In 14 matches against Massachusetts in its program’s history, the GW women’s soccer team had never beaten the Minutewomen.
The Colonial women broke the losing steak Friday with their first-ever victory over UMass with a 1-0 win.
GW (7-6, 5-0 Atlantic 10) also defeated Rhode Island on the road Sunday. The win over URI was GW’s seventh straight win.
“We have been focusing on not letting the other teams score any first-half goals,” said GW head coach Michele Rodriguez-Smith, whose team gave up just one goal this weekend. “Our defense is stepping up to prevent the other teams from scoring.”
The Colonial women return home this weekend when they face St. Bonaventure Friday and Duquesne Sunday.
GW 2, URI 1
Behind a goal and an assist by senior Jane Lea, GW edged Rhode Island 2-1 in Kingston, R.I., Sunday
Lea scored the controversial game-winning goal on an assist from freshman Keisha Christoph at the 42:26 minute mark of the game to put GW ahead, 2-1.
“It (the goal) came off of a corner kick – the ball came across the front of the goal and hit the crossbar,” Rodriguez-Smith said. “It went in, but the referee’s view was somewhat obstructed by some defenders. But it was a goal.”
GW scored first in the match when junior Katy McQuillin converted a pass from Lea into a goal at the 11:14 minute mark to forge a 1-0 lead.
Rhode Island (8-4, 3-2 A-10) scored at the 15:35 minute mark on a goal by Shannon Kittelson to tie the game before GW took the lead for good at the end of the first half.
GW 1, UMass 0
The Colonial women shut out A-10 rival UMass 1-0 Friday for their first-ever win over the Minutewomen.
“We were fired up going into this game,” Rodriguez-Smith said. “We thought we deserved to win (in the A-10 final last year) and we went in seeking some revenge.”
The 12 losses the Colonial women have piled up against UMass since the beginning of the series include losses to the Minutewomen in the last five Atlantic 10 Tournaments, including a 1-0 defeat in the A-10 Tournament final last season.
Senior forward Jane Anderson scored the only goal of the game in the 6th minute. Christoph passed the ball to Anderson, who scored with a left-footed shot.
UMass (5-8, 2-2 A-10) outshot GW 12-11 in the match. GW junior Rima Sidhu continued her outstanding play, notching nine saves to register the shutout.
