With a loss to top-seeded La Salle in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament Thursday afternoon, the Massachusetts women’s soccer team’s hopes for a Cinderella run to the finals to prolong its season, came to an abrupt end.
Eighth-seeded UMass fell to La Salle 3-0 in a game that was in reach for the Minutewomen until late.
La Salle’s Maryam Huseini netted her first goal of the season in the 13th minute to get the Explorers on the board early. The goal was the only point in the first half, as the Minutewomen were outshot 12-6 in the opening frame and were unable to get on the board before their opponent; a reoccurring theme for UMass that has proven to be their kryptonite all season long.
Danielle Kriscenski was in goal again for the Minutewomen and recorded five of her six saves in the first half to keep UMass in contention.
The Explorers pulled away for good in the second half as Huseini contributed offensively once again with an assist to Jessica Kagan to put La Salle up by two scores in the 73rd minute.
Huseini’s assist was her 12th on the season, and she is the school’s all-time assist leader.
A goal in the 83rd minute solidified the victory for La Salle after Kagan set up junior Fia Jonsson with a shot that went in off of Kriscenski’s glove for the final goal of the game.
Senior goalkeeper Jessica Wiggins recorded the shutout for La Salle with four saves in the match.
The victory gives the Explorers a trip to the Atlantic 10 semifinals where they will face off tomorrow at 5 p.m. against the winner of fourth-seeded George Washington and fifth-seeded Rhode Island.
La Salle outshot UMass 18-10 during the match, and also held the advantage in corner kicks 8-2.
Even before the first whistle was blown though, it seemed as though UMass was fighting an uphill battle.
The Explorers were a perfect 8-0 against conference foes heading into Thursday’s matchup, while the Minutewomen came in with a 3-3-2 record in conference play.
La Salle, who has claimed three out of the last four Atlantic 10 championships, were also awarded with three major Atlantic 10 awards prior to the match.
Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to Kelsey Haycook, who has scored in each of La Salle’s eight conference wins, and whose 18 goals are best in the league. Haycook’s 18 goals broke the schools previous record of 17 that was set back in 1987. She is also second in the nation in game winning goals with eight, as well as being voted as a finalist for the 2014 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy this year.
Along with that, Kerri Aiken was recognized as Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, and the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year was given to head coach Paul Royal, who has won the award three of the last four years in his twelve years with the program.
For UMass, junior co-captain Rebekka Sverrisdóttir came in with First Team All-Atlantic-10 honors. La Salle came into the game with four first-team players of its own to go along with two All-Rookie selections.
Frank Corona can be reached at [email protected].
