The Massachusetts women’s soccer team is off to a slow start, but has begun to show some signs of improvement recently.
The Minutewomen stumbled out of the gate, dropping their first two contests at home to Boston University, 2-1, and Yale, 4-1. They also were defeated by a score of 2-1, in their lone road game against Fairfield.
The Stags took the lead early Sunday when the Minutewomen made the trek to Fairfield. Shannon Helm aided the opponent’s cause, scoring on a rebound 11 minutes into the game. UMass goalie Kristin Walker made the initial save, but was unable to stop Helm’s shot.
Fairfield’s Meghan King managed to notch a second goal two minutes into the second half. King headed in a rebound of a shot that deflected off the cross bar.
UMass was only able to generate one goal, despite outshooting their opponents 12-7 and dominating the second half. This offensive attack was spearheaded once again by freshmen standout Britt Canfield. Canfield netted her second career goal at the 63:40 mark to bring UMass within a goal. Junior Lindsey Bellini set up the goal by sending the ball past the Fairfield defense. Canfield ran the ball down and pushed it past the goalie to the far post.
Despite the loss, head coach Jim Rudy seemed pleased with the team’s effort and progress. Rudy singled out the strong play the team has been getting from the freshmen class early in the season. “The freshmen are carrying us right now,” Rudy said.
Last Friday the Minutewomen turned in a lackluster performance against Yale in front of a home crowd at Rudd Field. The game got off to a good start though for the Maroon and White as Bellini put UMass on the board ten minutes into the contest.
Canfield sparked the play by firing a shot from just inside the penalty area. The Yale goalie couldn’t control the rebound and Bellini deposited the ball into the back of the net to give UMass its first lead of the season.
It was all Yale from that point on though. The Bulldogs would score four goals that UMass could not answer. Walker recorded seven saves on the day, but was hindered by a shaky defense which allowed Yale forwards to get in alone numerous times.
Yale knotted the score five minutes after Bellini’s goal and scored a critical goal with under a minute remaining in the first half.
“You could see we were playing to get through halftime with a tie,” Rudy said. “Everyone relaxed, and it shouldn’t be that way.”
The Bulldogs padded their lead with a goal with 31:17 left in the game and sealed the victory with yet another goal seven minutes later.
UMass had scoring chances, but was unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Midway through the first half Canfield and senior Lindsey Fairweather broke out on a 2-on-1 break. Canfield slipped a pass to Fairweather but her shot from 18 yards sailed wide.
Early in the second half freshman Caitlin Footit blasted a shot from the center of the area off the cross bar. Fairweather collected the rebound in front of the net, but her bid was deflected over the net.
Rudy was at a loss for answers as to why the team is off to a slow start, but said the returning players are going to need to step up their play if the team is to turn things around. Rudy remains optimistic about the chances for a turnaround.
“Last year we started 2-0 and then we collapsed,” he said. “So maybe this is just the opposite. We’ll start 0-2 (now 0-3) and then kick it into gear.”
The Minutewomen hope to start to kick it into gear this weekend when they visit the New Hampshire Wildcats.
