When UMass graduate midfielder Kendra Harbinger chose to transfer ahead of this school year, she had a few criteria in mind.

For one, she wanted a degree in nursing or a similar field. Another requirement was finding somewhere a bit further from home. Harbinger grew up 20 minutes from Albany, where she played lacrosse and soccer as an undergraduate, and she decided it was time to explore a new place.

As soon as she visited UMass, everything clicked.

“It just felt like home right away,” Harbinger said. “I knew from that day on that I would come here because [coach Angela McMahon-Serpone] preached culture. She had great energy. I just wanted to have fun and be at the most competitive place I could be to finish up my career.”

Now, as a public health major and standout midfielder at UMass, everything has fallen into place for Harbinger and the Minutewomen. UMass stormed into the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20 at No. 18 this week following a dominant victory over Atlantic 10 foe Richmond on Sunday, placing it atop the conference’s standings.

The victory also marked the Minutewomen’s ninth straight win — a streak that has since extended to 10 with their win over La Salle on Thursday. Harbinger played a crucial role in those victories, totaling 26 goals during the streak.

Harbinger didn’t know most of her teammates before coming to Amherst, but she quickly built strong relationships with players and coaches. She has been a positive, easy-going teammate, McMahon-Serpone said, instilling support and confidence in those around her. Rarely seen without a smile on her face, it was almost like she had been at UMass the whole time.

Harbinger’s first few months with the Minutewomen were a time of growth both on and off the field, allowing her to adjust to a new offensive system and build relationships with her new teammates. By the time the regular season rolled around in February, she and her teammates had developed a close-knit bond. Now, this chemistry is powering UMass to new heights.

“I don’t think I’ve been on a team yet where we’ve connected like we do on this team,” Harbinger said. “Every girl on this team is best friends [with each other]. I think that really shows on the field … We do things to make each other succeed on the field. We’re all very selfless.”

Part of that chemistry stems from the experience on the UMass roster. Ten players opted to return for a fifth-year, and the program added three transfers, making up a roster of 38 players — larger than UMass would typically have. McMahon-Serpone said she’s been especially impressed by the “cohesiveness” among players, which has contributed to a “team-first mentality” and strong culture within the program.

The Minutewomen’s widespread experience has paid dividends all over the field. UMass’ scoring defense is ranked 13th nationally, while its scoring offense comes in at fourth.

McMahon-Serpone credited associate head coach Jana Drummond for the program’s defensive rise, writing in a text message that Drummond has played a key role coming up with new schemes and helping players.

On attack, Harbinger leads a group of veteran upperclassmen who have been making statements on the field all season long. Graduate attacker Kelly Marra, junior attacker Alex Finn and graduate Olivia Muscella have all chipped in 20-plus goals this season, powering the Minutewomen to their prominent national standing.

While Harbinger may be a newcomer, she’s easily fit right in among longtime players at UMass. Fighting for wins alongside experienced veterans has been nothing but enjoyable, she said.

“The one word I would use to [describe] playing with all these fifth-years, all these seniors, is fun,” Harbinger said. “It’s fun when you’re on the field with people who know what you’re going to do and you have connections with them and they have experiences just like you do. Having fun out there is probably the most important part for us. We always say, ‘Focused fun.’”

NUMBERS OF NOTE

24

Richmond rebounded from its Sunday loss against UMass, coming up big in a Thursday win against St. Bonaventure. Twelve players tallied goals to power the Spiders to a 24-9 win, led by four goals each from attacker Arden Tierney and midfielder Lindsey Frank. Richmond’s 24 goals tied its record for most goals in a single game, and its 35 points was just one point shy of tying the program’s record for single-game points.

520

Mercer easily handled Wofford in Macon on Wednesday, using a 12-goal first half to fuel a 20-5 victory. Senior attacker Hailey Rhatigan and junior midfielder Erin Degnan led the Bears’ offense with five goals each, with eight other players chipping in goals. On the defensive side, graduate goalkeeper Iseabal Cryne held the fort, notching four saves. With her efforts, Cryne now has 520 all-time saves at Mercer — the program’s new career record.

12

Davidson defeated VCU in a nail-biter on Thursday, winning 15-14 despite the Rams notching the last two goals. Junior goalkeeper Amanda Monahan came up big for the Cats, recording 13 saves — including four in the fourth quarter alone. Now, Davidson sits at 12-2 on the season and 6-1 in the A-10. The Cats’ 12 wins ties their record for single-season wins set in 2014.

5-2

Arizona State upped its win streak to three on Sunday, taking down Cal 18-10. Eleven players scored for the Sun Devils, led by graduate attacker Emily Glagolev’s four goals, and 39 players took the field in total. With five conference wins under its belt, Arizona State has now matched its season-high for Pac-12 victories. The Sun Devils’ 5-2 start to Pac-12 play is their strongest seven-game start to conference competition in program history.