Returning to the same firm mostly-weeds field where we played UMass B, we found overcast skies but fine 50F/10C soccer weather for our game at noon with the undefeated team in our division. We had 1:1 draws with them the last two falls but never enjoyed playing them because of their pushy/physical/jersey-tugging style.
With five substitutes, we were a little sparse in attendance (the lowest this fall), but we might have expected that with three away games scheduled in one weekend -- something we usually can avoid!
Having another game with Amherst College's club team immediately after this one, our plan ahead of time was for 35-minute halves.
We spoke about keeping the ball moving quickly in order to preserve possession and avoid being tackled. Katie Reisman's parents and puppy were there, along with some acquaintances of our players.
UMass immediately got into our third, down the left-hand side and had a shot bounce off the left upright then into our goal. We were horrified to have Jenny go down soon after that with what she was very sure was a torn ACL; we didn't see any contact, but the lumpy field could have contributed to stress on her knee. We immediately got ice on it and had the UMass trainer help her.
After UMass had another shot go wide, they were awarded a free kick in their third before Lana put a serious shot on target that was saved.
Zanna earned a corner that Aislinn took in the 18th minute, and Mudia's shot soon after that was blocked for a corner that Zanna took. UMass got two more free kicks before Katie Reisman made a crucial block of a UMass shot in the 24th minute. UMass got another free kick from 25 yd that went wide.
Aislinn sent in a power shot from the left side of the field that was saved in the 29th minute, and after UMass took another free kick from their third and had a shot go over our crossbar she had another chance at their goal but her shot went wide.
During the break, we suggested quicker passes, taking on their defenders, sending diagonal passes, having our wing players use the width and head to the corners for crosses, making ground passes instead of lofted passes, keeping at it and not giving up.
Caris was able to save the first UMass shot of the second half but they put the rebound into the lower left side of our net in the 36th minute.
Aislinn's shot was wide and Ella's was saved before Aislinn's corner in the 39th minute. Molly made a heroic cleanance of a UMass shot for their corner, which was followed by a shot they put over our crossbar.
Ella earned a free kick in the 47th minute that was taken by Katie B, and Claire had her shot go wide and Mudia's shot was just barely wide just after that.
UMass earned another free kick (we felt that they were getting the better calls even though they seemed to foul us and pull at our jerseys a lot!) in the 50th minute from 25 yd, but Caris did well to save it; then they put another shot over our crossbar.
After Aislinn's corner in the 55th minute, Sophia had her shot go wide, and Zanna got a great chance at their goal when UMass was judged to have handled the ball -- her free kick from about 20-25 yd was saved.
UMass had another free kick before Zanna had another shot saved in the 66th and Mudia had a shot go wide. We were not giving up!
Caris came out boldly in the 69th minute to grab the ball off the foot of a UMass attacker and them made another save just after that. UMass had a shot go wide just before Ella had her shot go barely wide.
It felt like a kick in our collective stomach to have Jenny suffer a knee injury and for us to come away with our first loss even while matching UMass in shots and saves. We were very disappointed in the lumpy weedy field, the officiating and the UMass pushy/jersey-tugging playing style, but we did have many chances and should feel good about that!
G: Bri Lowe, Caris White
CD: Katie Bernardez+Molly Knox, Kalā Harman
OD: Lana Kanno+Katie Reisman
CM: Sophia Greszczuk+Jenny Kane, Claire Meli
OM: Jenna Salvay+Ella Steinhilber, Aislinn Mitcham
F: Jordan Isaacs+Zanna, Mudia Ikoba
Shots 12:12 Saves 5:5
2 UMass shot hit the left upright then bounced in 0:1
5 Jenny down with what she thought was a torn ACL
10 UMass shot wide
14 UMass free kick 47 their third
15 Lana's shot saved
18 Zanna earned a corner taken by Aislinn
21 Mudia shot blocked for a corner taken by Zanna
23 UMass free kick in their third
23 UMass another free kick in the middle of the field
24 Katie R blocked a UMass shot
26 UMass free kick from 25 yd went wide
29 Aislinn's shot saved
33 UMass free kick in their third
35 UMass shot over the crossbar
35 Aislinn's power shot a little wide
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36 Caris saved a UMass shot
36 UMass shot lower left 0:2
37 Aislinn's shot wide
38 Ella's shot saved
39 Aislinn took a corner kick
42 Molly cleared a UMass shot for a corner
42 UMass shot over the crossbar
47 Ella earned a free kick taken by Katie B
47 Claire's shot wide
48 Mudia's shot barely wide
50 Caris saved UMass free kick from 25 yd right side of the field
50 UMass shot over the crossbar
55 Aislinn took a corner kick
59 Sophia's shot wide
60 UMass handball, Zanna's free kick saved
65 UMass free kick
66 Zanna's shot saved
67 Mudia's shot wide
69 Caris out to grab the ball off a UMass player's foot
69 Caris saved a UMass shot
70 UMass shot wide
71 Ella's shot barely wide
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