2023 Women's Top 30: How UMass Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

UMASS WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: Unranked (also considered)/19
2023 record: 16-3 (9-0 Atlantic 10)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

UMass was the seventh-ranked offense in the country at 15.47 goals per game. It’s pretty easy to post gaudy numbers when you have offensive players capable of carrying the load. UMass had three 42-plus-goal scorers (Charlotte Wilmoth, 46; Fiona McGowan, 44; Alex Finn, 42) and three 32-plus-goal scorers (Amy Moreau, 35; Kylee Bowen, 33; and Kassidy Morris, 32). McGowan led the team with 92 points and 48 assists, while Finn also had a 40-40 season with 82 points. Jordan Dean was dynamic on the draw with 143 draw controls, maintain possession for a team that scored with ease against just about everyone. UMass shot 47.9 percent, which ranked ninth nationally.

WHAT WENT WRONG

It might not have made a large difference in the long run, because UMass still ended up with a place in the NCAA tournament (a first-round game against Johns Hopkins which it lost, 19-8). But losing to Richmond in the Atlantic 10 championship game after dismantling the Spiders 22-12 earlier in the year might sting for a little while. The 20-13 loss was completely one-sided in the second half, and it made UMass sweat it out on Selection Sunday as it awaited an at-large berth.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

UMass lacked a true signature win, but a two-game stretch in early March in which it beat UConn (16-12) and Richmond (22-12) stands out as key wins over eventual NCAA tournament teams. Those wins alone are what likely propped UMass up in the eyes of the selection committee.

VERDICT

It was another strong season from the Minutewomen, though one that ended with a bit of disappointment after entering the A-10 tournament as the No. 1 seed.