May 15 2013

UMass hockey to play Denver in non-conference matchup

Nicole Evangelista/Collegian

Nicole Evangelista/Collegian

The University of Denver announced on Wednesday that the Massachusetts hockey team will be part of its non-conference slate for the 2013-14 season.

Upon releasing its 2013-14 schedule on Wednesday, the school’s hockey program said via Twitter (@DU_Hockey) that the two teams will go head-to-head at the Mullins Center on Dec. 17.

The announcement adds to the list of non-conference opponents that UMass is expected to play this upcoming season, which reportedly includes Michigan State.

This will be just the third meeting between the two schools, with Denver winning in both 2004 and 2005 — winning the National Championship both years.  Continue reading →

May 15 2013

UMass women’s soccer releases 2013 schedule

Maria Uminski/Collegian

Maria Uminski/Collegian

 

If the Massachusetts women’s soccer team was looking to be more well-prepared for its 2013 Atlantic 10 slate, it’s got the right non-conference schedule to do so.

The Minutewomen will play a pair of NCAA Tournament teams from last year — Texas A&M and Missouri — at a weekend event in College Station, Texas, on the last leg of a four-game road trip in early September, as announced by UMass coach Ed Matz on Wednesday when the 2013 schedule was released.

“I’m very happy with how our 2013 schedule came together,” Matz said in a news release. “It’s well balanced, especially in the Atlantic 10 portion in that we have four home (games) and four away. The non-conference slate should challenge us and prepare us well for A-10 competition.”

The Minutewomen open the 2013 season Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. in Albany, N.Y., to take on Siena, followed by a pair of home games against St. John’s and Army. UMass then begins its four-game road trip at Providence on Sept. 6, and doesn’t return to Rudd Field until Sept. 19 to face Brown.

The Minutewomen kick off their A-10 slate at Saint Joseph’s Sept. 29, and have a rematch with Dayton — which eliminated UMass from the A-10 Tournament the last two seasons — at home Oct. 11.

While Matz is certainly happy to have an even number of home and away games in the conference, he is likely even more fortunate that defending A-10 champ La Salle isn’t part of the 2013 slate.

The Minutewomen finish the regular season at home against St. Bonventure on Nov. 2.

Here is a complete list of games and start times for UMass’ 2013 season.  Continue reading →

May 11 2013

UMass set to take on Penn State in second round of NCAA Tournament on Sunday

Cade Belisle/Collegian

Cade Belisle/Collegian

For the first time since 1984, the Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team will take part in the second round of the NCAA Tournament when it faces Penn State at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Penn State Lacrosse Field.

How they got here: The Minutewomen (18-2) come into Sunday’s matchup riding high on the heels of a convincing, 14-10 victory over New England rival Connecticut on Friday. After enduring a 90-minute weather delay, UMass came out of the break hot and finished the first half on a 5-2 run to open up an 8-4 halftime lead. While the two sides traded goals for much of the second half, UMass was never in danger of losing its lead and cruised to a victory to advance to Sunday’s second round. The Minutewomen were led offensively by Sam Rush and Katie Ferris, who each scored four goals for the game.

Penn State’s path to the second round was not as comfortable, barely squeaking by Canisius, 14-13. With a slim lead going into the half, the Lady Lions (13-6) found themselves trailing midway through the second half and had to play catch-up. After taking a 14-12 lead with just under a minute remaining, Penn State surrendered a late goal to cut its lead to only one, but held on to advance into the next round.  Continue reading →

May 5 2013

UMass women’s lax draws UConn in first round of NCAA Tournament

Cade Belisle/Daily Collegian

Cade Belisle/Daily Collegian

If the NCAA Tournament didn’t add enough excitement, then maybe a New England rivalry will.

The Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team drew New England rival Connecticut in its first round game on Friday, May 10. The Minutewomen (17-2) were placed in the State College, Pa., bracket, with host school and No. 7-seed Penn St. drawing Canisius in its first round matchup. The winners of those two games will play each other in the second round on Sunday.

