For the UMass women’s soccer team, Sunday’s 4-0 playoff drubbing came by way of four different goal-scorers: Lauren Bonavita, Ava Jouvenel, Sini Laaksonen and Rebeca Frisk. However, in the assist column, two players shone above the rest.
All season long, it’s been Ansley Frazier and Jenny Hipp feeding the ball up through the midfield, facilitating scoring opportunities for the team’s strikers. No. 3 seeded UMass’ (10-5-3, 6-3-1 Atlantic 10) Frazier and Hipp would each tally three assists in the shutout victory over No. 6 ranked Fordham (5-11-4, 4-4-2 A-10) in an A-10 quarterfinal matchup.
“[Frazier and Hipp] are incredible playmakers, so composed on the ball,” UMass coach Jason Dowiak said. “Being able to have to players like that—playing underneath the forwards and sometimes threatening to get beyond the forward line—is a unique situation for me.”
Frazier, who leads the A-10 in assists with a whopping 12, has been everything the Minutewomen have looked for in a freshman, playing a total of 1,371 minutes so far this season, second among UMass freshmen in that respective category.
Hipp, a junior, broke out her freshman year when she earned a place on the A-10 All-Rookie Team. Then, last season, on her way to scoring 20 points with seven goals, she was named A-10 Midfielder of the Year. This year, Hipp settled into a different role by helping to facilitate the assist game.
“I just want to create chances and have my teammates play well,” Hipp said. “I want to set them up to be in positions to score. I don’t really care that much about my assist or goal [statistics]. I just want the team to be successful.”
However, after Sunday’s three-assist performance from Hipp, the German national’s season assist total rose to seven, besting last year’s season-high of six.
“Obviously, it’s nice to have assists and goals but the success of the team is the first aspect I care about,” Hipp continued. “I think this season has been so unbelievable because everyone gets on the scoreboard … it’s not about one individual but more about the team.”
Sunday’s match was the first time the Minutewomen hosted a playoff contest since 2011. Hipp and company have spoken on team chemistry all year long, crediting the virtue for the success they’ve been having this season.
“Since we’re really close off the field it shows up on the field as well,” Hipp said. “It’s a good harmony; we all get along really well. [The chemistry] makes you want to fight more for each other on the field.”
Now set to meet No. 2 ranked George Washington Friday in an A-10 semifinal showdown, UMass will look to ride the wave of energy that has gotten them this far into the postseason.
“We want to play for the school, for the program,” Hipp said. “We just want to achieve things that we haven’t achieved in the past. I think that’s our priority now.”
UMass’ semifinal matchup against GW is set to take place on Friday in St. Louis. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
Ryan Beaton can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @ry_beaton.
