KINGSTON, R.I. — After 17 seasons, St. Bonaventure women's soccer has its first Atlantic 10 Championship victory.

Nicole Markert recorded her sixth shutout of the season while Tori Burchett and Anna Cunningham each scored a goal to lift the fourth-seeded Bonnies (12-8-0) over fifth-seeded Massachusetts (8-11-0) on Thursday in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship.  

Five-seed Massachusetts was able to hold off four-seed St. Bonaventure for 68 minutes, but the Bonnies heated up in the second half. Burchett slipped a low ball past the defense and keeper across the front of the goal to break the scoreless tie and give the Bonnies a 1-0 lead.  Jordan Calabria was credited with an assist on the play. 

The Bonnies sealed the victory 10 minutes later when Anna Cunningham scored her 10th goal of the season. Bosse and Clark initiated the play on a give-and-go up the left side of the field, while Cunningham finished it, placing the ball in the lower left corner of the net.

"I thought all season long we've had a certain style and we were able to implement that style in the second half and generate more chances and (score) two good goals," St. Bonaventure head coach Manoj Khettry said.

Markert improved to 11-5 in goal on the season for the Bonnies, who outshot UMass 26-5. Markert made three saves in the win and posted her third clean sheet in five outings.

The Bonnies 12th win of the year ties a school record and is the first for the Bonnies in four conference tournament appearances.

The Bonnies advance to the semifinal to take on second-seeded Dayton at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. In their previous meeting this season, St. Bonaventure handed then-No. 25 Dayton its first regular-season conference loss in over two years.