The Massachusetts women’s soccer team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker on the road at Harvard back in early September. In the seven games since then, the Minutewomen have yet to lose another game.
UMass (8-2-2, 2-0-1 Atlantic 10) increased its unbeaten streak to seven games following its 1-1 double-overtime draw on the road against Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon.
“Even though I felt that we didn’t come out strong, we were able to come back from behind,” said UMass coach Ed Matz. “It’s hard when you have to go on the road and travel for two games in a short amount of days, to play out in the heat and away from home. We were able to pick up the play in the second half and I thought we did a good job there.”
The unbeaten streak for UMass is the longest since 2007 (five games), as the Minutewomen remain undefeated in the A-10 this season.
The Billikens (4-5-3, 2-0-1) took the early lead in the first half. Jessie Jarrett scored her first goal of the season in the 17th minute when she played a cross from Abbey Stock along the right side, outside the box. Jarrett netted the goal to give Saint Louis an early, 1-0, advantage.
UMass was able to hold the Billikens scoreless for the remainder of the half while also staying on par in shots at five apiece.
In the 72nd minute, the tide of the game turned.
Sophomore defensemen Lauren Skesavage, off a restart on a Billiken yellow card, blasted the equalizing goal from 25 yards out.
For Skesavage, the timely goal for the team was her first in her collegiate career.
“That was really huge for us,” said Matz. “We didn’t come out strong, but we were able, for much of the second half, to keep the ball deep in their area and we made something happen. She’s been really good for us all year long.”
In overtime, UMass had its opportunities to claim victory with seven combined shots in two frames, but was unable to send any of them into the net.
Moa Mattsson, Tori Sousa, Julie Morrissey and Cecilia Jensen all recorded shots. Goalkeeper Emily Cota helped the Minutewomen in net with six saves.
UMass undefeated in A-10
Co-captains Deanna Colarossi and Meghan Collins propelled UMass to victory on the road against Charlotte on Friday.
The win marks the first for the program against the 49ers (3-8-3, 1-2-0) since 2005.
The Minutewomen jumped out to an early lead in the 13th minute when Collins headed a ball across to Colarossi along the left side. Colarossi proceeded to bring the ball down and net her fourth goal of the season, giving UMass a 1-0 lead in the opening frame.
The first half goal was Colarossi’s third in the last five games, a sign that she’s turned the corner to return to the offensive threat she was a season ago. Last year, she led the team in goals (nine) and points (20).
Later in the half, Cota’s shutout streak came to a close.
In the 30th minute, a shot by Sarah Ann Waugh deflected off Cota and into the net by Oni Bernard to end the shutout streak for the Minutewomen at 481 minutes, 10 seconds.
In the second half, Collins put UMass back on top. On a cross from Sousa into the box in the 78th minute, Collins crept up and headed in a goal to give the team a 2-1 lead.
“She’s one of the best defenders in the conference, by far,” said Matz of Collins. “She will pick her spots to get into the offensive zone for a chance to score, but has played great defense for us this season. She’s a big part in what we’re doing this year.”
UMass will play next at home against Fordham (7-5-2, 2-1-1) Friday and La Salle (12-0-1, 4-0-0) on Sunday. Both opponents will be tough tests for UMass, as the Minutewomen look to continue their unbeaten streak and prove that they are still one of the elite teams in the conference.
Scott Cournoyer can be reached at [email protected].
