvard on Saturday at Garber Field.
'It was a scrappy goal that was just sitting on the crease,' Mariano said. 'I just picked it up and finished it and you could see the whole crowed go crazy and our team got an extra lift from it.'
Mariano scored three goals for his second hat trick in just three career games. His nine goals are by far the most on the UMass roster, and currently is tied for seventh in the country for total goals scored..."
Read the rest of the recap on the Daily Collegian website. More on UMass men's lacrosse can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
Head football coach Mark Whipple will be a guest speaker at this week's UMass Sports Luncheon. The luncheon is held every Wednesday in the Massachusetts Room of the Mullins Center starting at Noon. The cost for the full buffet lunch is $13 and parking is free behind the Mullins Center.
UMass men's swimming and diving coach Russ Yarworth and women's swimming and diving coach Bob Newcomb will also be guest speakers.
Join us tonight at The Hangar in Amherst tonight at 7 PM for the Bud Light UMass Basketball Radio Show with Derek Kellogg. Voice of the Minutemen Josh Maurer will be joined by Coach Kellogg, junior center Cady Lalanne and ESPN.com writer Jeff Goodman.
Fans can submit questions for coach Kellogg to answer on air via the Ask The Coach Page or through Twitter by going to @UMassSportsNet.
You can listen to the show live on 105.5 FM WEEI in Springfield, online at http://www.weei.com/umass, or on your mobile device using the TuneIn App.
After the win over Holy Cross last Wednesday, the UMass women's lacrosse team remains at No. 11 in this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll.
UMass moved up to No. 10 in the InsideLacrosse.com Brine Media Poll on Monday as well.
In the new Lacrosse Magazine Poll, UMass remained at No. 15 on Monday.
This marks the 36th consecutive week that the women's lacrosse team has ranked among the nation's Top 20 in the coaches and media polls.
The Minutewomen will return to action this Wednesday to host Boston University at McGuirk Stadium. UMass has won 27 consecutive home games at McGuirk which is the 3rd longest home win streak in NCAA history.
The University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team continued its strong start to the 2014 season with an 8-4 win over Harvard to improve to 3-0. The Minutemen continued their "offense-by-committee" approach as six different players recorded at least one goal while eight in total notched at least one point. Below are links for updated national rankings, photo galleries, game stories and more:
UMass' Defense Stymies Harvard, 8-4 | Brian Foley, Inside Lacrosse
UMass Moves Up In Inside Lacrosse Media Top-20 Poll
Minutemen Appear At No. 13 In Lacrosse Magazine Top-20
Highlights: UMass Defeats Harvard In Home-Opener
Photo Gallery: Thom Kendall, UMass Athletics
Second half surge leads UMass men's lacrosse over Harvard | Andrew Cyr, Daily Collegian
UMass men's lacrosse continues hot start, downs Harvard 8-4 in home opener | Dan Malone, Springfield Republican
The Tampa Bay Lightning have claimed former UMass defenseman Mike Kostka off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, Lightning vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced on Sunday.
Lightning Claim Defenseman Mike Kostka Off Waivers
Tampa Bay Times: Defenseman Mike Kostka claimed off waivers
Take a look at home UMass women's basketball used a strong second-half performance to secure the 69-56 win over Rhode Island at the Mullins Center on Sunday afternoon courtesy of the UMass Sports Network:
MinuteFans can keep track of everything UMass Women's Basketball through UMassAthletics.com.
The UMass women's lacrosse team moved up one spot to No. 10 nationally in this week's Brine Media Poll on InsideLacrosse.com. The Minutewomen are now 3-0 on the season and will host Boston University on Wednesday.
UMass women's basketball defeated Rhode Island, 69-56 at the Mullins Center on Sunday, Feb. 23. Jasmine Harris led all scorers with 20 points while Rashida Timbilla added 19 points and eight rebounds and Kim Pierre-Louis chipped in 13 boards to go with eight points. They joined head coach Sharon Dawley in discussing the team's win with the media postgame - check out what they had to say below:
More on the women's basketball team is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a profile piece on Derrick Gordon and his role on the UMass basketball team. The transfer guard played a pivotal role in the win over VCU last Friday.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has an update on Rob Blanchflower who was at the NFL Combine this past week, but did not participate in the on-the-field drills as he is still recovering from his injury suffered during the season.
Marty Dobrow of ESPN Boston has a look at UMass' win over VCU last Friday, how the sold out Mullins Center created a special atmosphere and where the team can go from here.
NBC22 had highlights and a look at the atmosphere of the Mullins Center for the UMass basketball team's win over VCU last Friday.
UMass men's lacrosse head coach Greg Cannella and attackman Nick Mariano spoke to members of the media following the 8-4 home-opening victory over Harvard. Check out what they had to say about the win below:
More on the men's lacrosse program can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
The Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field meet begins today over in Rhode Island, but last night UMass and VCU put on a 94-foot, end-to-end track meet on the hardwood that resulted in the Minutemen collecting another RPI top-50 win as they beat the Rams 80-75. Chaz showed the national television audience why he is on every major player of the year award list and the UMass faithful put on one heckuva show inside the Mullins Center. Let's enjoy this for a bit and then come back against Rhode Island on Wednesday night at 7 p.m..
