UMass coach Justine Sowry's team has changed a lot in one year.
In 2007, the Massachusetts field hockey team was a one-dimensional, defensive-minded team that toughed its way to the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round. But in 2008, the No. 17 Minutewomen (17-4) enter the tournament boasting a potent offense as well as a suffocating defense as they go into the round of 16 expecting to be there.
UMass has transitioned from a defensive-dependant team to one that can blow past teams with its offense if need be. Now, any unit can step up when another struggles. More importantly, though, is the fact that the Minutewomen were a young team that surpassed all expectations.
"[The team] is younger, definitely," Sowry said. "I thought they'd have difficulty early on, with the growing pains and the young defense. But they're growing and getting better every day."
UMass has three seniors left on its squad and has one returning starter on defense. But the Minutewomen have had little in terms of setbacks this season. In fact, the team improved from its 2007 record of 14-9 to 17-4.
The team has a history of surpassing Sowry's expectations, though. She was not delusional about the team's potential last year, her first at the helm.
"It was a surprise last year when we made it. At the beginning of the season, I stressed to the team that there were going to be no guarantees and that success was going to come years down the track," Sowry said.
"We were the underdog all year long and we had nothing to lose," she said. "Our team absorbed a lot of pressure and didn't put up a lot of goals. But we had a mentally strong group that stayed in every game they played."
Normally, there's a period of adjustment when a new coaching staff enters a program. Players must get used to the new playing style and become comfortable with the coaches. That did not become a factor, though, as UMass went on to win the Atlantic 10 title.
On Saturday, UMass will be in the same position it was a year ago. It will be a low seed in the NCAA tournament, playing the host team at the tournament site and facing a similar foe.
Last year, UMass faced Connecticut, a team they had faced earlier in the year, and both times the Huskies got the better of the Minutewomen. On Saturday, though, the Minutewomen travel to Syracuse to play the Orange in a game that leaves UMass in a familiar position.
However, the Minutewomen aren't the same team.
With its 1-0 shutout against Kent State, UMass now has three consecutive shutouts in postseason play. With their recent success on the defensive side of the ball, the Minutewomen have lowered their goals-against average to a meager 1.00 goal per game, a slight improvement of their mark of 1.08 goals per game last year.
"This year, with such a young team, I had low expectations at first," Sowry said. "But the team came together at the right time and now they believe they can go one [game] better than last year. It's a different team, but skill-wise, we are better."
As good as the team has been on defense, the team's most significant improvement has been on the offensive side of the ball. The offense improved from an average of 1.51 to 2.57 goals per game.
In 2007, the Minutewomen had little in terms of playmakers on offense. But this year, Sowry has witnessed breakout seasons from forwards Katelyn Orlando and Katie Kelly and added junior transfer Jill Powers.
"This year, we have a nice set structure. Last year, we had the talent but we didn't have the structure," Sowry said. "I think we're a better passing team. We've improved our scoring this year and how we execute in that aspect."
Nick O'Malley can be reached at nomalley@student.umass.edu.
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