“We were definitely antsy, we had some guesses going on throughout our team and UConn was definitely in that mix,” senior Lauren Terracciano said at Sunday’s Selection Show party at Amherst Browing Company. “We’re excited above everything else, we’re excited to be here, we’re excited to have this opportunity and we’re excited to prepare and we’re excited for Friday.”

No times have been announced for Friday’s games, but the second round matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m.

UMass is entering the Tournament riding a wave of emotion, coming off its record fifth straight Atlantic 10 title and is in the midst of a 14-game winning streak.

Adding to the drama is the connections that the Minutewomen have to the Huskies (13-4). UMass coach Angela McMahon was the coach at UConn for two seasons before leaving to come to Amherst to coach the Minutewomen. After leaving, she also brought blue-chip recruit Katie Ferris with her.  Continue reading →

Apr 29 2013

Chaz Williams not declaring for NBA Draft, will return to UMass for senior season

chaz

Stephen Sellner/Collegian

Breathe a sigh of relief, UMass men’s basketball fans, Chaz Williams isn’t leaving just yet.

The junior point guard considered entering the upcoming NBA Draft right up to Sunday’s midnight deadline, but ultimately decided against it and will return to the Minutemen for his senior season.

Here’s what he tweeted moments before the midnight deadline:

Williams is coming off a standout junior campaign in which he averaged 15.5 points per game and 7.3 assists per game (which led the Atlantic 10) as he led UMass to the A-10 Tournament semifinals and a berth in the National Invitation Tournament. He was also named to the A-10 first team for the second straight season.

Williams will return to a Minuteman backcourt next season that will include transfer guard Derrick Gordon, who was forced to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The two are expected to be one of the best backcourt duos in the conference.

Stephen Hewitt can be reached at shewitt@student.umass.edu and followed on Twitter @steve_hewitt.

Apr 27 2013

UMass men’s lacrosse gets help, makes CAA Tournament

Stephen Hewitt/Daily Collegian

Stephen Hewitt/Daily Collegian

 

On April 13, the Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking, 15-14 defeat at the hands of Drexel to fall to 0-4 in Colonial Athletic Association play, all but ending its CAA Tournament hopes.

Two weeks later, the Minutemen are in.

After closing out the season with consecutive wins, UMass (7-7, 2-4 CAA) got the help it needed on Saturday night to earn the fourth and final seed in the CAA Tournament. Hofstra fell to 2-4 in conference play with a 16-7 loss to Penn State, and were eliminated due to the Minutemen holding the tiebreaker after beating the Pride, 9-8, last weekend.

Saint Joseph’s held the tiebreaker after beating UMass earlier this season, but fell to 1-5 in the CAA with a 13-6 loss to Towson, dropping the Hawks to last in the conference and eliminating them from postseason play.

The Minutemen move on to Wednesday’s CAA semifinal take on the top-seeded Nittany Lions in University Park, Pa., at 3 p.m.

UMass lost the previous meeting between the two teams at Garber Field on March 16, 7-5, in Will Manny and Colin Fleming’s return from injury in the CAA opener.

Stay with the Daily Collegian for more updates on UMass men’s lacrosse in its return to the CAA Tournament.

Apr 27 2013

Former UMass RB Michael Cox drafted by New York Giants

Taylor C. Snow/Collegian

Taylor C. Snow/Collegian

Former Massachusetts running back Michael Cox was selected by the New York Giants with 47th pick of the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft on Sunday.

Cox, who joined the Minutemen in the summer of 2012 after receiving his degree from Michigan, ran for 715 yards and five touchdowns on 198 attempts in 2012. Should he make Giants’ 53-man roster (which might be a long shot given his seventh-round status), Cox would join former UMass wide receiver Victor Cruz in New York as the newest NFL player to come from the Minutemen’s ranks.

Though the Giants selected running back David Wilson in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, there is potentially room on the depth chart for Cox following the free agency departure of long time back Ahmad Bradshaw.

Here’s what ESPN had to say about the pick:

Cox graduated from Michigan and then transferred to Massachusetts to get more playing time. He has good size and adequate speed, but limited experience is an issue and he hasn’t shown he can contribute on third down.

Here’s the full story on DailyCollegian.com.