UMass men's lacrosse hosts its first home game of the 2014 season when Harvard visits Garber Field for a Saturday, Feb. 22 contest beginning at 1 p.m. Get all your game information below, including a video preview featuring head coach Greg Cannella and senior midfielder Matt Whippen.
| Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes | |
| Game 3 | #14/15 Massachusetts (2-0) vs. [RV/-] Harvard (0-0) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Garber Field (5,000) | Amherst, Mass. |
| Live Statistics | |
| Watch | CBS All-Access (subscription required) |
| Listen | WMUA 91.1 FM |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 31-13. Last meeting: #5 Massachusetts 8, Harvard 6; Feb, 23, 2013 |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Harvard |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Harvard |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse |
| Buy Tickets | Call the UMass Athletics Ticket Office at 866-862-7784 |
More on the men's lacrosse program can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
Ed Valentine of BigBlueView.com takes a look at draft eligible tight ends in this year's NFL Draft. He writes about UMass' Rob Blanchflower and the apparent connection between the New York Giants and the Minutemen with Victor Cruz, Julian Talley and Michael Cox all playing for New York.
UMass alum Jeff Howe has a notebook in the Boston Herald with updates from the NFL Combine. He caught up with UMass' Rob Blanchflower who is at the Combine this week, but will not take part in workouts on Saturday as he continues recovery from an injury he played through during the season.
Blanchflower says he will be ready for UMass' Pro Day on March 25.
Andy Hart of Patriots.com has a look at the tight ends who will be available in the upcoming NFL Draft and makes mention of UMass' Rob Blanchflower towards the end of the story.
Blanchflower, whose UMass team calls Gillette Stadium home on game days, barely practiced this past fall due to bilateral hernia, meaning his groin and abdominal muscles on both sides were torn. That caused him great pain and limitations, but he still proved his toughness but gutting through it on game day.
Though coming off an injury that will prevent him from working out at the Combine, and coming from a lower level, the Minuteman and Massachusetts native still thinks he's got what it takes to measure up at the next level.
"I think I'm up there with the elite in the country," Blanchflower said. "I'm looking to just get my foot in the door. If it comes in the fourth round or as an undrafted free agent, it is what it is."
Ed Niser of the Sentinel & Enterprise has a story on UMass alum Mike Dawson recently being promoted to assistant defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lauren Rose previews the weekend's Hockey East matchups with Providence with head coach John Micheletto.
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Anthony Gulizia of the Boston Globe has a story on Mark Whipple focusing on his career and experience in turning programs around - especially at UMass when he won the 1998 national championship in his first year with the Minutemen.
CollegeSpun.com has a quick look at an image tweeted out by NBC Sports today which shows off the back of Jonathan Quick's helmet for the Olympics. It features the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier on the back.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on the start of the UMass softball season. The story focuses on how coach Krisiti Stefanoni and the Minutewomen have been approaching it after losing their mentor and UMass legend Elaine Sortino last August.
Ross Gienieczko of the Daily Collegian has a preview of the baseball season as the Minutemen head to North Carolina this weekend to kick-off the year.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a story featuring on Kristi Stefanoni as she embarks on her first season as head coach following the passing of her mentor and UMass legend Elaine Sortino this past August.
Yahoo!Sports has a collection of photos from today's Olympic semifinal game between the USA hockey team and Canada. UMass' Jonathan Quick is featured prominently in the 100 photo gallery.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a feature on Cady Lalanne and his importance to the UMass basketball team in the final five games of the regular-season.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview of this weekend's regular-season finale series with Providence.
Mark Chiarelli of the Daily Collegian has a feature on how the UMass basketball team is preparing to deal with VCU's high pressure "HAVOC" defense.
Patrick Strohecker of the Daily Collegian has an editorial today looking at what tonight's game against VCU can mean for the Minutemen.
Cameron McDonough of the Daily Collegian has a preview of this weekend's series with Providence. The series will start at Providence on Friday night before returning to the Mullins Center on Saturday night. Prior to Saturday's game, UMass will honor its 2014 Senior Class.
UMass welcomes VCU to town with a national television audience on Friday night. The NCAA released its updated RPI this morning and has UMass at No. 16 and the Rams at No. 24. Doors open at 5:30 and there will be a pair of give aways - 8,000 rally towels and 3,000 t-shirts.
The UMass Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is also collecting donations of non-perishable items for the Amherst Survival Center at tonight's game and tomorrow's ice hockey game.
| Massachusetts (20-5, 7-4) vs. VCU (20-6, 8-3) | |
| Date | Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | Mullins Center (9,493) |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX | SOLD OUT! |
| TV | ESPN2 | John Saunders & Kara Lawson |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | Watch ESPN |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | VCU Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |
NHL teams returned to practice after their Olympic break ended Wednesday, and with several Washington Capitals still participating at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the Caps found themselves a little thin at forward.
Because of that, Washington recalled centers Michael Latta, Ryan Stoa and Casey Wellman from the AHL's Hershey Bears on Thursday morning.
Two stories out of the Los Angeles Times today that mention former Minuteman and current Los Angeles Kings' netminder Jonathan Quick in advance of Friday's Olympic semifinal between Team USA and Canada:
U.S.-Canada semifinal to turn Kings' Olympians into rivals
Six Ducks and four Kings advance to Sochi Olympic hockey semifinals
Stuart Elliott of the New York Times has a story covering the Atlantic 10 Conference's new branding campaign for basketball - WhoWantsNext - which is aimed at educating fans and the public of the league's tremendous basketball programs.
The campaign includes print media, an online video, commercials, magazine spreads and social media activities for fans.
Peter Cappiello with the Daily Collegian caught up with UMass men's lacrosse head coach Greg Cannella, midfielder Matt Whippen, goalie Zach Oliveri and attackman Nick Mariano to preview the home-opening game against Harvard on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. The Minutemen have won both of their games this year but face a tough test in the Crimson squad that looks to open its 2014 season strong at Garber Field.
"Massachusetts men's lacrosse freshman Nick Mariano has totaled six goals between his first two collegiate games, both wins for UMass (2-0). The attacker was also named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week and Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday.
