No. 19 UMass

2020 Record: 4-1
Pre-COVID Ranking: 14th

Angela McMahon’s Minutewomen didn’t enter the 2020 season ranked. They quickly proved the preseason assumptions surrounding the team wrong.

In their first game of the season, UMass topped then-No. 5 Boston College 15-11. And although the next game was a loss by the same score against an upstart Dartmouth team, UMass’ season-opening statement was enough to make waves in the Nike / US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20.

UMass completed the COVID-shortened season at 4-1 with the seventh-ranked offense in the country at 17.20 goals per game. McMahon’s team had yet to begin the bulk of its schedule, but one thing’s for certain — the offense was poised to lead this group to a likely Atlantic 10 playoff showdown against Richmond.

“Our offense was pretty lethal,” McMahon said.

Kaitlyn Cerasi and Stephanie Croke each netted a team-high 14 goals. Haley Connaughton was a close second with 13. Emma Dotsikas, who emerged as a weapon in 2020, scored 12. And Kelly Marra, who also plays soccer, scored five or her seven goals in the final game of the year, an 18-14 win over UConn.

They’re all back, and they’ll be joined by Alex Finn, a sophomore transfer from Boston College who McMahon is excited to work into the mix. Finn didn’t see any time with BC last year.

“Her finishing and creativity, she’s constantly throwing fakes and trick shots,” McMahon said. “Any time we can get her the ball and she’s within a few yards of the crease, she’s finishing.”

The Minutewomen offense is made even better by Caitlyn Petro. Or to give credit where it’s due, she might be the actual reason why the offense is so lethal. McMahon realized early in Petro’s career that she was simply too good on the draw to focus on anything else.

One of the few true draw specialists in women’s lacrosse, Petro secured 102 draws in 2019 and was first in the country in draws per game with 11.20 in 2020.

“A couple years back, we identified that as a huge strength of hers and felt that she would benefit from only focusing on that one thing. It really paid off,” McMahon said. “Her athleticism, her height, strength and hand-eye, I expect her to have her best season yet.”

Croke and Amy Moreau, a U.S. national team tryout pool member, assist on the circle. Croke and Petro have played together for so long that they have the type of connection that requires few words. Petro knows just where to put it, and Croke knows just where it’s going.

There’s a dream postseason matchup brewing in the Atlantic 10. Richmond, UMass’ big conference rival, ranked fourth nationally with 18.43 goals per game. The Spiders, like UMass, shot up the women’s polls throughout the 2020 season, seemingly putting them on a collision course with their conference rival.

McMahon is anxious to see how the season unfolds and if both UMass and Richmond can continue rising the ranks.

“This is my 11^th season,” McMahon said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had two Atlantic-10 teams ranked in the Top 20 prior to last year. That’s huge in itself. We’ve never been a two-team NCAA conference. It’s always just been the AQ that’s moved on to NCAAs.”