UMass football: Off the field questions dominating conversation as Minutemen head to No. 8 Georgia

By JEFF LAJOIE

It’s certainly been one of the more chaotic weeks in UMass football history.Less than a week removed from the firing of former head coach Don Brown, the Minutemen will somehow try and turn the page to play against one of the top programs in the...

Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Don Brown’s final UMass game

Good morning!On a sunny day at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, a dark cloud hung over the UMass bench. Finish strong or you’re gone, the staff had been told, and the team was hanging on for dear life against heavily favored Liberty.The visitors had chartered...

UMass field hockey: Can Minutewomen continue ‘revenge tour’ against No. 2 Northwestern in Final Four?

By RYAN AMES

The redemption arc rolls on for the UMass field hockey team as the Minutewomen advanced to the NCAA Division I Final Four after beating UConn and Harvard during regional play last weekend – two teams they lost to during the regular season. Now, UMass...

UMass soccer: Minutemen take down Evansville for first NCAA tourney win since 2007

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST – The UMass men’s soccer team took care of business during its NCAA tournament first-round game against Evansville on Thursday.The Minutemen notched a 2-1 victory on a rain-soaked Rudd Field.Alec Hughes and Andrew Ortiz netted goals for UMass...

Bulletin board: FCHA learn to skate, learn to play programs beginning next month

Registration is open for Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Hockey programs, offered by the Franklin County Hockey Association. The programs are free to all that sign up, made possible by the FCHA’s partnership with Gagne Wealth Management Group. FCHA...

UMass hockey: Harvard, Vermont come to Mullins Center for weekend games with the Minutemen

By RYAN AMES

The No. 20 UMass hockey team will look to build upon its definitive win against Providence last weekend when it hosts Harvard and Vermont this Friday and Sunday at the Mullins Center.The Minutemen downed the 10th-ranked Friars, 5-1, after failing to...

UMass hockey: Cole O’Hara coming into his own as offensive force, leader for Minutemen

By Ryan Ames

Cole O’Hara is on pace for a career year with the UMass hockey team.The junior forward is first on the Minutemen in points (16 in 12 games played), which is already two points away from his career-best of 18 last season. The 6-foot, 183-pounder has...

UMass basketball: Holy Cross halts Minutewomen's two-game winning streak with 75-70 win

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST – The UMass women's basketball team's two-game winning streak was snapped after a 75-70 loss to Holy Cross on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center.The Minutewomen led 52-46 after three quarters of play, but the Crusaders' ability to sink...

On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Taking a stroll in the woods

A few weeks back a reader of the Recorder, we’ll call her Joanne, sent me an email commenting on a recent On the Ridge column. In the content of the email, she asked, “would you include a hunting calendar in your columns? It will help all the...

Boys soccer: Lynnfield tallies in the second half to knock off Frontier, 1-0, in MIAA Div. 4 semifinals

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

AYER — Throughout its MIAA Division 4 postseason run, the Frontier boys soccer team has found moments of brilliance to keep its season alive. That moment never quite materialized on Tuesday in its semifinal contest against second-seeded Lynnfield. The...

UMass football: Interim coach Shane Montgomery admits Don Brown’s firing leaves Minutemen, staff with “uncertainty”

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — In the wake of UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford’s firing of former head football coach Don Brown on Monday, interim head coach Shane Montgomery gave the Minutemen players the day off from practice to give them time to digest the...

Boys soccer: Frontier takes on second-seeded Lynnfield in Div. 4 semifinals

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Sometimes a deep state tournament run produces a special, magical moment along the way.Those memorable moments seem to happen every time the Frontier boys soccer team has been on the field throughout the MIAA Division 4 state tournament. From a Will...

UMass football: Minutemen players react to Don Brown’s firing; plus potential replacements

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — In Monday’s press release issued by UMass athletics regarding the firing of Minutemen head football coach Don Brown, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford offered some praise for the program’s now former head coach.“Upon [Brown’s] return in...

Bulletin Board: Greenfield Pickleball tournament raises $3,000

The Greenfield Pickleball Community hosted a Greater Greenfield Pickleball fundraiser on Sunday at Greenfield High School. The fundraiser raised $3,000 to go toward building six new pickleball courts at Abercrombie Field. In the Competitive Doubles...

UMass fires head football coach Don Brown after nearly 3 seasons

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced on Monday morning that Minutemen football head coach Don Brown has been released of his duties with two games remaining in his third season leading the program.The 69-year-old Brown finishes...

UMass fires head football coach Don Brown after nearly 3 seasons

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced on Monday morning that Minutemen football head coach Don Brown has been released of his duties with two games remaining in his third season leading the program.Brown finishes his second...

UMass athletics: Minutemen edged by Hofstra in OT, Minutewomen reach field hockey Final Four

By HOWARD HERMAN

AMHERST — The finish wasn't what Frank Martin and the UMass men’s basketball team might have hoped for.The Minutemen dropped a 75-71 overtime thriller to undefeated Hofstra Saturday night at the Mullins Center. But it wasn't the final five minutes,...

Cross Country: Frontier’s Evan Hedlund and Luke Howard earn top 10 finishes at MIAA Div. 3 state meet (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

DEVENS — Behind a pair of top 10 individual finishes, the Frontier boys cross country team earned a top 10 team finish at the MIAA Division 3 Championships at Fort Devens on Saturday. It was Evan Hedlund who led the way with a sixth place finish with...

UMass football: Minutemen fall to Liberty in overtime, 35-34, after missed extra point

By HOWARD HERMAN

AMHERST — The decision was the right one. It did not pay off.In a tie football game, UMass kicker Jacob Lurie had a chance to be the hero. All he had to do was boot a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give his team a hard-fought victory over...

Football: Assabet Valley’s late TD sinks Franklin Tech in state vocational playoff loss (PHOTOS)

By JEFF LAJOIE

TURNERS FALLS – The Franklin Tech football team rode the emotional rollercoaster in its state vocational quarterfinal game against Assabet Valley on Saturday.The top-seeded Eagles trailed into the fourth quarter before a dynamic pick-6 score from Cam...