But as far as Chris Wojcik, the coach of Harvard--the Minutemen's opponent on Saturday--is concerned, Mariano is simply playing to his ability. Wojcik, entering his fourth season with the Crimson, scouted the teen at Yorktown High School in Mohegan Lake, N.Y., during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
He said that Mariano's capability to have multi-goal games at the Division I level is a threat that Harvard will look to stop in its season opener. The Crimson will also utilize Devin Dwyer (43 points) and Peter Schwartz (34 points), their top returning scorers..."
Read the rest of Cappiello's story through the Daily Collegian website here. More on the men's lacrosse squad can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
In her weekly column on InsideLacrosse.com, Halley Quillinan makes mention of UMass and the Minutewomen's win at UConn last weekend.
What Happened: UMass prevailed over Connecticut, 7-5, in a defensive battle in Storrs, as the Minutewomen (2-0) handed UConn (0-1) its first loss of the season.
Takeaway: The Katie Ferris vs. Lauren Kahn battle did not disappoint. While the pair of All-Americans didn't necessarily go toe-to-toe against each other in this cold, wintery UConn season opener, it was definitely the theme of the afternoon in Storrs. The UMass scoring sensation finished with four points, as she assisted two goals and scored two others to lead the Minutewomen to their second consecutive win of the year. For UConn, it was reining Big East Midfielder of The Year who nearly single-handedly, won it for Huskies. Kahn notched a game-high four goals on the afternoon --all of which came in the second half. As the season progresses, I expect both of these names to be thrown into the Player of The Year mix, despite the "non-traditional" top 5 teams they play for.
UMass football coach Mark Whipple stopped by 98.5 FM The Sports Hub on Wednesday to be a guest on the Gresh & Zolak show. Whipple talked about his return to the program, how he thinks the program can grow, and a proposed rule change by the NCAA to slow down games for safety.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on the return of Liam Coen as the football program's quarterbacks coach.
UMass football coach Mark Whipple sat down with Mark Ockerbloom at Fox 25 on Wednesday to discuss his return to the program and where he hopes to take the program.
Despite moving the game from Tuesday to Wednesday due to a snow storm, the Minutewomen's game against Holy Cross yesterday was delayed an hour due to a heavy band of snow that swept through the region. That didn't hamper the UMass women's lacrosse team though as it defeated Holy Cross 12-6 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The puck went in, T.J. Oshie turned and skated back toward the American bench, and before he could cement himself as the early favorite for America's Olympic hero, he stopped and pointed a big gloved finger in the air back towards his own goal, where Jonathan Quick came charging forth.
"We don't get the win without Quickie shutting the door there," Oshie told NBC Saturday, just moments after he went 4-for-6 in the shootout, including five turns in a row, en route to a 3-2 win over the hometown Russians in Sochi.
Yet as Oshie was receiving all the acclaim, his first response was to credit Quick, the Los Angeles Kings netminder who stopped Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin, not just in the shootout but in the hard-fought 65 minutes prior, and gave the first week of games its defining moment.
Read more: US counting on Quick in net entering medal rounds
John Rothstein (@JonRothstein) of CBS Sports.com has a couple of UMass and Atlantic 10 hoops mentions in his latest Triple Threat article online.
He lists Friday's VCU-UMass game among his three games he's looking forward to watching...
3. VCU at UMass (Friday, 7 PM ET)
It seems like every week the Rams have a brutal road game. VCU beat the Minutemen twice last season and it's no secret that these two teams push the pace as much as anyone in the Atlantic 10. If you love helter-skelter type basketball, this is the game for you. Look for Derek Kellogg to use three-guard sets with regularity featuring Chaz Williams, Derrick Gordon, and Trey Davis in an effort to offset the Rams' vaunted HAVOC defense.
And he feels the league can get more than four teams in the NCAA Tournament - something he didn't think he would ever write...
2. The Atlantic 10 has a legitimate chance to get more than four teams in the NCAA Tournament.
How does a league lose Temple, Xavier, Butler, and Charlotte and still be in this position? It's a good question. We're still three-and-a-half weeks away from Selection Sunday but right now it looks like barring any major collapses the Atlantic 10 should again be well represented in the NCAA Tournament. Saint Louis, VCU, UMass, and George Washington have all posted marquee wins this season and Saint Joseph's has quietly joined the bubble conversation at 17-7 overall and 7-3 in A-10 play. Dayton and Richmond are also very much in the mix as well, giving the Atlantic 10 seven teams with a fighting chance for the field of 68.
Read the full article here...
