Nov. 10, 2007

STORRS, Conn. - UMass field hockey's most successful season since 2000, came to a close on Saturday afternoon, as the Minutewomen (14-9, 6-1 A-10) fell to #4 Connecticut (21-2, 5-1 Big East), 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. Erin Parker (South Deerfield, Mass.) scored UMass' lone goal. Senior Becky Letourneau (Greenfield, Mass.) made 11 saves in goal for the Minutewomen.

Under first year head coach Justine Sowry, UMass won 14 games, the program's highest win total since 2000. The Minutewomen also win their first Atlantic 10 Championship since 2001 before defeating #17 Princeton in a NCAA play-in game. That was the club's first win over a ranked opponent since 2000. The team won eight more games than it did a season ago, the program's biggest increase over the previous year since 1995-96, all while possessing a defense that ranked at the top of the A-10 and among the best nationally.

The UMass defense endured the UConn pressure early on. After 15 minutes of play, the Huskies led in shots, 6-1, but Letourneau made four saves and some good defensive play in front of her kept the game scoreless.

With 17 minutes left in the half, UMass won its first penalty corner and took advantage. Parker pushed in to Cher King (Christ Church, Barbados), who evaded two UConn defenders while bring the ball into the circle. She found Parker on the left post and the junior midfielder put the ball over UConn goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero to put UMass ahead, 1-0, with 16:35 left in the half. It was Parker's fifth goal of the season and third in the last three games. King picked up her fourth goal of the season on the play.

The Huskies came right back just over a minute later when Katie Semanoff tipped in a long pass from Lizzy Peijs with 15:28 left for her 10th goal of the year, knotting the game at one.

Lauren Aird scored another UConn goal with 10:45 left in the opening half. The junior forward scored unassisted after receiving a pass from outside the circle, dribbling and shooting from 10 yards out, putting UConn up 2-1.

That score would carry into halftime. Shots in the first half were 9-3 in favor of UConn, while corners went the Huskies' way as well, 3-1.

UConn made it 3-1 early in the second half. Melissa Gonzalez knocked in a rebound with 31:18 on the clock, following two corners and three Letourneau saves.

Peijs scored her 16th goal of the season on a 15 yard shot with 19:09 left. Aird assisted on the play that followed a penalty corner, making it a 4-1 game.

Final shots were 20-5 in favor of UConn, while the Huskies won six penalty corners to UMass' two.