Oct. 31, 2012

2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Field Hockey Tournament
Tournament Centrals:	UMass | Atlantic 10
Semifinal: #1 Richmond vs. #4 VCU	Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 | 11:00 a.m.
Semifinal: #2 UMass vs. #3 Temple	Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 | 2:00 p.m.
Championship: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner	Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 | 2:00 p.m.
Location	Garber Field (5,000) | The University of Massachusetts | Amherst, Mass.
Live Video (free)	Richmond-VCU | UMass-Temple | Championship Game
Gametracker (free)	Richmond-VCU | UMass-Temple
Game Notes	Massachusetts | Temple
Series History (UMass-Temple)	UMass leads, 33-12
Series History (Richmond-VCU)	VCU leads, 21-17
Record Books	Richmond | Temple | UMass
Social Media	@UMassFH   | @UMassAthletics   |  @Atlantic10   |  Sam The Minuteman
Directions and Parking	Printable Instructions

Quick Hits
UMass is...
• 12-6 in day games.
• 11-1 when recording at least one goal in the last 20 minutes of a contest.
• 10-3 when scoring first.
• 8-1 when scoring at least three goals.
• 8-2 in its previous 10 contests.
• 8-2 when leading at halftime.
• 5-2 in games played on a Friday or a Sunday.

Scouting Temple
• UMass' semifinal round opponent, Temple, claimed victory in its previous contest to finish the regular season with a 12-8 overall mark and 5-2 A-10 record as the Owls downed Saint Joseph's, 4-1. The Minutewomen won the regular season contest between the squads, 4-1 on Garber Field on the strength of two goals from senior Kim Young.

• The Owls are led by Amber Youtz's 52 points on 21 goals and 10 assists, the most points and goals recorded by an A-10 field hockey player on the 2012 season. Four additional Temple student-athletes have recorded double-digit points total through 20 games, including Nicole Kroener (25), Lauren Hunt (23), Katie Briglia (23) and Alyssa Delp (18). Overall, Temple has outscored its opposition narrowly, 164-154 on the strength of a 60-55 goals scored advantage. The Owls also own a 286-259 advantage in shots and a 183-166 lead in on-target attempts.

• In goal, Lizzy Millen serves as the Owls starter, playing 1,227 minutes of action over 20 starts. Millen has given up 50 goals for a 2.85 goals-against average while stopping 93 shots to secure a .650 save percentage. Haley Mitchell has claimed 169:30 in the cage as Millen's backup, with a 1.24 GAA and 0.786 save percentage. Combined with the Owls' team total, Temple is average 2.72 goals allowed per game this season while notching a .669 save percentage and a pair of shutouts.

UMass Unbeaten In Last Seven
• UMass closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak after securing a pair of wins over Temple, 4-1 and Lock Haven, 4-0 at Garber Field. The winning streak is the longest such since the Minutewomen won 11 consecutive games during the 2010 season.

• When facing the Owls on Friday, Oct. 26, UMass made use of a four-goal second-half to secure the program's 33rd win over Temple. Senior midfield Kim Young started the scoring run with her ninth goal of the season in the 40th minute before adding a second tally at the 50:50 mark. Freshman midfielder Noralie Weusthuis and freshman forward Courtney Spleen also earned marks in the contest.

• The Minutewomen secured a shutout of Lock Haven on Sunday, Oct. 28 during Senior Day festivities on the strength of a pair of Weusthuis goals as well as one each from Young and junior midfielder Alexa Sikalis. Weusthuis was unassisted in notching both goals, with the eventual game-winner coming in the 11th minute.

Weusthuis Brings In A-10 Honor
• After a three-goal weekend that included the game-winner against Lock Haven, freshman midfielder Noralie Weusthuis was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week on Monday, Oct. 29. The laurel is the first such issued to Weusthuis by the A-10.

• The freshman from Hengelo, The Netherlands, produced one goal against Temple in UMass' 4-1 win before adding a pair of unassisted tallies against the Lady Eagles. For the season, Weusthuis ranks fourth on the squad with 14 points on six goals and two assists and is tops among all A-10 freshman in points during conference play, with nine on four goals and one helper.

UMass Rolls La Salle, SJU
• With a pair of victories on the road at La Salle and Saint Joseph's, the UMass field hockey squad continued its recent run of success, moving its winning streak to five in the process.

• Against La Salle, senior forward Nicole Cordero provided two goals while senior forward Kate Heineman and freshman midfielder Noralie Weusthuis added a tally. Heineman netted her first goal of the season - and the eventual game-winner - in the 30th minute to push UMass ahead, 1-0. The senior from Ellicott, Md., sent home a loose ball after Weusthuis fired an on-target attempt at La Salle goalkeeper Lisa Shaffer.