The Inside Lacrosse staff named its winners and losers from last week, and highlighted the success of the Minutemen among its 'winners' for the squad's performance through two weeks of the season. Geoff Shannon pointed out the success of the UMass freshman class, especially during the 12-11 defeat of No. 14/9 Ohio State in overtime, while Xanders tabbed the entire team as his 'winner' this week following the 2-0 start, which also includes a 6-5 victory at Army in the season-opener. Below are excerpts from the article covering the Minutemen:
Geoff Shannon (@Geoff_Shannon)
UMass Freshmen -- Minuteman coach Greg Cannella really is a master at recruiting and player development. Freshmen played huge roles in UMass' victory over a then-top 10 Ohio State team. Frosh attackman Nick Mariano continues to live up to his IL top 10 attackman ranking scoring four goals, including the game-winner that he racked up on a beautiful dodge from X to left GLE. British Columbia native Aaron Madaisky, who stands at a monster 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, and rookie Culver (Ind.) recruit Austin Spencer both played LSM and helped hold OSU's midfield star Jesse King to one assist. New Jersey freshman middie Jeff George also notched two goals. After a focused fall, UMass starts 2014 2-0, enters the Top 20 rankings this week, and suddenly looks like a major threat for a CAA title run. Gorilla Ball rolls on.Ty Xanders (@TyXanders)
UMass -- What better way to make a statement than to knock off a preseason top 10 team in overtime on national TV? Coming off of a 7-8 season and graduating Will Manny, I would have picked the Minutemen as underdogs in both of their games this season, so the fact that they could beat both Army and Ohio State to open the year says a lot about their chances about making a run to the NCAA tournament this spring. I loved the way Greg Cannella's heady, youth ridden team played with confidence and toughness, using a four-goal outing from sensational freshman attackman Nick Mariano (including the game-winner in OT) to give them a 12-11 win over the Buckeyes. UMass has some rest before playing Harvard, Brown and Albany between now and March 8, but I'm excited to see how they fare during that stretch.To read the entirety of Inside Lacrosse's Winners & Losers recap check out the story here. More on UMass men's lacrosse can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
After being given a game's rest as Team USA wrapped up pool play, former Minuteman Jonathan Quick will be back between the pipes for the U.S. squad on Wednesday against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals at Noon (Eastern) on USA Network.
Several media outlets had coverage of Tuesday's announcement:
CBS Sports: Jonathan Quick to start quarters for USA after game off
ESPN: U.S. to start Jonathan Quick
NBC Sports: No surprises: Quick will start for U.S. in quarterfinal
Lax.com saw UMass men's lacrosse take a 12-11 game from No. 14/9 Ohio State in overtime at the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend and put together some highlights of the contest for their website. Check them out below:
For more on the men's lacrosse team check out UMassAthletics.com.
Two weeks into the start of the 2014 women's lacrosse season and national publications are beginning to keep tabs on potential player of the year candidates. UMass senior attack Katie Ferris is mentioned in today's story on InsideLacrosse.com as one of 10 candidates they are looking at.
9. Katie Ferris, UMass senior attack UMass is off to a nice start with road victories over Vanderbilt and UConn, and the Third-Team All-American from last season already has amassed a team-high six goals and six assists. She scored eight points in the win over Vanderbilt, including six in the second half, also scooping three ground balls in that game.
Inside Lacrosse was at the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic and caught the action as UMass men's lacrosse defeated No. 14/9 Ohio State, 12-11 in overtime on a Nick Mariano goal with 7.9 seconds left in the extra period. Check out the highlight package they put together below:
More on the men's lacrosse program is available through UMassAthletics.com here.
Following its 2-0 start, which includes one-goal victories at Army, 6-5 and over No. 14/9 Ohio State in overtime, 12-11, UMass men's lacrosse debuted in United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches Poll and Inside Lacrosse Media Poll after receiving votes in each during the preseason. Here are links to both polls:
Massachusetts ranked 14th by USILA Coaches Poll
Minutemen move up to 15th in Inside Lacrosse Media Top-20
More on the men's lacrosse program is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Here's the podcast from Monday night's Bud Light UMass Basketball Show. Head coach Derek Kellogg talked with hosts Josh Maurer and Tim Kenney about last week's games against George Mason and George Washington, and offered up a preview of this Friday's sold out home game with VCU. Sampson Carter was the player guest after he averaged 18 points in last week's contests.
The Meet & Greet Series with UMass football head coach Mark Whipple officially kicks-off tonight in Plymouth. Coach will be on hand at the East Bay Grill from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM to meet fans and talk about his return to UMass. The East Bay Grill is located at 173 Water Street in Plymouth.
Tomorrow, coach Whipple will be in Boston at The Fours, while Wednesday he will make a stop at The Cobblestones of Lowell in Lowell, MA.
For a complete schedule or to sign up for an event (all events are free of charge), click below:
The Bud Light UMass Hockey Show is back at The Hangar Pub and Grill on University Drive in Amherst tonight at 7 p.m. Player guests will be seniors Peter DeAngelo and Branden Gracel.
Join us in person or listen online.
Click here to submit a question for the "Ask Coach" segment with head coach John Micheletto or submit one via Twitter @UMassSportsNet
Incoming UMass football offensive lineman Dimitri Angelas was selected to the Ohio-Michigan High School Border Classic as announced last week. The inaugural all-star event is slated to be played on June 14 at Donnell Stadium in Findlay, Ohio. Angelas bio and highlights can be found on the 2014 Signing Day Central page here: http://www.umassathletics.com/signingday/index.html
Ed Niser has a story on UMass alum Mike Dawson (1994-97) who has been promoted to assistant defensive line coach.
Craig Malveaux of the San Diego Union-Times has a feature story that ran last week on incoming freshman wide receiver Lamarriel Taylor and his path from East St. Louis to San Diego to Massachusetts.
Taylor, who lives in Chula Vista, enrolled at Mission Bay for its International Baccalaureate program. He maintained a 4.0 GPA and scored a 2,000 on his SAT.
After sitting out the first six games of his junior year, Taylor earned All-Western League honors as a senior, catching 72 passes for 1,516 yards and three touchdowns while helping lead the Buccaneers (12-2) to a runner-up finish in the San Diego Section Division II playoffs.
Syracuse, Fordham, Georgia State, Massachusetts, Duke and Indiana offered scholarships to Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound, two-star receiver. Ultimately, UMass felt like home. He joined the Minutemen, whose football program was elevated to FBS status two years ago.
"I always told myself that I'd never give up," said Taylor, who became the first in his family to attend college. "I'm going to amount to something in society and I'm going to achieve my dreams."
