Oct. 13, 2004

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass field hockey team won its second game in a row with 2-1 victory over New Hampshire on a brisk and clear night at Garber Field. Freshman Kara Murphy (Dedham, Mass.) scored her first career goal with 23:03 left in the second half to lift UMass to the victory as it heads into Atlantic 10 play this weekend. Murphy also assisted the first goal for her first two collegiate points.

"We really picked it up in the second part of the first half," said head coach Patty Shea. "We played more determined as the game went on. I would say it was one of our best performances of the season. We took advantage of the opportunities we had and were able to come away with the win."

After falling behind 1-0 on a UNH goal by Katie White with about 10 minutes left in the first half, UMass quickly rallied back. Senior Caitlin Beresin (Acton, Mass.) scored her team-high fifth goal of the season to even the game with 5:32 left in the first half. Beresin finished off a nifty passing play as she took a feed from Murphy and beat UNH goalkeeper Christine Buckley to the low right corner.

Murphy continued her big day with the game-winner in the second half as she rocketed home a high shot from about five yards out. Senior Adrianne Monaco (Oxford, N.Y.) was credited with an assist as she set up Murphy's high-riser.

In goal, UMass' Christine Tocco (Reading, Mass.), made three saves as UNH outshot UMass, 11-8, mounting heavy pressure late in the game. Tocco made the save of the game with 4:30 left in regulation as she stopped UNH's Kaitlyn Skelley from point-blank range. Buckley made two saves for the Wildcats.

The Minutewomen are now 4-11 overall while New Hampshire is 2-12.

UMass hits the road after 10 consecutive home games as it hits stride in the Atlantic 10 schedule with a pair of games at Temple and Saint Joseph's this weekend. The Minutewomen host their final home game for Senior Day on Oct. 24 vs. Richmond at Noon.