• When facing the Hawks two days later, five UMass field hockey seniors led the Minutewomen to a 5-1 victory at Saint Joseph's Ellen Ryan Field on Sunday afternoon. Senior defenders Callie Sweigart and Thando Zono and classmates Cordero, Heineman and Kim Young directed the UMass offense while combining for three goals and five assists on the day. Freshman midfielder Allie Sabia and redshirt-sophomore midfielder Marisa Dunn added their first collegiate tallies during competition against the Hawks.

Trio Honored Following Wins
• After the UMass field hockey team tallied a pair of wins on the road at La Salle and Saint Joseph's three Minutewomen were singled out to recognize the recent success of the squad. Senior forward Nicole Cordero totaled Atlantic 10 Player of the Week while freshman goalkeeper Sam Carlino received the rookie laurel from the conference and senior defender Thando Zono was named co-UMass Athlete of the Week on Monday.

• Cordero has supplied the Minutewomen with an offensive spark throughout the season and has heightened her play since conference competition began. After three goals and an assist over two games during the previous weekend, Cordero now owns 13 points on six tallies and one helper through five conference games. On the season overall, Cordero leads UMass with 12 goals and an assist for 25 points, the fourth-highest total in the Atlantic 10.

• Carlino netted her first weekly honor with a strong showing against the Explorers and Hawks, only allowing two goals in 140 minutes of play while recording nine saves. Carlino has achieved similar dominance to Cordero's when facing A-10 opposition, owning a 0.63 goals against average and .870 save percentage while only allowing three goals in more than 330 minutes in net against A-10 foes.
• Zono was tabbed the co-UMass Athlete of the Week with swimming and diving's Katie Arnott after Zono helped to lead the Minutewomen through another successful A-10 weekend. Zono spearheaded the offensive charge against Saint Joseph's, recording a goal and two assists to improve the senior defender's season points total to 18 on seven goals and four assists.

Young Reaches The 50-Point Plateau
• During UMass' 6-2 win over Saint Louis, senior midfielder Kim Young reached the 50-point plateau for her tenure with the Minutewomen. Young has remained one of the most consistent players for UMass since her arrival in Amherst in 2009, recording at least three goals in each season. Young has a pair of 13-point seasons (2009 & 2011) and owns 22 goals and 15 assists in 81 career games.

• This year, Young has turned in her best single-season performance at UMass, owning first on the squad with 27 points on 11 goals and five assists. For her overall success on the field and in the classroom, Young has been awarded numerous honors, including First Team A-10 All-Conference (2011), A-10 All-Conference Rookie Team (2009) and NFHCA National Academic Squad and Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference (2011).

Following Closely Behind
• Shortly after Kim Young reached the 50-point plateau against Saint Louis, senior forward Nicole Cordero flourished against Saint Louis and VCU, earning 10 points on three goals and an assist. Cordero now owns 45 career points on 20 goals and five assists. In tandem with Young, Cordero is having a banner season in her final year with the squad, leading the team with 25 points on 12 goals and an assist.

Zono, Allymohamed Notch Weekly Awards
• With three wins in as many games, senior defender Thando Zono and sophomore defender Lauren Allymohamed were honored for their parts in helping secure each win. Zono tallied Atlantic 10 Co-Athlete of the Week and Allymohamed earned UMass Athlete of the Week after the duo combined for two goals and a pair of assists.

• Zono earned the game-winning goal against No. 1 Syracuse before adding her second goal of the weekend against Saint Louis. Allymohamed assisted on the game-winner against the Orange before providing another helper against VCU.

UMass Totals Perfect Three-Game Week
• After downing No. 1 Syracuse, 2-1 the Minutewomen continued a strong showing at home with wins over Saint Louis, 6-2 and VCU, 3-0 to complete a perfect week. The victories improved UMass to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in Atlantic 10 play.

• Against Saint Louis, senior Nicole Cordero paced the offense with her first collegiate hat trick while Thando Zono, Lindsay Bowman and Molly MacDonnell added a mark each. The Minutewomen controlled play from the onset, finishing with a 30-2 advantage in shots while scoring the first four goals.

• When UMass faced VCU two days later, the squad produced its first shutout of the season, 3-0 behind strong play from the defense and three saves in the cage by freshman goalkeeper Sam Carlino. Senior midfielder Kim Young scored the eventual game-winner on an assist from Nicole Cordero. Callie Sweigart and Alyssa Ineson added insurance goals for UMass, with Ineson's marking the first of her collegiate career.

