NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Facing a UMass team that had already played two nationally ranked teams to open the season, the Yale field hockey team knew that its season opener at Johnson Field Friday night would be a challenge. After the Minutewomen tallied three times in the first 20:35, though, the Bulldogs regrouped and played UMass even the rest of the way. The early deficit was too much to overcome, though, and the Minutewomen eventually claimed a 4-1 victory.

"The score doesn't look like it, but we were pleased with how we played defensively and on attack," said Pam Stuper, Yale's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. "We accomplished a lot of the things we hoped to accomplish. The difference was UMass had more opportunities, and they finished."

UMass (1-2, 0-0 A10) got a pair of goals from midfielder/forward Jess Beech to open the scoring, then one from forward Lucy Cooper that made the score 3-0 at the 20:35 mark.

After the Minutewomen extended the lead to 4-0 on a goal from forward Katherine Furry at 35:11, the Bulldogs held them scoreless the rest of the way. Junior goalie Sydney Terroso finished with 11 saves, and junior forward/midfielder Imogen Davies got Yale on the board with a brilliant unassisted goal at 49:28.

The Bulldogs also got a highlight before the game even began, as sophomore back Laine Garber made her first career start -- and it came against the team that happens to include her sister, midfielder/defender Jenna Garber, who started for the Minutewomen.
 
"Laine's start is a product of a kid seeing where she was last year and deciding where she wanted to be this year," said Stuper. "She did what she needed to do over the summer, working with [strength and conditioning coach] TJ [Belanger]. She earned that start from hard work, grit and commitment to this program."
 
Yale (0-1, 0-0 Ivy League) returns to action Sunday, hosting Sacred Heart at 1:00 p.m.