For the first time in 32 years, the Minutewomen are Final Four-bound.

UMass claimed a historic 1-0 shutout victory over No. 10 Harvard in the NCAA Elite Eight on Sunday at Nancy Stevens Field in Storrs, Conn. With the win, the Minutewomen advanced to their fifth Final Four and first since 1992.

The Minutewomen (17-5, 7-0 A-10) controlled the action for the majority of the 60 minutes, drawing six penalty corners and allowing just three shots on goal. Junior Myrte van Herwijen faced just three shots, making all three saves including a crucial kick save on a penalty corner in the third corner.

The victory marks the program’s first final four in over three decades and the first for head coach Barb Weinberg. UMass joins Atlantic 10 member Saint Joseph’s in the Final Four, it marks the first time in conference history two schools have qualified.

Graduate student Claire Danahy scored the game-winning goal, firing in the game’s lone goal from just inside the shooting circle late in the third quarter. The goal marked her eighth of the season and increased her point total to 29 on the season.

The Minutewomen advanced to the first ever NCAA Field Hockey Championship Final in 1981, falling 4-1 to UConn in the inaugural final. The matchup is the lone NCAA Championship game appearance for Massachusetts. UMass has now advanced to five NCAA Semifinals (1981, ‘83, ‘87, ‘92, ‘24) and has made seven elite eight appearances including back-to-back seasons on two separate occasions. 

Up next, the Minutewomen advanced to the NCAA Final Four and will play No. 2 Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. St. Joseph’s and top-seeded North Carolina will meet in the other semifinal at noon.

Men’s soccer

Amherst 2, Stevens 1 (PKs) – The Mammoths advanced on penalty kicks, outscoring Stevens 3-0 after the game was tied 1-1 following regulation and two overtimes on Sunday.

Amherst reached the NCAA Division 3 Sweet 16 with the victory, and will play Wisconsin-Superior.

Michael Cherico scored with an assist from Mohammed Nuhu early in the second half for the Mammoths, but Stevens found the equalizer in the 90th minute from Terry Thompson.

That forced overtime, and after two scoreless periods, Amherst received successful PKs from Nuhu, Fynn Hayton-Ruffner and Jacob Lahlou to advance to the Sweet 16.

Women’s soccer

Amherst 3, Rochester 2 – On the road in the NCAA Division 3 second round Sunday, the Mammoths outlasted host Rochester to earn a spot in the Sweet 16.

Alyssa Huynh tallied in the 82nd minute to break a 2-2 tie, lifting Amherst into the next round thanks to a 3-2 victory.

Huynh finished off a scrum in the box after an Amherst corner kick, burying a shot in close through traffic.

The Mammoths will play Illinois Institute of Technology in the Sweet 16.

Abby Schwartz staked Amherst to a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on Sunday, and it stayed that way into halftime. Rochester answered with two straight goals early in the second half to take a 2-1 advantage, but Halle Hanna tied it 2-2 with a 63rd-minute strike.

Women’s volleyball

Smith 3, MIT 2 – The Pioneers are NEWMAC champions.

Third-seeded Smith secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Division 3 Tournament after taking down top-seeded MIT, 25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 16-25, 15-11 in the championship of the NEWMAC Tournament on Sunday in Cambridge.

Smith improved to 30-6 overall.

Abby Hunt put down 18 kills to pace the Pioneers, while Abby Sweeney also had a big performance with 16 kills. Setter Taylor Gwynne dished out 47 assists, and Sarah Dankovich paced the defense with 17 digs. Miranda Oakes racked up seven blocks in the win.