University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Set For Road Contest Against UMass on Wednesday
2/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
The Opponent
The UConn women's lacrosse team (0-1) continues its non-conference schedule on Wednesday against UMass (1-0) at 3 p.m. at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, Mass. The match will mark Connecticut's second straight road contest, and it will be the 11th meeting between the two programs in a series that dates back to 1998. The Huskies sport an all-time record of 3-7 against the Minutewomen.
Last Time Out
A late UConn rally fell short on Sunday, as the Huskies lost to James Madison, 15-11, over the weekend in their season opener. Senior midfielder Emily Anderson (Killingworth, Pa.) totaled a career-high five goals in the setback, while freshman attacker Grace Nolan (Marcellus, N.Y.) finished with four points on two goals and two assists in her collegiate debut. Anderson (Midfielder of the Week) and Nolan (Rookie of the Week) both earned Big East Player of the Week honors earlier today.
Sunday's contest featured runs by both teams. UConn jumped out to a 2-1 advantage, but the Dukes responded quickly, scoring six straight goals to take a 7-2 lead, and JMU led 12-5 as the two teams head to the half. James Madison tacked on two more goals out of the break before Connecticut tallied six of the final seven scores to end the game at a four-goal deficit. With the loss, UConn dropped to 11-8 all-time in season openers.
Scouting The Minutewomen
UMass downed UMass Lowell, 18-4, on Saturday behind three goals from midfielder Hannah Murphy. Five Minutewomen scored at least two goals for UMass, which was picked as the favorite in the Atlantic-10 this season in last month's preseason coaches poll. The Minutewomen have won the A-10 in each of the last six seasons, and their 28 straight regular season league wins mark the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history.
Last season, UMass finished with an overall record of 18-2 and made its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Minutewomen's top two goal-scorers last season, Katie Ferris and Sam Rush, have both left the program after combining for 161 points and 111 goals as seniors in 2014. Junior Erika Eipp (57 points) enters this year as the team's top returning offensive player, while goalkeeper and 2014 Second Team All A-10 selection Rachel Vallarelli is back in net.
UMass edged UConn, 7-5, in Storrs last season despite four goals from Connecticut senior midfielder Lauren Kahn. The Huskies are 1-2 on the road against UMass, and UConn's last win over the Minutewomen came at home on March 31, 2004.
Next Up
After Wednesday's game, the Huskies will hold their home opener on Saturday against Dartmouth at the George J. Sherman-Family Sports Complex. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
