Recap courtesy of Miami Athletic Communications
No. 1 Miami 2, No. 2 Massachusetts 1
Box Score
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The RedHawks avenged their sole MAC loss of the regular season Saturday, taking down UMass 2-1 in double-overtime to win the MAC tournament for the eighth consecutive time. Malena Sabez and Lucia Ventos were the goal scorers for Miami, scoring on a penalty stroke in the third period and unassisted in the sixth period, respectively. Miami improves to 15-4 with its eighth-straight win and earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while UMass falls to 16-5 with the loss.
The first period was a strong defensive showing for each team. Miami's offense generated an early corner 45 seconds in, the only corner of the period, but MAC Goalkeeper of the Year Myrte van Herwijnen made a running save. The RedHawk defense was highlighted by a save by Nicky Sjouken on a breakaway shot.
The second period was another defensive showdown. For Miami, Julia Fernandez had a key takeaway to stop a breakaway by UMass and Sjouken recorded another save. The Minutewomen generated the only penalty corner opportunity of the period, which resulted in the save by Sjouken.
The first half ended with three shots apiece and no goals.
A barrage of offensive opportunities began in the third quarter. Justina Intzes generated a RedHawk penalty corner early in the third period and the RedHawks quickly generated two more. Massachusetts' defense successfully defended all three.
Intzes created a penalty stroke opportunity soon after, creating a trip after driving the goalie out of the cage.
Malena Sabez took the stroke and fired a shot past van Herwijnen to give Miami a 1-0 lead.
Still midway through the third, UMass generated a corner of their own. Sjouken kicked away two back-to-back shots before kicking away a third shot moments later to keep Miami on top headed into the fourth period.
UMass stole a pass inside the arc to start the fourth. Sjouken made a save on the wide open shot, her fourth save of the day, to keep UMass scoreless.
With six minutes to go, the Minutewomen pulled their goalie to place an extra attacker on the field and generated a penalty corner minutes later. They took a shot past the defense and to the right of Sjouken to tie the match at 1-1. Soon after, time expired to send the match to a sudden victory overtime period.
After two saves from Sjouken and one from van Herwijnen, Lucia Ventos generated a penalty corner with a minute to play. UMass survived again and the clock ran out to send the game to a second sudden-victory overtime period.
After riding out a seven to six disadvantage due to a card, Miami generated a string of two penalty corners. The first resulted in a block and the second in a save.
75 minutes in, Fernandez pushed the ball downfield to Ventos, who took it herself and fired a goal between the legs of van Herwijnen, giving the RedHawks a 2-1 victory, their eighth straight MAC Tournament win, and an automatic ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
The RedHawks took 14 total shots (seven on goal) and gave up 12 to UMass (nine on goal). Miami finished with nine corners and gave up six.
Sjouken made eight saves, allowing just one score on nine shots on goal. Intzes totaled two shots, including one on target.
Ventos went 1-for-2 with two shots on goal. Gifra took three shots, including one on target. Sabez went 1-for-5 with two shots on goal. Judit Garcia Gregori took one shot on goal.
With their conference championship title, Miami has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show for the NCAA Tournament will take place this Sunday, November 9, at 10 p.m. Coverage of the selection show will be available on NCAA.com.