The NFL Scouting Combine will take place this weekend with UMass tight end Rob Blanchflower hoping to turn in an impressive performance. Blanchflower will work out in Indianapolis on Saturday, Feb. 22 as the offensive lineman, tight ends and kickers are scheduled. The Combine will be aired live on the NFL Network.
Blanchflower is currently ranked as the No. 10 tight end available and as the 198th player overall according to NFLDraftScout.com.
In a dramatic overtime finish, the Minutemen knocked off No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday at the Moe's Southwest Lacrosse Classic. The game was nationally televised on NBC Sports.
The UMass women's lacrosse team moved up two spots in the InsideLacrosse.com/Brine Media Poll to No. 11 as it was released yesterday.
The Minutewomen were also ranked No. 11 in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and checked in at No. 15 in the newly formed Lacrosse Magazine weekly rankings.
This week marks the 35 consecutive week that the Minutewomen have been ranked among the top-20 teams in the nation.
After scoring two goals in the win over UConn on Saturday, senior Katie Ferris is now the NCAA's No. 2 active career goal scorer among Division I players.
She fell behind Navy's Aimee Gennaro who has 174 career goals. Ferris' 173 goals is two ahead of Syracuse's Alyssa Murray who has 171.
In total points, she trails just Murray who has 270 career points. Ferris has 12 on the year for 257 career points.
After a 2-0 start to the weekend and Saturday's win at Connecticut, the UMass women's lacrosse team moved up to No. 11 in Monday's IWLCA Coaches Poll.
The Minutewomen remain No. 13 in the Brine Media Poll which is still in the preseason version until more teams play.
In the new Lacrosse Magazine weekly poll, the Minutewomen check in at No. 15.
A big first half lead gave the No. 12 UMass women's lacrosse team cushion to survive a second half run by UConn on Saturday afternoon in Storrs. Ellie Bullitt's goal late in the second half gave the Minutewomen a two-goal cushion to take a 7-5 win.
The Bud Light UMass Basketball Show returns to The Hangar Pub and Grill on University Drive in Amherst tonight at 7 p.m. Submit your questions for head coach Derek Kellogg and player guest Sampson Carter by clicking here or tweeting @UMassSportsNet. If you can't make it out to The Hangar, listen live on WEEI on 105.5 FM in Springfield, 1440 AM in Worcester, online, or on your mobile device through the TuneIn Radio App.
Listen Live | Ask a Coach | Radio Information
Listen Live | Ask a Coach | Radio Information
UMass men's lacrosse traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to participate in the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic and took a thrilling game from No. 14/9 nationally-ranked Ohio State in overtime, 12-11. Nick Mariano used the last of his four goals to secure the victory with 7.9 seconds left on the scoreboard clock at EverBank Field. Matt Whippen added three goals and an assist for four points while Jeff George notched two tallies. Zach Oliveri made 13 saves in goal and Joe Calvello won 19 of his 28 faceoffs. Hear head coach Greg Cannella, Mariano and Calvello's thoughts on the game and UMass' performance against the Buckeyes below:
More on the men's lacrosse program is available through UMassAthletics.com.
Here are the recaps from Saturday's big 67-61 road win over George Washington. Sampson Carter tied his career high with 20 points to lead a total team effort at the Smith Center. The Minutemen fought through injuries to both point guards, foul trouble to just about everyone except Derrick Gordon and a loud, hostile environment to bounce back and move into fifth place in the Atlantic 10 standings with five games remaining.
UMass men's lacrosse takes a break from the weather in New England to take a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., to face Ohio State as part of the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic, hosted on Sunday, Feb. 16 at EverBank Field. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 9:15 p.m. Daily Collegian staff writer Andrew Cyr spoke with head coach Greg Cannella, midfielder Aaron Madaisky and attackman Nick Mariano to preview to event.
"Spring sports in the Northeast aren't always pleasant to deal with. With temperatures still in the teens and snowfall constantly on the horizon, it's difficult for coaches to plan their practice schedules.
Luckily for the Massachusetts men's lacrosse team, a weekend trip to Florida is just what the Minutemen need to escape the harsh playing conditions of New England.
But this is no vacation..."
It's game day in the nation's capital for UMass. The Minutewomen take on the GW women at 11 am, followed by the men's teams at 2 pm. The men's game could go a long way in determining possibly first round byes in the Atlantic 10 Championship, which starts March 12. Both teams are 19-5 overall and enter with RPI numbers in the 20s - UMass at 21 and GW at 29 = according to rpiforecast.com.
The game will be broadcast by Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic and SNY (channel finders below) and streamed on the A-10 Digital Network for free.
| Massachusetts (19-5, 6-4) at George Washington (19-5, 7-3) | |
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. | Charles E. Smith Center |
| Tickets | 202-994-7325 | Tickets no longer available online |
| TV | Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic ( Channel Finder) | SNY ( Channel Finder) |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | A-10 Digital Network (Free) |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | GW Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |
Find out what some UMass student-athletes have planned for Valentine's Day on the February 8, 2014 edition of the Alden Credit Union Lighter Side
Jesse Mayfield Sheehan of the Daily Collegian has a preview of this Saturday's match-up at UConn for the No. 12 UMass women's lacrosse team.
The Minutemen travel to Jacksonville to take on the nationally-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Moe's Southwest Grill Classic on February 16. Head coach Greg Cannella and freshman Aaron Madaisky preview the matchup.
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a story today on Chaz Williams be named a top-30 finalist for the Naismith Award which is given annually to the best collegiate player in the nation.
Here are the recaps and reaction from Wednesday's 91-80 loss to George Mason. The Minutemen had some nice performances from Trey Davis and Sampson Carter, along with flashes of strong play from some other contributors, but were unable to get past the Patriots for a second time this season.
