BALTIMORE—The UMBC women's soccer team (2-9-0, 1-0-0 AEC) snapped its five-game losing streak in a big way Sunday afternoon, defeating America East rival Maine (3-2-4, 0-1-0 AEC) by a score of 1-0 in both teams' conference opener at UMBC Stadium.
The Retrievers accomplished two firsts in the game. It marked the first time in seven meetings that UMBC has knocked off the Black Bears, and also the first time the Retrievers have won their conference opener since joining the America East in 2003.
UMBC controlled the early part of the game, taking four shots in the first 15 minutes while limiting Maine to just three shots in the entire period. The Retrievers had two good chances in the half. At the 8:30 mark, sophomore midfielder Morgan Warrington's (Magnolia, Del./St. Thomas Moore Prep) shot hit the post. Later, sophomore back Christine Sadowski's (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) corner kick was headed by sophomore midfielder Sandra Vacarino (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional), but Black Bear goalie Jasmine Phillips got a hand on it.
Late in the 61st minute, a Maine foul led to a UMBC free kick, which Sadowski fired toward a number of Retrievers waiting in front of the net. Freshman midfielder Danielle Kell (Willards, Md./Parkside) collected the ball and sent it into the bottom-right corner for her first career goal.
The final minutes of the game were hectic for UMBC senior goalie Christine Bacinski (Hampstead, Md./Mount de Sales). Late in the 86th minute, Maine midfielder Courtney Harnais got a breakaway and fired a shot from 18 yards out on the right side, but it went high. Then with less than a minute remaining, the Black Bears were awarded a corner kick, which midfielder Kim Stephenson sent to defender Anjelica Hodgson, but Bacinski got her hand on the shot and redirected it out of bounds. As a result, Maine was awarded another corner kick, but was not able to convert on its last opportunity, as the Retrievers held on for the 1-0 victory.
Bacinski made three saves in her second shutout of the season and fourth of her career. Both of the Retrievers' wins on the season have been shutouts, and it marks the first time UMBC has recorded more than one shutout in the same season since 2006. Phillips made two saves in goal for the Black Bears.
UMBC outshot Maine, 7-6, but the Black Bears held a 4-3 advantage on corner kicks.
The Retrievers return to action on Thursday, Oct. 2, when they host America East rival Binghamton at 3:30 p.m. at UMBC Soccer Stadium.
