Women's soccer: New coach introducing an offensive-minded system
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AMHERST - There will be many subtle changes for the University of Massachusetts women's soccer team under new coach Ed Matz, who'll be on the UMass sideline for the first time Friday at 4 p.m. when the Minutewomen host Washington.
But the biggest and most obvious difference will be the style.
Matz, the former Northeastern coach hired to replace interim head coach Angela Napoli, plans to attack from day one by switching to a 4-3-3 system. UMass was 6-11-2 using a more defensive 4-5-1 alignment in 2009.
"It's a very offensive-minded system that we're trying to acclimate the players to. Before that could be done we needed to get the players fit," Matz said. "They worked very hard over the summer and we're very happy with the way they came in for preseason."
His hopes of increasing the offense are helped by the roster he's got returning. UMass' top two scorers from 2009 - Therese Smith (five goals, three assists) and Sydney Stoll (five goals, one assist) - are both back. They'll be joined by Deanna Colarossi, a junior transfer from Oakland University (Mich.), who had seven goals and an assist en route to second-team All-Summit League honors last year.
Colarossi, a native of Ontario, is one of two international newcomers for the Minutewomen, who also brought in Annie Ward, a freshman back from England, who has a chance to make an impact.
The new coach, new players and new system will face a tough test right away in Friday's opener at Rudd Field against Washington. The Huskies, who are already 1-0 with a win over Seattle last week, return eight starters from last year's team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Even though his team will be the underdog against the more advanced Huskies, Matz is resisting the temptation to try to play a more defensive-minded game in hopes of pulling an upset.
"We could go into that game very defensive-minded and play for a tie or keep it close and try to play for a goal at the end of the game," he said. "But we're trying to play our system. If we win great. If we tie great. If we lose, we go back and look at the tape and adjust. At least we're not trying to switch formations again a week later."
Matz said he planned on utilizing a lot of personnel.
"Usually in the first couple weeks we'll have 18 people play. They'll get a chance to show what they can do and earn more playing time in October," he said. "In October we may go only 14 deep or 15 deep. The team we put out there against Washington probably won't be the team that starts our A-10 opener."
Matz said competition in practice has been intense.
"The five seniors obviously worked very hard during the summer and came in with a positive attitude that set the tone right from the first day of practice. I think the seniors and the juniors are very hungry. They want to prove they can compete and play at this level," Matz said. "We brought in a class of 10 freshman, which instantly created competition throughout the team. My philosophy is the more competition we have the better."
Stoll said the returning players have welcomed the increased competition.
"It's good. We're excited. There's a new competitive tone," Stoll said. "Everyone is fighting for a spot, which makes it more competitive in practice which is good."
The seniors haven't been part of a winning season since their freshman year. Smith said the team is hungry for success.
"I think there's definitely a different kind of drive," she said. "We just want to win."
LOCAL FLAVOR - Former Northampton High School goalie Emersyn Pullan will be in the goalkeeper mix for the Minutewomen along with sophomore Emily Cota, a returning starter.
Pullan had a 0.95 goals-against average in her career at Hamp.
Joining the Minutemen as a volunteer assistant coach is former Frontier Regional coach Tom Pereira, who was an assistant at Westfield State last year.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.