UMass will continue "George Week" as it heads south to face George Washington on Saturday afternoon. The 2 p.m. tip at the Smith Center in D.C. will air on SNY, Comcast Mid-Atlantic, The Comcast Network and be streamed on the A-10 Digital Network. The Minutewomen will face the GW women at 11 a.m. in the front end of the doubleheader.
Jonathan Quick, former UMass netminder, has been selected to start in goal for the U.S. men's Olympic team Thursdayin its opener against Slovakia, it was announced on Wednesday morning.
Several news outlets had coverage:
USA Today: Jonathan Quick starting first game for USA
Los Angeles Times: Kings' Jonathan Quick to start U.S. men's Olympic hockey opener
ABC News: Goalie Jonathan Quick to Start Sochi Opener for US
Super Bowl champion and all-time UMass football great James Ihedigbo will be in town tonight to catch the UMass basketball game against George Mason.
Prior to the game, he will stop by the Amherst Brewing Company to join football head coach Mark Whipple and his staff for the Football Fan Event that was postponed from last Wednesday.
The event begins at 4:30 PM and goes until 6:30 PM. Coach Whipple will show a highlight film of this year's signing class and speak with fans about the upcoming season.
To sign up for tonight's event or other events as part of Coach Whipple's Meet & Greet Tour, click the link below:
Tonight at 7 pm, UMass welcomes George Mason to Amherst for the second meeting of the season. Tickets are still available using the phone number and link below. The game was not selected for television so the viewing option if you can't make it to the Mullins Center is to watch online at the A-10 Digital Network.
| Massachusetts (19-4, 6-3) vs. George Mason (8-15, 1-8) | |
| Date | Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | Mullins Center |
| Tickets | 866-UMASS-TIX | Buy Tickets here |
| TV | None |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | A-10 Digital Network |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | George Mason Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |
Stephen Hewitt (@steve_hewitt) of the Daily Collegian has a very touching piece on former basketball standout and NBA player Lari Ketner and his fight against cancer.
Read the entire article here...
Lax.com has highlights of UMass men's lacrosse at Army's Michie Stadium and the 6-5 win the Minutemen earned over the Black Knights to start the season on Saturday, Feb. 8. Nick Mariano and Grant Whiteway each had a pair of goals while Zach Oliveri made eight saves in the cage for Massachusetts. Check out some of the key plays from the game for both sides below:
More coverage of college lacrosse can be found on Lax.com. Additional content for the men's lacrosse program, including statistics, stories and photo galleries, can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
ILGear.com, part of the Inside Lacrosse family, gave fans of the game an inside look at the gloves UMass will wear in 2014, the Warrior Regulator 2. The gloves are maroon and white with black detailing and prominently feature "Massachusetts" and the wearer's number near the wrist.
Here are the recaps and opinion pieces from Sunday's thrilling 73-68 win at Rhode Island. It was a great showing by the UMass fans and students who made our presence known. And Chaz, DG, Put and the gang did their part to get win No. 19 on the season.
Head coach Mark Whipple introduces football's new signing class, we look back at last month's UMass Athletics Hall of Fame inductions, and head basketball coach Derek Kellogg takes us inside a practice drill. Plus, we catch up with basketball alum Luke Bonner, preview the 2014 men's lacrosse season, and learn how to take a faceoff from lacrosse senior Joe Calvello. Plus, find out what some UMass student athletes are up to for Valentine's Day.
The Daily Collegian, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and Lacrosse Magazine all have coverage of the season-opening win at Vanderbilt for the No. 13 UMass women's lacrosse team. Senior attack Katie Ferris broke the program's career goals-scored record with four in the game giving her 171 for her career.
Peter Cappiello of the Daily Collegian has a recap of how UMass men's lacrosse started its 2014 season with a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Army at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 8. Freshmen Nick Mariano, Grant Consoletti and Jeff George combined for the first four UMass goals before junior Grant Whiteway stepped up to net the final two and the defense stifled a late Army rally attempt.
"Greg Cannella entered his 20th season as Massachusetts men's lacrosse coach unsure of where his team's points would come from.
Cannella got an unlikely answer in Saturday's season opener at Army, as three freshmen combined for four goals in the Minutemen's 6-5 win over the Black Knights.
Freshmen Grant Consoletti, Nick Mariano and Jeff George all scored in their collegiate debuts for UMass (1-0), with Mariano scoring twice. Consoletti started the attack exactly five minutes into the game when he popped out from the crease to beat Army goalkeeper Sam Somers..."
Read the entirety of Cappiello's story on the Daily Collegian website. More on UMass men's lacrosse can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
It's game day and another big road contest. Sunday's game at URI marks the start of the second half of Atlantic 10 play and the chance to gain some ground on the league leaders. URI is only the second team with a losing record that UMass has faced this season, but the Rams are 8-3 at home and play up to their competition. Expect a passionate crowd but a good number of friendly faces with a large UMass fan base expected for this one.
| Massachusetts (18-4, 5-3) at Rhode Island (11-12, 2-6) | |
| Date | Sunday, Feb. 9 at 4:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Kingston, R.I. | Ryan Center |
| Tickets | 855-387-4849 | Buy Tickets here |
| TV | CBS Sports Network | Channel Finder |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | None |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | Rhode Island Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican spoke with head coach Mark Whipple about his recruiting philosophy and how his appreciation for the process has changed and evolved over the years.
The Weirton Daily Times has a story on quarterback Ross Comis who signed an NLI with UMass on Wednesday. Comis is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of West Virginia.
