The Massachusetts field hockey team got back into the win column, when it traveled to Siena and came home with a 2-1 victory over the Saints on Sunday.
Siena started the scoring when sophomore midfielder Kristen McGorty scored off of a penalty corner in the 15th minute. Senior defender Emily Winslow earned the assist on the play.
UMass responded at the 19:16 mark of the first half. Senior forward Kara Murphy set up junior midfielder Erin Parker in the middle of the circle and Parker put it in the back of the cage for her first goal of the season. It was also Murphy's first assist of the young season.
In addition to the game-tying goal, the Minutewomen put 12 shots on net and had nine penalty corners by halftime.
The second half was far different from the first for both teams. UMass stepped up its defense to shut down any attack by Siena's offense. Siena didn't record a shot on goal in the second half. Also, it had three penalty corners as opposed to its eight corners in the first half.
The Minutewomen also turned up their offensive game in the second half. They unloaded 12 shots on Siena goalkeeper Renee Clavette, which forced her to make five saves. UMass got some insurance when freshman forward Katie Kelly came into the game as a late substitute and scored her second goal of the season from an assist by Mary Shea, the first on the season for her, giving the Minutewomen a 2-1 lead.
Despite being down, Siena hung in the game right until the very end. The offense brought pressure against UMass late in the game. The Maroon and White held off the attack but Siena got one final chance to even the score. The referees awarded the Saints a penalty corner with no time left on the clock. Siena got the ball into the circle and set up the play it designed but senior defender Kristina DoRosario stepped in and broke up the play to preserve the UMass win.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Williams continued to play impressively and make her case for the starting job. She earned the win, improving her record to 3-1 overall this season.
UMass out-shot Siena, 22-5. Sophomore Cher King led the team with three shots on goal.
UMass edged out Siena, 12-11, in penalty corners. UMass had nine at the end of the first half and Siena had eight.
The only booking of the game came in the 69th minute when Parker received a green card.
UMass will try to keep the momentum going when it heads down to Storrs, Ct., to take on regional rival No. 3 Connecticut.
Justin McGrail can be reached at jwmcgrai@student.umass.edu.
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