Only a junior, Katie Ferris has already tied the program's career point record.
Katie Ferris leads UMass into first-place showdown with Temple
Both teams are 3-0 in the conference. UMass (11-2) has won eight straight, and 11 of 12. And while the the Owls are 8-4 overall, they played an extremely difficult non-conference slate which included six consecutive road games with the likes of San Diego State, Hofstra, and Delaware.
“Temple always gives us a real tough game,” UMass head coach Angela McMahon said. “They’re well coached, and disciplined. We like to score a lot of goals, and they do a really good job of slowing the game down.”
One player who is difficult to slow down is Minutewoman junior Katie Ferris, who scored six goals and added five assists last weekend to tie the program’s career points record of 226 held by Jackie Lyons.
Ferris scored the game-winning goal in the 10-9 victory over George Washington Sunday, and registered three goals and a pair of assists in the 12-11 double overtime thriller against Richmond Saturday.
McMahon said that Ferris has always had the talent, but this season she has increased her “lacrosse IQ.”
“Now she understands the game, and is making better decisions,” McMahon said. “She’s becoming a leader, she’s in the driver’s seat, and she helps steady our offense.”
As a result, the Minutewomen have a balanced attack. Ferris leads the way with 37 goals and 19 assists, but Sam Rush is 38-4; Cori Murray 24-17; and Lauren Terracciano is 23-13.
McMahon, in her third year, is 47-7 with last year’s team going 19-2. The Minutewomen are 17-0 in A-10 play since she took over as coach.
“Actually our defense has been better than last year,” McMahon said. “It’s been fantastic. We’ve been extremely athletic on defense, and that's helped our offense."
UMass also has another A-10 contest Sunday at Saint Joseph’s.
And although they have seen limited time as freshmen, McMahon is pleased with two freshmen additions from Western Mass. – Amber Tobin of Wilbraham, the brother of men’s lacrosse senior Brett, and Eileen McDonald of Longmeadow. Tobin has played in eight games with an assist. McDonald is 4-3-7 in seven contests.
“They have a lot of potential,” McMahon said. “They are really hard workers, and absolutely are going to be impact players in the future.”
MOUNT HOLYOKE: It will be a big night Wednesday with the lacrosse team (8-2) hosting undefeated Bridgewater State at 6.
Making the evening even more special will be a celebration for athletics director Laurie Priest, who will be stepping down at the conclusion of the school year.
Senior goaltender Liz Malenfant was selected as the NEWMAC defensive player of the week after combining for 17 saves in wins over Western Connecticut and MIT.
Bridgewater sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Polaski of Agawam has played in four of the Bears’ victories, winning them all with a 5.75 goals against average.
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND: It was a double dose of no-no for the Golden Bears softball team Sunday with sophomore Lauren Zambrano and freshman Heidi Grieger each throwing no-hitters in 8-0 and 17-0 wins at Wentworth. Both games went only five innings via the mercy rule.
It was only the second and third no-hitters in program history. Marcie Bruder threw a six-inning no hitter against Swarthmore in the opening game of the 2001 season at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
WESTFIELD STATE: Sophomore attack Amanda Bouchard compiled six goals and three assists in a 2-0 week for the Owls, and earned a spot on the MASCAC women’s lacrosse weekly honor roll.