BALTIMORE—The UMBC women's soccer team will celebrate Senior Day and entertain the top team in the America East on Thursday when the Boston University Terriers visit UMBC Soccer Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff. It will be the final home game for seniors Christine Bacinski (Hampstead, Md./Mount de Sales), Catie Bukowski (Odenton Md./Arundel/South Carolina), Amy Morrison (Crofton, Md./South River), and Kali Schwartz (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown South).
Last Time Out: UMBC fell to in-state rival Navy by a score of 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in Annapolis to conclude its non-conference slate. Freshman goalie Mo Van Vlerah (Boyds, Md./Northwest) made five saves in the game.
Terrier Tidbits: Ranked fifth in the Northeast region by SoccerBuzz.com, Boston U. is 11-5-1 on the season, including a perfect 6-0-0 in the America East, and is currently riding a five-game winning streak. The two-time defending conference champion Terriers shut out Stony Brook, 2-0, on Sunday to secure at least a share of the America East regular-season title. Forward Farrell McClernon and midfielder Emily Pallotta lead the Terriers with four goals and 10 points apiece, and McClernon is the reigning America East Co-Player of the Week. Goalie Janie Reilly has posted a league-best 0.60 goals-against average with 50 saves and just 10 goals allowed. As a team, the Terriers have outscored their opponents, 21-10, on the season.
Last Time vs. Boston: Last October, the Retrievers fell to the Terriers, 2-0, in Boston. Boston U.'s Marisha Schumacher-Hodge and Stephanie Croghan each added a tally in the win. McClernon was credited with both assists. Bacinski made three saves in goal for UMBC.
UMBC vs. Boston All-Time: The Retrievers have not beaten the Terriers in five all-time meetings since UMBC joined the America East in 2003.
Goose Eggs: Bacinski has recorded two shutouts this season and now has four in her career. Her first blanking of the season occurred on Sept. 12 against Sacred Heart and was her first shutout since Sept. 9, 2005. That game was the first UMBC shutout since Sept. 12, 2007 against Howard and the first solo shutout for a Retriever keeper since Bukowski blanked Albany on Oct. 9, 2005. The shutout of Maine on Sept. 28 marks the first time one goalie has been credited with more than one solo shutout in a season since 2005. UMBC has not allowed a goal in either of its wins this season, marking the first time the Retrievers have recorded more than one shutout in a season since 2006.
Kell Honored: Freshman midfielder Danielle Kell (Willards, Md./Parkside) was named America East Co-Rookie of the Week on Sept. 29 after scoring the game-winning goal against Maine. She becomes the third Retriever in the last two seasons to garner the nod, as teammates Morgan Warrington (Magnolia, Del./St. Thomas Moore Prep) and Ashley Singer (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) both earned the accolade last season.
Super Soph: Warrington has scored three of UMBC's five goals on the season, including the game-winner in the Retrievers' first victory of the season, a 1-0 decision over Sacred Heart on Sept. 12. Warrington also leads UMBC with 30 shots on the year. The 2007 America East All-Rookie Team selection now has six goals and 13 points in her young career.
First Time for Everything: The Retrievers' victory over Maine on Sept. 28 was their first-ever win over the Black Bears in seven meetings. It also marked UMBC's first triumph in a conference opener since joining the America East in 2003.
