The Massachusetts field hockey team got off to a strong start in its first four games, going 3-1. This is the best start for UMass since 2000, when it opened 5-1 and won the Atlantic 10 title.
The team improved with every game played, and the defense has been stellar. After losing 1-0 in overtime to Syracuse, the Maroon and White recorded three consecutive shutout victories against Sacred Heart, Rutgers and Harvard.
The replacement of former coach Patty Shea with Justine Sowry appears to have quickly paid dividends. Last year the team staggered out of the gate to a 1-3 record, before limping to a 6-14 finish. After four games, the Minutewomen are already halfway to last year's win total.
Defense and goaltending was the catalyst for the team's success through the first four games. After allowing an overtime goal in the opener against Syracuse, the defense has not allowed a goal in 3 hours, 46 minutes and 46 seconds of play. Seniors Erin O'Brien and Kristina DoRosario anchor the team's defense.
Sowry alternated senior Becky Letourneau and sophomore Sarah Williams as starting goaltender. Both performed well, and it is unclear who will earn the permanent starting spot or whether Sowry will continue to rotate goalies.
In a matchup between first year coaches, with Syracuse's Ange Bradley also starting her career on a new team, the Orange (2-0) prevailed in a back-and-forth defensive struggle that ended in a disappointing 1-0 loss for the Minutewomen.
Starting goalkeeper Becky Letourneau recorded four saves, but allowed a goal after 55:31 when Gloria Nantuly redirected a Brittany Angellella shot. The Minutewomen allowed five shots on goal, but the Syracuse defense stymied the Minutewoman offense, allowing two shots on goal.
Sowry earned her first win as a head coach in a 1-0 shutout in the home opener against Sacred Heart (1-2) in a game where the final score did not reflect the Minutewomen's dominance.
The Maroon and White's defense was suffocating, as they did not allow Sacred Heart to record a shot on goal. Williams started in goal and recorded an easy shutout victory.
O'Brien and DoRosario shadowed Sacred Heart's forward line all game long, and although the Pioneers have Carisa Eye, who finished last season second in the nation in scoring, her team could not get any clean shots off.
With 6:55 left in the game, Eye received a pass 10 yards from the net, but O'Brien batted the ball away, ending the scoring chance.
The Minutewomen's offense made the defense's job easier by keeping the ball on Sacred Heart's side of the field recording 12 shots on goal. The Pioneer's goalkeeper Kristin McIntyre kept the game close with 11 saves, but UMass would not be denied a victory.
Sophomore Cher King scored the game-winning goal 5:45 into the game. Junior midfielder Erin Parker sent a pass onto King's stick when she was eight yards in front of the goal, King buried the shot to provide the difference in the game.
UMass's second home game against Rutgers (3-1) mirrored its first home game in many ways. For the second straight game, the Minutewomen won the game on a Parker pass leading to a King goal. The backfield shut down another top scorer in Amy Lewis, who had seven goals coming into the game. And once again a 1-0 UMass win was the result.
Not everything about the game was similar.
Unlike the shooting spree the Minutewomen put on against Sacred Heart, the offense was more measured. Shots were a 6-2 in favor of UMass. The game went into overtime because neither team could put the ball in the net during regulation.
King's goal came 2:17 into overtime when Parker ran down the left sideline as King maneuvered in front of the net. The defense got sucked in, the pass was right on the stick, and the game ended like that.
There was a chance for the game to end in regulation as Katelyn Orlando was dragged down from behind on breakaway with 10 seconds left in the game. DoRosario attempted the ensuing penalty shot, but the try sailed wide.
Letourneau got the start in net this time, making two saves to bring her record to 1-1.
The Maroon and White traveled to Jordan field and blew out the Crimson 5-0 on Sept. 2. King led the team with two goals and an assist; goals by Orlando, Katie Kelly, and DoRosario rounded out the scoring.
UMass started the scoring with 14:27 left in the half when Jamie Bourazeris passed into the circle onto King's stick. King then found a wide open Kelly, who banged the ball into the lower right corner of the net. It was Kelly's first career goal.
Later in the second half, after junior Lauren Gillespie and King extended the lead 3-0, DoRosario recorded her first career goal by punching in a rebound of a Bourazeris shot. King added another goal late in the game.
King has been on a hot streak, scoring five points in the last three games.
Williams started in net and recorded eight saves for her second straight shutout victory. She has not allowed a goal in 140 minutes of playing time, although against Sacred Heart she did not face a shot on net.
Next week the Minutewomen travel to Burlington, Vt., where they will face Vermont and New Hampshire.
Scott Feldman can be reached at sfeldman@student.umass.edu.
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