Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Women’s lacrosse scorer Ferris continues last season’s success

Jeff Bernstein/Collegian
Jeff Bernstein/Collegian

The Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team has been relying on old habits with sophomore attacker Katie Ferris being the top scorer.

And so far, it’s working.

While Ferris is coming off of an impressive freshman campaign – which included a UMass record of 56 goals in 18 games – she said she wants even more this year, especially in terms of team accomplishments.

Ferris had a monster game last week in an 18-8 win over Holy Cross, in which she scored a career-high seven goals and assisted on three others en route to a 10-point game. Her seven goals in one game were the most since former Minutewoman and frontrunner Jackie Lyons posted eight goals in a single game in 2009.

Perhaps even more impressive than the actual performance itself was the fact that last Wednesday’s game was her first since last season as she had been sidelined due to an injury the entire offseason.

Due to injuries, she did not step foot onto the lacrosse field until about two weeks before the Holy Cross game, Ferris said.

“It felt great being out there, and it was nice being in game situations again. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s coming together,” said Ferris.

Ferris also received recognition from UMass coach Angela McMahon after the game for her strong performance, but McMahon also stressed how it was the overall team effort that allowed Ferris to have her career day.

“Katie played well,” said McMahon. “It was a team effort in terms of us having the ball more in the offensive end that helped her and gave her the opportunity to take some shots, and her teammates did a really good job of setting her up.

“On the flipside, her finding the cutters and having some assists was an area of her game that I really wanted her to improve on as being a playmaker back there in getting assists,” said McMahon.

And while injuries might typically plague a player, especially in his or her return to the field, McMahon didn’t feel this held true with Ferris.

“No. I think she looked pretty good,” said McMahon. “She was moving well and we always want to be on the cautious side [when it comes to injuries], but she was moving great and definitely finding her spots.”

The hard work paid off last week against the Crusaders, but now the Minutewomen face an even bigger test in the form of Boston University.

Last season, the two of these teams were locked in a tied game until the very end, when the younger, freshman Ferris scored her first collegiate goal with four seconds left in the game, to give UMass the 13-12 win over then-No. 18 BU.

The game-winning goal against BU was just the beginning of a season in which Ferris earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Honors. Last year, she finished with 72 points overall, while also finishing in the Top 20 in all major offensive statistical categories in the nation. She was also named to the SynapseSports.com Rookie All-American Team and to the IWLCA All-Region Second Team.

Her opening game performance could mean more accolades are yet to come for the young star, but Ferris said she is not focusing on that right now. After being out with an injury for so long, she said she is just happy to be out there again and happy for her team.

Cameron McDonough can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @MDC_McDonough.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Massachusetts Daily Collegian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *