UMass women defeat Saint Peter's

AMHERST, Mass. - A pair of first half goals gave the University of Massachusetts women's soccer head coach Angela Napoli her first career victory as the Minutewomen defeated Saint Peter's 2-1 on Sunday at Rudd Field. UMass, which now holds a three game unbeaten streak, is 1-4-2 on the season, while the Peahens fall to 2-6-0.

In a first half filled with opportunities for the Minutewomen, who outshot Saint Peter's 13-2 in the period, redshirt junior Sydney Stoll (Dedham, Mass./Dedham) was first to strike, just eight minutes into the contest. Stoll collected a pass and proceeded to drive towards the net, dribbling around several defenders before sending her shot low into the far right-hand corner of the goal.

Then in the 40th minute, junior Therese Smith (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) connected with a feed from classmate Ashley Hamel (Ganesvoort, N.Y./Schuylerville). Finding herself in a one-on-one with Peahens' netminder Caitlin Hoffer, Smith chipped it over the sliding goalkeeper and into the net, giving UMass a 2-0 advantage heading into the intermission.

Saint Peter's came out with increased pressure on the Minutewomen defense in the second half, resulting in the squad's first two corners of the afternoon. On the Peahens' second corner kick attempt, Dana Grimes headed the ball down to Alex Keddie, who redirected it from close range past freshman Emily Cota (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) for Saint Peter's lone goal of the match.

The Minutewomen finished with a decisive 22-6 shot advantage and led in corner kicks, 7-2. Senior Lauren Luckey (Hendersonville, Tenn./Pope John Paul II) made one save in the first half and earned the victory in net, while Cota relieved her in the second and stopped two shots. Hoffer tallied six saves for the Peahens.

UMass will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 25, when the squad opens its Atlantic 10 slate at home against Saint Joseph's. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. on Rudd Field.