Nov. 15, 2008

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - #17 UMass field hockey's incredible 2008 season came to an end on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Coyne Stadium, falling in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 3-2, at #3 Syracuse. Cher King scored the game's first goal and Katelyn Orlando scored the Minutewomen's other. Alesha Widdall made nine saves in goal. Shannon Taylor led the way for the Orange with two goals and an assist. UMass' most successful season since 2000 concludes with a 17-5 record.

The Minutewomen took control of the game at the opening pass-back. Makaela Potts stole a pass at found Katie Kelly, who dribbled into the circle and won a penalty corner. Potts' shot off the corner was deflected wide, but UMass kept the pressure on.

Just under three minutes into the game, UMass was awarded its second corner and this time capitalized. After Jackie Tait's original shot was saved, King was corralled the rebound at scored inside the right post. It was the junior forward's fourth goal of the season and gave UMass a 1-0 lead with 31:35 left in the half.

Syracuse came back with pressure of its own almost immediately. After Alesha Widdall made two fine saves on Lindsey Conrad, the Orange was awarded its first corner of the game. Off the corner, Taylor swept a pass from the right side of the circle to Martina Loncarica on the left post for the tip in goal, tying the game at one apiece with 27:56 left in the half.

The teams traded possessions throughout the middle portion of the half, until Syracuse was awarded two penalty corners as the clock went under 12 minutes. A Widdall save and Bourazeris defensive save thwarted the first corner, but on the second, Taylor fired a shot into the right corner of the goal to give the Orange a 2-1 lead with 9:48 left in the opening half.

The Minutewomen's aggressive press paid dividends in the waning minutes of the half when Kelly intercepted a pass just outside the Orange circle, drew the keeper out of the goal, and found Orlando on the far post where the senior forward tied the game at two with 4:15 left in the half. It was the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year 15th goal of the season, while Kelly picked up her fifth assist.

The half ended with the game knotted at two. Syracuse outshot UMass, 9-5, and outcornered the Minutewomen, 4-2.

After fairly even play over the first 10 minutes of the second half, Syracuse was awarded three penalty corners in a three minute stretch. On the third, Taylor hit a blast that Widdall got a piece of, but still went in the goal to give the Orange a 3-2 lead with 22:17 left in the game.

Syracuse was able to keep that lead over the duration of the game. With just over a minute left, UMass was awarded a penalty corner, but Potts' shot was blocked, ending the Minutewomen's final threat.

For the game, Syracuse outshot UMass, 20-8, and drew 14 penalty corners to the Minutewomen's four.

In two one-goal losses to the Orange this season, UMass scored six of the 20 goals Syracuse as allowed on the year.

2008 marked the 21st time UMass field hockey made an NCAA Tournament appearance and second-straight under second-year head coach Justine Sowry. The season also saw UMass claim its 11th Atlantic 10 Championship. The Minutewomen's 17 wins were the most since 2000 (19-4), while all five losses came by one goal to team's either ranked or receiving votes in the NFHCA poll.