March 15, 2011

Women's Lacrosse Release in PDF Format

AMHERST, Mass. - After a 20-13 win over Stony Brook on Saturday to remain undefeated at 6-0, the UMass women's lacrosse team moved up six spots on Monday to No. 12 in the InsideLacrosse.com/deBeer Media Poll. That sets up a top-15 showdown with No. 15 Albany on Saturday afternoon at Garber Field. The No. 12 ranking is UMass' highest since 1988 when the Minutewomen earned a No. 9 ranking in the fifth week of the season.

UMass is just one of nine teams (among 91) to remain unbeaten this season. Of those, only Northwestern, Maryland, and Stanford hold 6-0 or better records.

This is the third straight week UMass has been ranked since jumping into the top-20 on Feb. 28 at No. 19 in the poll. The Minutewomen were ranked 18th heading into last Saturday's game with Stony Brook. In 1988 the Minutewomen were ranked for four consecutive weeks to finish the season (April 10-May 1).

In 2007, UMass was ranked 20th in the IWLCA Coaches' Poll after having not been ranked since 1999. That season, UMass was ranked 20th in the preseason and the IWLCA's first poll of the year (March 8).

In 1988, UMass was ranked as high as ninth in the IWLCA April 17 poll. That season, the Minutewomen were ranked three other times at No. 13 (April 10, April 24, and May 1).

The 6-0 start for UMass is its best since doing the same in 1985 and 1986. UMass was a perfect 10-0 during the NCAA National Championship season of 1982. UMass' best start ever was in 1979 when the squad was 15-0 before losing to Penn State in the USWLA National Title game (one of two precursors to the NCAA sponsoring women's lacrosse). UMass was also 17-0-1 in 1978 before losing to Penn State in the USWLA Tournament.

Release courtesy of UMass Sports Information