Minutewomen Upend No. 1 Syracuse, 2-1
• In its final non-conference contest, and the most difficult test of the year to-date, the UMass field hockey team defeated No. 1-nationally ranked Syracuse, 2-1 at Garber Field on Thursday afternoon. After falling behind, 1-0 in the 24th minute, the Minutewomen responded with goals from freshman midfielder Noralie Weusthuis and Thando Zono to secure the victory.

• Zono provided the decisive goal in the contest during the 63rd minute of play, her fifth tally of the season. Freshman midfielder Allie Sabia controlled possession to begin the attacking run and sent a pass to Zono. After the ball trickled through the legs of a Syracuse defender, Zono ripped a shot into the left side of the cage just inside the post to push UMass ahead, 2-1 at the 62:55 mark.

• Zono's goal came slightly more than five minutes after Weusthuis equalized the contest with a re-direction at the 56:16 mark. Sophomore defender Lauren Allymohamed earned her first assist of the season as Allymohamed delivered a perfect pass from outside of the circle to Weusthuis' waiting stick.

• With the win, the field hockey team became the first women's athletic program to defeat a No. 1-ranked opponent.

Top Notch Competition Testing Minutewomen
• Through 20 contests, UMass field hockey has played a ranked foe 11 times, the most among all Atlantic 10 Conference schools. This year, UMass has faced No. 1 Syracuse, No. 3 Connecticut, No. 3 Maryland, No. 7 Northeastern, No. 12 Boston University, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 17 Boston College, No. 18 New Hampshire, No. 21 UAlbany, No. 22 Richmond and No. 24 Maine.

• Within the Atlantic 10, the eight-team conference has played 40 games against top-25 opponents combined, with Richmond and Temple challenging the second-most (six) while Lock Haven, Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis own four, La Salle has tallied three and VCU just two.

• As a whole, the conference has gone 8-32 against NFHCA Top-25 opposition, with UMass owning five of those victories. Richmond downed No. 19 Williams & Mary and No. 25 American University while Temple fought by No. 15 Drexel to join UMass as the only A-10 teams with wins over top-25 opposition.

70 Minutes of Field Hockey Just Isn't Enough
• Through 20 games, the UMass field hockey squad has played into overtime on six occasions, meaning nearly a third of the team's games have required extra playing time to decide. UMass is 3-3 in games that go to overtime, with wins against No. 15 Ohio State, No. 17 Boston College and No. 18 New Hampshire.

• Previously, UMass has played six or more overtime games in a season only once, when the Minutewomen had six games need extra minutes during the 2000 campaign, which encompassed 23 contests. Throughout the entire A-10 Conference there have only been 17 overtime contests, with UMass being the only squad to participate in more than three games that required at least one extra period.

Young Named UMass Athlete of the Week
• Following a two-goal, one-assist weekend for Kim Young, the senior midfielder took home UMass Athlete of the Week honors. Young provided the game-tying mark at No. 17 Boston College before setting up the game-winner in the contest only 21 seconds into overtime. Young also secured a tally against Dartmouth, and the dangerous attacking player now owns a point in three of four games this year. When awarded the honor four contests into the 2012 season, Young had already begun spearheading the Minutewomen's offensive efforts with seven points on three goals and an assist.

Prince Named A-10 Player of the Week
• After helping UMass to a pair of wins against ranked opponents, junior Hannah Prince was named Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Player of the Week, the league office announced on Aug. 27.

• Prince scored the first two goals of her career; both overtime game-winners, as the Minutewomen defeated No. 18 New Hampshire and No. 15 Ohio State by 2-1 margins on Friday and Saturday in Durham, N.H. She factored in UMass' first goal vs. the Buckeyes, as well, dishing her first career assist.

UMass Downs No. 18 UNH, No. 15 Ohio State
• UMass posted a pair of 2-1 overtime wins vs. No. 18 New Hampshire and No. 15 Ohio State last weekend in Durham, N.H. It marked the first two victories over ranked opponents of head coach Carla Tagliente's tenure.

• The pair of wins put the Minutewomen out to their first 2-0 beginning to a season since 2000. UMass' last 3-0 start came in 1996 when the squad opened up with four consecutive wins.

• Brooke Sabia, Allie Sabia, Courtney Spleen, Noralie Weusthuis and Sam Carlino all made their collegiate debuts at New Hampshire. Allie Sabia also logged her first career assist against the Wildcats.

• In addition to the two game-winners by Prince, seniors Kim Young and Thando Zono also added tallies against UNH and Ohio State, respectively. In goal for UMass, Carlino had three saves vs. the Buckeyes.