It’s been quite the storybook ending for the UMass fall sports teams in their final season in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and both the Minutewomen field hockey and women’s soccer teams are now one win away from leaving the conference as champions in their respective sports.

Led by Hannah De Gast’s pair of goals on Thursday afternoon, the top-seeded UMass field hockey team punched its ticket to the A-10 final – its third straight appearance in the conference championship game – by dishing out a 4-0 whooping to VCU in the semifinals. 

Thursday marked the second time this season UMass shut out the Rams, and it will now face No. 2 Saint Joseph’s on Saturday at noon in Philadelphia for a shot at the A-10 crown.

Elena Cloconeanu buried the game’s first goal late in the first quarter, as the Minutewomen converted on a corner to take the lead. De Gast and Izzy Acquaviva recorded assists on the Cloconeanu goal. Late in the second quarter, De Gast added a goal of her own off a redirect – again coming from a successful UMass corner. Paula Lorenzini tallied the assist and the Minutewomen headed into halftime with all the momentum ahead 2-0.

Just under five minutes into the third quarter, De Gast struck once more. Cloconeanu was credited with the assist on what was a beautiful lofted shot over VCU’s keeper putting UMass in full control. And a little over three minutes later, Elani Sherwood delivered the gut punch, finishing home a ball on the doorstep passed by Neva Eisenga.

UMass’ 4-0 shutout win showed the team’s ability to dominate each phase of a game for 60 minutes, and it gave up only one shot apiece in the first, second and fourth quarters. Out of VCU’s six total shots, only two were on cage – both of which Minutewomen goalie Myrte Van Herwijnen handled.

The UMass field hockey team’s first regular season Atlantic 10 title since 2014 is now just one win away from doubling into a conference tournament title.

On the soccer pitch, the No. 3 Minutewomen took down No. 2 Dayton 2-1 in the semifinal round on Wednesday night thanks to Emma Pedolzky’s late-game heroics.

After a failed Flyers clearance attempt rolled to UMass midfield Bella Recinos, she one-timed the ball back toward goal. It maneuvered through traffic and found Pedolzky, from Westfield, who stood a step inside the 6-yard box – a Dayton defender standing on the near post keeping her onside.

With one swift move of the left leg, the ball redirected off of Pedolzky’s foot and quickly past the Flyers goalie to put UMass ahead 2-1 in the 89th minute.

Every Minutewomen player on the field swarmed Pedolzky for a memorable celebration as her goal stood as the winner, sending the Minutewomen to the Atlantic 10 title game against top-seeded Saint Louis. That game is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. in Saint Louis.

Karina Groff kicked off Wednesday’s semifinal scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on another failed Dayton clear. Ella Curry lined up to take a free kick on the left side, and she sent a ball toward goal that Dayton’s keeper punched away.

It rolled right to the feet of Groff, however, and she blasted a left-footed shot that ripped into the back of the net – making it 1-0 UMass early on. The Flyers responded just before halftime, but Pedolzky’s lone second-half goal pushed the Minutewomen through to the finals.

Both the UMass field hockey and women’s soccer programs have the opportunity to win Atlantic 10 conference championships for the final time this weekend.