Box Score Box score
BALTIMORE – UMBC freshman
back Alexa Quaranta (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) recorded
her first collegiate goal to tie the contest at one in the second
half against American in Saturday afternoon's non-conference
matchup at Retriever Soccer Park, but the black and goal were
unable to hang on, falling 2-1 to the
Eagles.
UMBC drops to 0-2-1 on the season, while American picks up its
first victory of the year to improve to 1-2-1.
With the game still scoreless, UMBC got its first real
opportunity 18:47 into the contest. The American defense played a
ball back to goalkeeper Carlene Belanger, but as Belanger went to
clear the ball, Retriever freshman forward Bria
Bass (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) was there to block
the pass. Bass gathered the ball, but sailed a shot just wide of
the net.
In the 30th minute, American's Erin Mulhern found Kelly Donovan
ahead of the pack who curved a shot from the top corner
of the 18-yard box, into the far right post to put the Eagles out
in front, 1-0.
The Retrievers' evened the score up at one at the 38:54 mark of
the second half. Senior forward Rachel McKee (Ellicott
City, Md./Mount Hebron) delivered a long pass up the right side of
the field to Quaranta. Quaranta gathered the ball inside the
18-yard box and with two defenders in front of her, dribbled the
ball back to the middle and blasted a shot, beating Belanger inside
the right post.
Despite UMBC bringing up its level of intensity in the second
half, American was able to put away the game-winner in the 79th
minute. Following a corner, Danielle Beard chased down a ball on
the far side and tapped a pass ahead to Jasmine Mohandesi, who
blasted a shot from 10 yards out into the far side post for her
third goal in as many matches.
UMBC goalkeeper Lauren Kadet (Oakville, Ontario/St.
Thomas Aquinas) (0-2-1) finished the afternoon with six saves on 17
American shots. Belanger did not make a save in the contest, but
moves to 1-2-1 on the season.
McKee, who registered two shots in the contest, moved into the
top-10 in career shots in the Retrievers' record books, surpassing
Theresa Robert (108) and moving into a tie for ninth with Viviana
Saraceno (109).
The Retrievers return to action on Monday, Aug. 27 when they
travel to Drexel for a 1 p.m. game at Vidas Field.