Following two straight victories last week, the Massachusetts field hockey team fell back to .500 Sunday afternoon following a loss to undefeated No. 4 Syracuse 4-0.
The defeat evens the Minutewomen’s record at 2-2 for the season and 1-1 against nationally ranked opponents.
After managing to tally one goal in the first half Sunday, the Orange poured on three more in the second to clinch a victory and move to 4-0 in 2015. All three second half scores came within a 10-minute span.
In the 41st minute, Syracuse’s Emma Russell broke away from the UMass defense to score her second goal of the game to extend the lead to two. Less than two minutes later, Alma Fenne smacked a hard shot into the net to give the Orange a 3-0 lead.
Roos Weers capped Syracuse’s scoring with the final goal of the day 50 minutes, 49 seconds in on a penalty corner. It was Weers’ third goal of the season and came off assists by Laura Hurff and Alyssa Manley.
Despite heading into halftime trailing 1-0 on a quick shot in front of the net by Russell, the Minutewomen played well over the first 45 minutes, according to UMass coach Carla Tagliente.
One of the nation’s best offenses, Syracuse is ranked seventh in scoring average with 3.12 points per game. Tagliente said that the Minutewomen’s ability to hold the Orange to only one goal in the first half speaks to the strength of their defense.
“We came out and we executed our gameplan perfectly in the first half,” Tagliente said. “We did a really good job in the first half doing exactly what we wanted to do defensively against them.”
Offensively, however, UMass continued to falter as the Minutewomen managed only five total shots Sunday and two on goal. The Minutewomen now have seven total goals through their first four games.
“We had plenty of opportunities to get goals (Sunday), we had one that was questionable whether we should have been given a penalty stroke,” Tagliente said.
The Minutewomen came out for the second half a little flat and played undisciplined at times in the back, according to Tagliente, which resulted in turnovers in favor of the Orange.
“Hats off to Syracuse. Their counter attack was great,” Tagliente said. “The real difference in the game is that they finished their opportunities and we didn’t.”
Tagliente said UMass’ poor offensive showing doesn’t accurately represent how the Minutewomen handled themselves against a high-end opponent in the Orange.
“I think it is the best game we played yet this year,” Tagliente said. “The score doesn’t reflect it but if you look at the first half, it was an outstanding half for us and not a terrible second half either.”
Following the 10-minute span when Syracuse scored three goals in the second half, the Minutewomen limited the damage on defense and played the final 20 minutes without sacrificing a point.
Tagliente said playing against the No. 4 team in the nation and observing its playing style alone will help UMass improve. The Minutewomen won its only other game against a ranked opponent so far in 2015 in a 2-1 victory over No. 20 Boston University Aug. 30.
“Playing anyone who plays at the pace and tempo of Syracuse helps us realize the manner that we need to play at,” Tagliente said. “That was eye-opening right away.”
She added: “Some of the things we were deficient in the first three games were a bit concerning and I think we showed (Sunday) that we have a lot of potential.”
UMass returns to Amherst Friday, Sept. 11 to take on UMass-Lowell in its home opener on the newly-renovated Gladchuk Field. It marks the beginning of a five-game homestand for the Minutewomen.
Philip Sanzo can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Philip_Sanzo.
