BALTIMORE – UMBC women's lacrosse
takes a break from America East action on Wednesday, March 27, when
it hosts local-rival No. 17 Loyola (Md.) at the UMBC Stadium. The
Retrievers, who are off to their best start through nine games
since 1986, look to snap a four game losing streak to the
Greyhounds. First draw is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on
UMBCRetrievers.tv.
UMBC (7-2) completed a come from behind victory in its America
East opener against Boston University on Saturday. The Retrievers
eliminated a 5-1 second half deficit with a score from freshman
attacker Kris Coppolino (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter
Springs) with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game
into overtime and came away with the victory on a last second goal
from junior midfielder Shannon Harkey (Purcellville,
Va./Loudon Valley/Florida).
Goalkeeper Kendall Mason (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y./Cold
Spring Harbor) made a season-high 10 stops versus the Terriers,
including eight in the first half, en route to earning her second
America East Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season.
Mason ranks 14th in Division I in goals-against average, allowing
8.03 goals per game on the year.
Sophomore midfielder Alyssa Semones (Westminster,
Md./Westminster/Penn State) leads the squad with 22 goals, 31
points and 33 draw controls, while classmate Abby
Wilson (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) has added 16 goals and 11
assists for 27 points. Senior defender Jamie
Fahey (Bladwin, Md./Loch Raven) has been a staple in the
Retrievers defense, chipping in 14 draw controls and 12 ground
balls.
Loyola (4-5) has faced a tough schedule thus far in 2013, with
six of its nine opponents having been ranked nationally. The
Greyhounds take a break from league action after opening BIG EAST
action with back-to-back victories. In its latest contest, Loyola
earned a 19-0 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon,
recording its seventh shutout win in program history and the first
since 1998.
Redshirt sophomore Taryn VanThof was named BIG EAST Defensive
Player of the Week honors after finishing the week with six points,
five caused turnovers, five ground balls and 10 draw controls.
VanThof leads the team in draw controls (38) and is tied with
junior Marlee Paton for a team-best 12 caused turnovers and 10
assists. Sophomore Hannah Schmitt has recorded a team-best 18 goals
on the season, while Patton's 23 points and 23 ground balls pilots
the squad.