Brendan Hall of ESPNBoston.com has a look at some local players who were signed from the Commonwealth including Jarell Addo from Leominster and Dan DiNicola from Walpole. Hall also discussed the importance of walk-on players with coach Mark Whipple.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette spoke with UMass men's lacrosse head coach Greg Cannella to preview the 2014 season, which begins Saturday at Army with an 11 a.m. game. Check out Vautour's preview and what Cannella had to say about the squad:
"University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse coach Greg Cannella admitted he was curious to see how his team plays when it opens the season against Army, Saturday at 11 a.m. at Michie Stadium, in West Point, N.Y.
'We're looking all right. We'll find out a little bit more (Saturday). When adversity hits, you find out what they're all about,' Cannella said. 'They've been a good group to coach so far. They've worked hard. We've prodded them to work even harder and challenge themselves.'
The Minutemen will be playing a lot of new faces, while some of the returning players will be in significantly increased rolls..."
Read the entire story on the Daily Hampshire Gazette website. More on the men's lacrosse program can be found through UMassAthletics.com.
UMass Spots Network caught up with men's lacrosse head coach Greg Cannella , senior attackman and midfielder Connor Mooney and redshirt-sophomore goalie Zach Oliveri to preview the 2014 season, which begins on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Army. MinuteFans can watch the season preview video through the UMass Athletics YouTube page embedded below.
More on the men's lacrosse team is available through UMassAthletics.com .
Casey Wellman missed two chances to score on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, but in the same rapid-fire sequence there was another rebound. He finished the job.
The former University of Massachusetts star, who has been traded by three teams, has learned that to be successful in the NHL it sometimes takes a few tries.
Wellman has scored twice for the Washington Capitals since his Jan. 25 callup. Both times, he was on the receiving end of passes from superstar Alex Ovechkin. Wellman's next goal is to prove he should stay.
"I would love for this to be my last stop," Wellman, 26, said after stepping off the ice Tuesday at the Capitals' practice facility. "I'd love to make a spot for myself on this team."
Read More: Former UMass star Casey Wellman carving a niche for himself with Washington Capitals
Daily Collegian staff reporter Andrew Cyr put together a story discussing the UMass men's lacrosse team's mentality entering 2014 as the squad embraces its status as an underdog in the battle for the CAA Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's been a while since the Massachusetts men's lacrosse team has been an afterthought in the Colonial Athletic Conference and the NCAA.
But coming off their first losing season since 2008, the Minutemen enter 2014 unranked in the NCAA national rankings, and predicted to finished fourth in the CAA preseason coaches poll.
The departures of Kyle Smith and Will Manny, the team's top two scorers from a season ago, don't help the cause either.
"This is the first time in a long time we're going to be the underdog in almost every game we play," said UMass coach Greg Cannella, who is returning for his 20th season in Amherst. "But sometimes the underdog role is a good place to be in."
In fact, the underdog role is something the Minutemen embrace. And with their sights set on bouncing back from a disappointing season, preseason polls are the least of their concerns..."
Read the conclusion of Cyr's story through the Daily Collegian website. More on the men's lacrosse program can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
UMass men's lacrosse goalie Zach Oliveri will look to be an anchor for the Minutemen in 2014, writes Peter Cappiello of the Daily Collegian. Oliveri is in his third year with the program and second competing after redshirting the 2011 season.
"It was an accidental epiphany. Zach Oliveri, redshirt sophomore for the Massachusetts men's lacrosse team, was looking through the DVR in his Ronkonkoma, N.Y., home in June, when he found last year's game against Hofstra, a 9-8 win on April 20.
The goalkeeper is academically a junior, but has two more seasons of eligibility after this year's campaign due to redshirting his true freshman year. Still, he became introspective watching the old matchup, hyper-aware that his college lacrosse days are numbered....
The conclusion of the story is available on the Daily Collegian website. Follow along with the men's lacrosse program as it begins the 2014 season at Army on Saturday through UMassAthletics.com.Daily Collegian reporter Peter Cappiello focused a recent feature story on the emergence of UMass men's lacrosse redshirt-junior midfielder Ryan Izzo as a leader on the Minutemen. Izzo suffered an ACL injury as a freshman in 2011 but has recovered from the setback to become an all-conference and all-region standout.
"Ryan Izzo ran a toss sweep from the 23-yard line to the short side of the field against Weymouth on Thanksgiving Day, 2009. He cut back across the gridiron with five minutes to play, then broke a few tackles up the middle, bound for the right pylon. Touchdown, 77 yards. It was the final play of his high school football career.
A senior fullback at Walpole High School, Izzo set the Massachusetts career points record at 722, and his 6,316 rushing yards were good for No. 2 in the record books. But he never received a Division I football offer. Izzo instead audibled to lacrosse, a sport he's played since fourth grade. His first choice? The University of Massachusetts...
Read the conclusion of Cappiello's story through the Daily Collegian website. UMass men's lacrosse begins its season at Army on Saturday, Feb. 8. For more information on the team, visit UMassAthletics.com. PPR's Brandon Stone weekly feature focuses on a Mission Bay wideout that came from the projects of East St. Louis to become one of the best receivers on the West Coast.
Anthony Chiusano of the Daily Collegian has a feature story on UMass senior All-American Kelsey McGovern who is returning this year after suffering a knee injury at the end of the 2013 campaign.
Jesse Mayfield Sheehan has a feature on the UMass women's lacrosse team's senior class which is one of the most successful groups in program history.
Jesse Mayfield Sheehan of the Daily Collegian takes a look at the UMass women's lacrosse team as they prepare to start the 2014 campaign.
The UMass Sports Network was on hand at the football offices yesterday for Saturday to work on a behind the scenes package.
