Oct. 9, 2010

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - Makaela Potts scored two goals and the Minutewomen defense held the Billikens without a shot as UMass field hockey (6-6, 1-0 A-10) opened Atlantic 10 play on Saturday night with a 4-0 victory over Saint Louis (0-14, 0-1 A-10) at Garber Field. Alexa Sikalis and Katie Kelly each tallied a goal as UMass registered its highest goal output of the season.

The defensive effort, UMass' fourth shutout of the season, was the first time the Minutewomen held an opponent without a shot in over a decade, as the finally shot tally was 28-0. The Minutewomen won 13 penalty corners while not allowing one.

After leading 3-0 at halftime, Potts scored the second half's lone goal in the 62nd minute flicked a shot by SLU goalie Alex LaBarge after passing back and forth with fellow senior Jaime Bourazeris. It was Potts' third goal of the season while Bourazeris picked up her second assist of the game and team-leading third of the year.

Potts scored her first goal of the game in the 20th minute when her drive off a penalty corner found the back of the net, giving UMass a 3-0 lead that it would carry into halftime. Bourazeris and Nikki Panciocco were credited with assists on the play.

Kelly scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 14th minute when she dribbled into the circle off a free hit and blasted the ball inside the left post, making it 2-0.

Sikalis opened the scoring just 1:32 into the game when she took a crossing pass from the left by Kelly and knocked it home for the first of the freshman's career. The assist was Kelly's first of the year.

The Minutewomen return to action on Tuesday when they close non-conference play at Dartmouth in a 3 p.m. game.