Aug. 26, 2012

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AMHERST, Mass. - On the back of a late first-half goal by sophomore Kristen Gargiulo and a solid team defensive effort, the UMass women's soccer team posted its second straight victory, blanking UAlbany, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Rudd Field. With the win, the first shutout of the season for the Minutewomen, the squad moves to 2-1-0 on the year, while the Great Danes fall to 0-1-1.

UMass had the bulk of the opportunities in the first half, out-shooting UAlbany, 10-3, while holding the Great Danes without a shot on goal in the period. Sophomore Moa Mattsson nearly put the Minutewomen on the board in the 17th minute, but her header attempt was grabbed by Jackie Ubert in net for UAlbany.

Then in the 37th minute UMass was awarded a free kick to the far left of the 18-yard box. Taking the kick, junior Grace Coombs sent the ball in along the ground to a streaking Gargiulo, who knocked it past Ubert.

That was all the Minutewomen needed for the victory. Senior Stephanie Gordon made five saves, all in the second half, to pick up her first clean sheet of 2012. Ubert finished with four stops for UAlbany, who trailed UMass in shots on the afternoon 16-12. Corner kicks were 7-6, Minutewomen, while fouls were 13-8 against the Great Danes.

The Minutewomen will be back in action on Friday, Aug. 31, playing host to Harvard at 1:30 p.m. The contest against the Crimson will be the first half of a UMass Soccer doubleheader, with the men's game vs. Harvard to follow at 4:00 p.m.