UMass loses both matches over the weekend to Harvard and UNH

UMass vs. Harvard

In a game where the Minutemen were outshot 33-2, UMass almost pulled off an incredible tie against a talented Harvard team. The Minutemen started the match with a bang when senior forward Josh Schwartz converted a penalty kick in the 12^th minute. Just three minutes later, junior midfielder Mark Morris picked the ball up 30 yards away from goal and rifled a highlight-reel shot into the top corner putting the Minutemen up 2-0. UMass tried to hold its lead and were successful until the 43^rd minute when Harvard scored off of a rebound making the score 2-1.

Harvard started the second-half the way they finished the first by pressing high, making it almost impossible for UMass to get the ball out of its defensive third. In the 52^nd minute UMass sophomore Luke Pavone committed a hard foul and was given a red-card. On the ensuing free kick Harvard equalized with a header off the well-placed shot. Playing a man down, all the Minutemen could do was park the bus in front of goal and attempt to escape with a tie. However, Harvard took advantage of tired legs and scored a header just two minutes into extra time winning 3-2. Even though the Minutemen failed to hold its lead, sophomore goalkeeper had a career day making 17 saves, most of which were shots at point-blank range.

UMass vs. New Hampshire

Umass looked to rebound against UNH just two days later, but were unable to string any offense together as they fell 1-0. Both teams had 11 shoots apiece, and were evenly matched across the board.

The best chance of the game for the Minutemen came in the 30^th minute when junior Jake Alvaro latched onto a corner kick and fizzed his effort just over the crossbar. Just before halftime UNH strung a few crisp passes together before taking a long distance shot that found its way into goal by squeezing through a pair of defenders. Umass tried to muster up more attacks but each time they got close to scoring the ball was immediately cleared out. Despite losing its seventh game of the year Umass doesn't have to hang their heads because all of the teams they have played so far have been out of conference opponents.

The Minutemen will look to re-invent themselves as they kick off Conference play this Saturday at 1 p.m. when they take on Saint Joseph's (5-2-3) in Amherst, MA.