Here's a look at just one aspect of the day that most people never have a chance to see:
Matt Stewart of the Sentinel And Enterprise has a story on Jarell Addo who committed to UMass and his teammate Neil O'Connor who will play for New Hampshire.
They were coached by UMass alum Dave Palazzi at Leominster High School
Dan Malone of the Springfield Republican has a pair of stories of Marshall transfer QB Blake Frohnapfel.
The Charleston Daily Mail has a story on quarterback Blake Frohnapfel transferring to UMass as announced on Wednesday.
James Kratch of The Star-Ledger has a story on Randall West of Lawrenceville High School signing with the UMass football program.
James Kratch of The Star-Ledger has a story of defensive lineman Chris Carter of Bridgewater-Raritan High School signing with UMass.
Garrett Cullen of West Virginia Metro News has an interview with quarterback Ross Comis who signed his NLI on Wednesday with UMass.
Howard Herman of the Berkshire Eagle has a two stories on Jordan Fiske who is an enrollee at UMass and a walk-on for the football team.
Mark Whipple's first class in his new tenure as UMass football head coach brought another round of excitement to the program. Here's a look at the coverage from Wednesday's signing day festivities.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on quarterback Ross Comis who officially signed his NLI to play for the Minutemen on Wednesday.
On the heels of his last-minute game-tying goal last Friday against Boston University, freshman Ray Pigozzi is the focus of Nick Canelas' piece in today's Daily Collegian.
Read: Freshman Ray Pigozzi brought in to give UMass a winning formula.
Corey McLaughlin of Lacrosse Magazine provided a "rapid reaction" to the Team USA announcement of its 30-man roster for the FIL World Championship, with UMass alumnus Kevin Leveille among those chosen. Lax Mag singled out Leveille among the seven attackmen on the team as a veteran who could make an impact when the FIL World Championship is held in July. On the former Minuteman, McLaughlin writes...
"Leveille, at 32 years old, is the oldest player in this group of 30. He's one of the all-time great finishers in the sport and holds the MLL record for longest goal-scoring streak (59 straight games). But he has never played in a world championship and is hungry to make this team after being an alternate and rooting for younger brother Mike LEveille in Manchester in 2010. Kevin first tried out for the team in 2001 while in college at UMass."
Read McLaughlin's full write-up on Lacrosse Magainze's website. More on UMass men's lacrosse can be found here.
UMass got a solid 40 minutes of play and used a couple of first-half runs to build a double-digit lead on La Salle en route to a 79-67 win over the Explorers.
Here's the podcast from Monday night's Bud Light UMass Basketball Show. Head coach Derek Kellogg talked with hosts Josh Maurer and Tim Kenney about last week's games at St. Bonaventure and Saint Joseph's, while previewing the La Salle home game on Wednesday. Derrick Gordon was the player guest.
LacrosseAllStars.com completed a season preview for UMass men's lacrosse recently, covering what has changed and who could step up for the squad in 2014. Author Connor Wilson took a look at the upcoming schedule and players who could be key to success for the Minutemen this coming season.
"UMass went 7-8 in 2013 after a superb 2012, which has seen the program go 15-1. UMass started 2013 out right with 3 wins, especially as one of them was a 12-11 win over then #1 UNC. An OT loss to Brown and three straight losses to Top 20 teams put UMass at 3-4, but wins over Lehigh and Hartford got the Minutemen back on track and playing with a winning record. Three straight losses (two to Top 20 teams), two wins and a loss to finish up there year gave UMass a 7-8 mark, and a disappointing finish.
2014 should see UMass with a similar strength of schedule. Some opponents have been changed out, but UMass has retained a challenging but winnable slate of games. Early games with Army, Brown, Harvard, Ohio State, and Albany will tell us a lot about where UMass sits, but let's try to figure some of this out before they open the season with the Army Black Knights on February 9th..."
Read Wilson's preview on LacrosseAllStars.com here. More information on the men's lacrosse can be found on UMassAthletics.com.
The Bud Light UMass Basketball Show is live from Paddy's Irish Pub at 1060 Wilbraham Rd. in Springfield tonight at 7 p.m. Join us or listen live on WEEI 105.5 FM Springfield or 1440 AM Worcester, online, or on your mobile device through the TuneIn Radio app. Submit your questions for head coach Derek Kellogg by clicking here or tweeting @UMassSportsNet.
Radio Information | Ask a Coach
Radio Information | Ask a Coach
Saturday was a tough one for the Minutemen. They fought back from a 17-point hole and tied the game on two occasions, but couldn't quite get over the hump and take the lead. On top of that, junior Maxie Esho was injured with around four minutes to play in the first half when he caught an elbow in the head going for a rebound. The team has lost three of its last four but is undefeated at home and returns to the Mullins Center on Wednesday to face La Salle. Tip off is at 7 p.m.
It's game day for the Minutemen on Hawk Hill! UMass will look for a season sweep of Saint Joseph's and try to snap a two-game road losing streak. The game is nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Brent Stover, Steve Lappas and Jon Rothstein on the call.
| #21/19 Massachusetts (17-3, 4-2) at Saint Joseph's (14-6, 4-2) | |
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:00 p.m. (EST) |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pa. | Hagan Arena |
| Tickets | 866-274-6679 | Buy Tickets here |
| TV | CBS Sports Network | Channel Finder |
| Radio | 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester); Listen Online | Use the TuneIn App for Mobile Devices to listen |
| Online Video | None |
| Live Stats | |
| Social Media | Twitter.com/UMassAthletics |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts Notes | Saint Joseph's Notes | News Clips | 2013-14 Media Guide |