June 14, 2012

2012 Schedule

AMHERST, Mass. - Seven games against opponents who were a part of the 16-team NCAA Tournament field in 2011, including national champion Maryland, highlight the 2012 UMass field hockey schedule, head coach Carla Tagliente on Thursday. Ten teams that the Minutewomen will face this fall were ranked in the final 2011 NFHCA Coaches Poll.

"We are fortunate to have an outstanding schedule lined up for 2012 that has us competing with some of the country's top teams," said Tagliente. "With ten games against top-20 opponents from last year and four of those against top-10 teams, it's going to be an exciting year for UMass. However, we can't overlook our conference opponents. This is going to be the strongest year in a long time for the A-10, and the addition of new conference member VCU further solidifies that. All in all, you strive to create a schedule that best prepares you for postseason success, and we feel we have done that."

UMass opens up its schedule with a two-game trip to Durham, N.H. The Minutewomen will play 2011 America East Champion New Hampshire on Friday, Aug. 24, before taking on Ohio State on Saturday, Aug. 25, with both contests set for 2 p.m. starts. The Buckeyes earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament last season.

On Aug. 31, UMass begins its home schedule against Dartmouth at 6 p.m. on Garber Field before traveling to Boston College on Sunday, Sept. 2, for a 3 p.m. matchup.

The weekend of Sept. 8-9, the Minutewomen will travel to College Park, Md., for a pair of games. UMass will face 2011 National Champion Maryland on Saturday at 11 a.m., before taking on American on Sunday at noon.

The Minutewomen will then play their third straight on the road, at Northeastern, who made an NCAA appearance last fall, on Friday, Sept. 14.

Upon returning to Amherst, UMass will settle in to play eight of its next nine contests at home. The Minutewomen will face Boston University on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m., followed by three more matches against America East foes. UMass will host Vermont on Friday, Sept. 21, Albany on Sunday, Sept. 23, and Maine on Sunday, Sept. 30, with game times set for 5 p.m., 3 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

The Minutewomen will square off against regional rival Connecticut on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. The Huskies advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last fall.

UMass will break from its homestand for a trip to Richmond, Va., to face defending Atlantic 10 Champion and 2011 NCAA Tournament participant Richmond. The game, which opens conference play for the Minutewomen, is set for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The Minutewomen will come back north to host their next three matches, beginning with 2011 BIG EAST Champion Syracuse on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. UMass will then face A-10 foes in its next two matches with Saint Louis set to come to Garber Field on Friday, Oct. 12, followed by VCU on Sunday, Oct. 14. Both games are slated for 1 p.m. starts.

In its final road trip of the 2012 season, the Minutewomen will travel to Philadelphia, Pa., the weekend of Oct. 19-21. UMass will play at La Salle on Friday at 3 p.m. and continue on to Saint Joseph's for a noon matchup on Sunday.

To wrap up the regular season, the Minutewomen will play a pair of conference games at home on the weekend of Oct. 26-28. UMass will take on Temple on Friday at 3 p.m. and Lock Haven on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Minutewomen will serve as hosts for the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championships, which will be held in Amherst, Mass., on Nov. 2-3. UMass will be in search of its 13th A-10 title this fall.