For the last game of its non-conference schedule, the Massachusetts women’s soccer team will travel to Dartmouth and try to win its fourth consecutive match on Burnham Field on Tuesday evening.
The Minutewomen (5-2-1) will play on the road for the first time since their 2-1 loss at Harvard on Sep. 9. In their previous three-game homestand, the Minutewomen were 3-0 and outscored their opponents 3-0.
UMass will be taking on a struggling Big Green (2-6) team that is coming off an 0-2 road stretch in which both games had to be settled in extra time. In its eight games this season, Dartmouth has been outscored 12-4 by its opponents, outshot 118-70 and has been shut out five times. Despite the record, UMass coach Ed Matz knows that this is a team that has to be taken seriously.
“Dartmouth has played an incredibly difficult schedule and I think their record is a bit deceiving [of their abilities],” said Matz. “I think the biggest challenge [against them] is that it is going to be a battle. It is going to be our usual, close-knit game, especially in the second half.”
It has been the outcomes of those “close-knit” games that have shaped the way both teams’ seasons have developed.
In one-goal games this season, the Minutewomen have a 5-1 record, while the Big Green are only 2-3. When it comes to how the teams perform in the second half and extra time, UMass has scored five goals and allowed four to its opponents, while Dartmouth has scored three goals and surrendered 10.
Dartmouth, however, has been a tough team to contend with when faced on its home turf. The Big Green are 2-0 at home this season, including a 1-0 shutout against Maine on Sept. 18. Dartmouth has also outscored its opponents 3-1 and has outshot them 24-10.
As they get set to play on the road for the first time in almost three weeks, the Minutewomen are looking at this game the same way they have every other game this season.
“This is our last non-conference game and if you look at the games we have played, they have all been close,” said Matz. “We are approaching this game with the same mindset that we have to perform and that anything can happen. We want to go into tomorrow’s game with the momentum and performance we have had and we want to build on it.”
Matz added, “I do not think playing away from home will be an issue for us. When you walk out there and it’s a game under the lights with a good crowd, you can really feed off that as a player. It is going to be a good atmosphere and I think we will be able to handle it pretty well.”
In their efforts to improve their 1-1 road record, the Minutewomen will likely turn to senior forward Deanna Colarossi and junior goalkeeper Emily Cota to help lead them to a successful outing.
Colarossi, who scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Brown this past Thursday night, has started all eight games this season and leads the team in offense with two goals, three assists and seven points. Of her 16 shots, eight have been on goal.
In UMass’ end of the field, Cota will start her fifth consecutive game of the season and look to improve upon her 3-1 record. Cota leads the team with a 0.50 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, 19 saves and three shutouts.
In Matz’ eyes, the biggest advantage his team has when it takes the field is its consistency and its in-game attitudes.
“I think the team does not let a lot of things bother them,” Matz said. “We play even-keel. We build momentum as the game goes through and we keep that momentum with several aggressive goal scorers and a strong bench to call on when needed. We have worked hard all year and our record is indicative of that.”
David Martin can be reached at [email protected].
