Ahead of the UMass field hockey team’s first round NCAA Tournament game against No. 6 Yale on Friday, Minutewomen head coach Barb Weinberg knew her team would have to get an early goal if they were to have a chance at advancing.
With the Bulldogs having a strong goalie in Amelie Schwarzkopf, a deficit would be difficult to come back from.
Midfielder Elani Sherwood executed Weinberg’s game plan by netting a back-handed goal in the second period that turned into the game-winning goal for UMass in its 1-0 upset over Yale in Cambridge.
Friday was the second straight game Sherwood scored. The All-MAC First Team player scored UMass’ only goal in the conference championship loss to Miami (Ohio).
MAC Goalkeeper of the Year Rozárie Mrázová stopped all eight shots in net for UMass.
The win sets up a rematch with No. 3 Harvard in the quarterfinals. UMass beat the Crimson in the 3-1 in Cambridge during the regular season. Harvard beat Big East champion Old Dominion in the first round of the tournament.
UMass and Harvard face off on Sunday at 1 p.m.
