UMass A 7oct2018

We met the other UMass team ('A') under overcast skies and 15+C/60+F temperatures -- a tiny bit of drizzle and a fairly slick but not soggy surface.

Caroline's mother and brother came from Westwood MA, Callie's mom and sister from Newton MA and Izzy's folks and adorable puppy (Steve) from Sherborn MA! Carly (awaiting ACL surgery in November) and Lindsey (still in rehab for her repaired ACL) joined us, too. We had promised Cate Rozelle (ACL surgery only a few days ago and still in a lot of pain) that we would wait until next weekend to take our team photo so she could be included.

We spoke about moving the ball quickly so as not to be tackled/injured! Julia Fissore O'Leary added that we should be 100% committed to our tackles for the same reason.

Meredith was quick to get a scoring chance with a free kick on target saved in the 2nd minute. Callie got a free kick soon after, and Bri came up big by saving a UMass shot in the 6th minute.

We had most of the possession with crisp passes and good movement. We even had moments when Tina, Julia FO'L, Izzy, Callie and both Katies were able to join the attack by bringing the ball up the field.

Dani got off a shot that went wide in the 10th minute, then a UMass shot went over our cross bar -- luckily for us! They were dangerous with their speed when they got in behind us, which happened a few times.


Meredith G earned another free kick in the 15th minute that became a scoring opportunity, but the UMass gk made the save. 

Namya had a great chance eight minutes later, but her shot was saved. Then Katie B took a free kick and UMass had a shot go over our cross bar before Sarah J's corner kick after 30 minutes.

Namya had another great scoring chance when her shot went just barely wide in the 31st minute, and immediately after that Julia Fissore O'Leary saved us by shutting down a threatening attack in front of our goal.

Namya had another great shot on target that bounced off a UMass defender for our corner kick taken by Meredith G, and Sarah J had her shot go wide just before the break after 40 minutes.

During half-time, we spoke about keeping up our great passing, putting earlier pressure on UMass when they have the ball, going all together when we have possession, combining more in wide areas and committing 100% to tackles we decide to make.

After Jordan earned us a corner kick, UMass had a shot go wide and their free kick saved by Bri. Meredith G's free kick in the 47th minute found Lizzie, whose shot was just over the cross bar.

Julia Fissore O'Leary came up big again in the 47th minute when she shut down a UMass attack that got in behind our last line of defense. Meredith S got a free kick after that, as did UMass, before Julia FO'L came up big again in the 61st minute by preventing another UMass scoring opportunity that resulted in a corner for UMass. UMass had a shot go wide immediately afterward.

Sophia sent a wonderful diagonal pass from her position in the middle of the field to the right side of the field for Jenny to run onto in the 63rd minute. Jenny's left-footed shot seemed to float over the UMass GK into the upper left corner of their net for our only goal of the game. It was a glorious goal!

Bri came up big again when she saved another UMass shot two minutes later and Callie took a free kick before UMass got lucky (or perhaps we were unlucky) to earn a penalty kick in the 67th minute that leveled the score.

After Callie took another free kick in the 72nd minute, Bri saved another UMass shot. We were lucky to have a UMass goal disallowed when the ball had traveled out of bounds -- the official in the middle of the field didn't see the lines-person's flag go up.

Since this was most assuredly our most challenging game this fall, we were delighted to out-play UMass 'A'! Although either team might have taken a win today, we were rewarded by our high quality to have a draw and remain undefeated -- a difficult achievement in our division!


G: Bri
CD: Tina+Julia FO'L
OD: Callie+Izzy, Katie B+Katie R
CM: Meredith G+Nam, Sophia+Sarah J
OM: Jenny+Meredith S, Caroline
F: Lizzie+Dani, Jordan, Sarah J

Shots 9:9  Saves 4:3

2 Meredith G free kick saved
4 Callie free kick
6 UMass shot saved
10 Dani shot wide
12 UMass shot over
15 Meredith G free kick saved
23 Namya shot saved
26 Katie B free kick
28 UMass shot over
30 Sarah J corner kick
31 Namya shot just wide
31 Julia FO'L prevented a UMass attack
38 Namya shot blocked by a UMass defender for a corner kick taken by Meredith G
40 Sarah J shot wide
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42 Jordan earned a corner
43 UMass shot wide
44 UMass free kick saved
47 Meredith G free kick, Lizzie's shot over
52 UMass corner
57 Julia FO'L prevented UMass breakaway
59 Meredith S free kick
60 UMass free kick
61 Julia FO'L prevented UMass attack for a UMass corner
62 UMass shot wide
63 Sophia set up Jenny on the right for a shot lofted into the upper left corner --> 1:0
65 UMass shot saved
66 Callie free kick
67 UMass penalty kick --> 1:1
72 Callie free kick
74 UMass shot saved
80 UMass free kick