Sacred Heart
Massachusetts
UMass Edges Sacred Heart in Final Seconds
9/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 11, 2005
Burlington, VT - Freshman Erin Parker scored her first career goal with just seven seconds remaining in regulation to give the Massachusetts field hockey team (2-4) a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart (0-7) Sunday afternoon at the Post Athletic Complex played on the campus of the University of Vermont. Parker also tallied an assist earlier in the game on a goal by freshman Katelyn Orlando.
Junior Colleen Carney (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland) of Sacred Heart was awarded a penalty stroke 10 minutes into the game, after her shot hit a UMass defender's body. Her stroke attempt hit the right post and the game remained scoreless. Two minutes later, the Minutewomen had the game's first penalty corner for either team. Senior Katelyn Woolfrey got the shot off, but it was saved.
With just over 10 minutes left in the first half, UMass got the game's first goal. Parker broke down the left side of the field and passed across the circle to Orlando. Orlando was able to one-time the ball in the net and give the Minutewomen a 1-0 lead. It marked the second straight game that Orlando scored a goal.
In the second half, neither team had many scoring chances for the first several minutes. With just over 18 minutes remaining in regulation, the Pioneers were awarded their first penalty corner and made the most out of it. Junior Becky Ford (Salem, NH/Salem), tipped in a shot by Carney to tie the game.
UMass turned up the pressure offensively the rest of the half, but Sacred Heart goalkeeper Ashley Del Greco (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) held her ground. UMass out-shot the Pioneers 10-0 in the final11-plus minutes but it was the last one that made the difference. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, Orlando got the ball back at midfield. She streaked down the right side and passed it to sophomore Racheal Mervine (Conway, Mass.). Mervine got Del Greco out of the net and slid the ball to Parker who stuffed it in with just seven seconds left on the clock. For Parker, it was her first career goal.
Massachusetts out-shot Sacred Heart 19-6 for the game. The Minutewomen also held the edge in penalty corners, 7-1. They had four penalty corners in the final few minutes of the game.
UMass sophomore Becky Letourneau made one save for the game. Del Greco had 12 saves for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers will continue their road trip on Wednesday when they travel to Providence to visit Brown. Game time is 4:00 pm.
