Massachusetts women’s lacrosse coach Angela McMahon knew entering the season that her defensive unit was poised for another successful season.
A year ago, UMass finished 2014 ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring team defense, allowing 6.3 goals against per game.
How about this year?
Well, No. 1 in the country has an even better ring to it.
UMass currently has the nation’s top scoring defense, as it allows only 4.5 per game, which is almost one full goal ahead of second-ranked Stony Brook’s 5.43.
Although the difference may appear drastic on paper, McMahon struggled to find words when asked how the team has been able to improve on an already solid aspect of the Minutewomen’s game.
“I have never really thought about it like that,” McMahon said. “But if I have to pick out one thing it’s that we are faster (on defense).
“Those are our workers back there and are probably our most fit players as well. As much skill and athleticism we have in the backfield, it allows us to do so many different things, which is why I think we’ve been successful.”
In addition to being the nation’s top scoring defense, UMass currently leads the country in caused turnovers per game with 13. Kate Farnham is among four players with double-digit caused turnovers and leads the team with 20, while Amber Tobin (14), Sarah Crowley (10) and Amy Tiernan (10) round out the list.
And while it’s been the entire defensive unit that has received praise for its efforts this season, goalkeeper Rachel Vallarelli has been the anchor.
Vallarelli leads the country in save percentage (.605) as well as goals against average (4.3). McMahon said this is the best the senior’s played in her entire career.
“I think that everyone has an impact on those stats,” Vallarelli said. “I think that it’s everyone’s job to make sure that we allow the least amount of goals per game.
“At the beginning of the year I made a goal, I think it was four (GAA), and seeing that I have over 60 percent save percentage is awesome, but I’m just trying to put our team in the best position to win games.”
Vallarelli has appeared in all but 13 minutes for UMass this season and has allowed seven goals or fewer in all eight of her starts this season.
“I think Rachel stays incredibly humble throughout the whole process,” defender Morgan Walker said. “Every accolade that she gets is just another reminder that our hard work is paying off. And for her specifically, she performs well every single day.”
The Minutewomen have allowed a nation-best 36 goals this season, as McMahon credited the biggest x-factor being the Farnham twins, Anne and Kate.
The duo has combined for 38 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers. However, their best abilities come from something McMahon cannot coach.
“Our biggest x-factor is that we have twins and they have that weird twin, sixth sense thing where they can do things and anticipate each other the way everyone else can’t.”
“They’re the fastest players on the field,” McMahon added. “When you have two of your fastest players coming at you to double you, it’s been a huge help, especially because they know each other’s next moves already.”
Despite falling to Albany for the Minutewomen’s first loss of the season 7-4 on March 19, UMass held the Great Danes – the nation’s second-highest scoring team (16.5 goals per game) – to their second lowest scoring game this season.
UMass may not be playing the most high-scoring, entertaining brand of lacrosse in the NCAA, but it’s hard to argue against its success with the numbers to back it up.
Andrew Cyr can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.
