The Massachusetts women's soccer team is now in an offensive slump after failing to score in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Richmond and Friday's 2-0 defeat to George Washington.
UMass' losses knock the Minutewomen (4-4-3, 1-2-1 Atlantic 10) back to a .500 record and a losing conference record. The last time they were at .500 was after the Sept. 10 win against Bryant.
UMass was 1-1-2 following that win and have since worn down opponents with its defense and timely scoring from forward Vanessa Patry. UMass coach Jim Rudy warned earlier this week that forwards Cristina Adams and Natalie Muka would have to step up, especially with Vanessa Lima's hamstring injury.
Teams have figured out that the Minutewomen like to go to Patry whenever possible and have made it more difficult for her to get shots off by doubling her when she gets the ball.
"I think they know where she is," Rudy said. "We still have to get someone besides Patry doing some damage up there."
Opponents' double-teams have caused UMass to go scoreless for three straight games dating back to the Sept. 28 scoreless tie against Temple. The last time it failed to score in three straight games was in 2003 when Syracuse, Boston University and Central Connecticut State shutout the Minutewomen in September.
However, that was when UMass was in its non-conference schedule. This time, the scoring drought is against A-10 opponents.
Patry was limited to four shots the entire weekend. Three of those came against The Spiders.
"She was unbelievable," Rudy said of Patry's performance on Sunday. "She played a considerable amount and hopefully as she gets fitter, she's going to get better at scoring goals."
Although the Minutewomen had difficulty scoring against Richmond, Rudy believed the defense could hold off the Spiders because almost all of the shots came from long distance.
The shots came from as far as 30 yards, long enough for goalkeeper Lauren Luckey to pick up four saves without working too hard at the net. The lone tally for the Spiders came with 25 minutes left in the game.
Richmond back Sarah Hilt took a shot deflected by Luckey, which went to Kat Russell - who converted on an attempt inside the box.
UMass had at least four opportunities at the goal, but most of them were blocked by the Spiders' defense.
The loss on Friday came after the Minutewomen faced an uphill battle on the slanted artificial field. It allowed the Colonials' defense to smother them by allowing UMass one shot in the first half.
The Minutewomen responded with seven shots in the second half, but it was not enough to make up the deficit from the first period.
GW's Erica Wright recorded the opening score after receiving a cross from Lauren Kelly. The midfielder got the ball past Luckey in the lower left corner of the net to take an early advantage.
Kelly received her second assist of the game during the 44th minute. Her cross met midfielder Cynthia Gamboa and she headed the ball to the right side of the net.
"I don't think we were ready to play [the first half] and GW was motivated," Rudy said. "I think both [goals] were just a lack of focus."
The loss continues the woes that come with playing at the Colonials' stadium. The last time the Minutewomen won at the Mount Vernon Complex was 1999.
UMass returns to the friendly confines of Rudd Field where it will play Xavier on Friday and Dayton on Sunday. The Minutewomen will follow that with a three-game stretch on the road, which makes next weekend especially important.
Adam Miller can be reached at ajmil0@student.umass.edu.
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