Nov. 3, 2011

Game 1 Box Score (PDF)

DAYTON, Ohio--Fourth-seeded Massachusetts scored twice in the first half to advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship with a 3-1 win over fifth-seeded St. Bonaventure Thursday at University of Dayton's Baujan Field.

It was the first postseason win since 1997 for the Minutewomen, who advance to the semifinals and will face either top seed La Salle second-seeded Richmond, depending on the outcome of the second quarterfinal between No. 3 Dayton and sixth-seeded Charlotte.

UMass got its first goal when freshman Tori Sousa broke a 12-year postseason scoring drought for the Minutewomen with a low shot past Bona sophomore keeper Megan Junker. Sousa's goal, the first for UM in the postseason since 1999, came in the ninth minute following a slip pass from sophomore Cecila Jensen.

The Minutewomen struck again in the 31st minute when senior Julie Morrissey bent a shot out of the reach of Junker into the upper 90. Morrissey got the ball on a through pass from freshman Moa Mattson.

UMass got a second-half goal when senior Deanna Colarossi won a 50-50 ball with a defender deep in St. Bonaventure's territory and scored an unassisted goal in the 65th minute. The insurance goal was crucial because 10 minutes later SBU eliminated the shutout in the when senior Tori Burchett scored for the Bonnies. Burchett corralled a ball off helpers from freshman Brittany Charles and senior Kaitlin Krisko and fired a hard shot past UMass junior goalkeeper Emily Cota.

St. Bonaventure had several scoring chances in the second half, including a header that just barely cleared the top of the crossbar. The Bonnies finished with 24 shots to 15 by UMass. Bona also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Minutewomen advance to the semifinals and will face either top seed La Salle second-seeded Richmond, depending on the outcome of the second quarterfinal between No. 3 Dayton and sixth-seeded Charlotte.

St. Bonaventure finishes the season at 9-7-4 overall and 4-2-3 in the Atlantic 10.