Box Score BALTIMORE- New Hampshire sophomore attacker Kayleigh Hinkle
scored with 34 seconds remaining, capping 3-0 run, as
the visiting Wildcats defeated UMBC, 6-5, in the America East
Conference regular season finale.
The win clinched the No. 3 seed in the America East Tournament
for the Wildcats (6-10, 3-3), while the Retrievers (8-8, 2-4) were
eliminated from the post-season for the first time since 2009.
UMBC senior goalkeeper Kendall Mason (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y./Cold
Spring Harbor) made seven of her eight saves in the first half as
the Retrievers got out to a 3-1 lead.
The Retrievers extended the lead to 4-1 on junior Shannon
Harkey's (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley)
28th goal of the season 1:45 into the stanza. The
Wildcats cut the gap to 4-3 on back-to-back scores, but UMBC
sophomore Michelle Platz (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) put the
hosts up by two, converting a Harkey pass into an unguarded goal
with 15:32 remaining.
But UNH's Laura Puccia scored 32 seconds later and teammate
Amber Casiano knotted the game at 5-5 on a free position shot with
7:54 remaining.
UNH won the ensuing draw, but committed a turnover. UMBC
attempted to hold the ball, but UNH caused a turnover with less
than two minutes remaining, setting up Hinkle's game-winner.
The Wildcats controlled the draw after their go-ahead goal and
UMBC was unable to regain possession.
Harkey was the lone Retriever to post multiple points, tallying
a goal and an assist.
Mason, and classmate defender Jamie Fahey (Baldwin, Md./Loch
Raven) competed for the final time at UMBC Stadium. Senior
midfielder Lindsay Cox (High Bridge, N.J./Voorhees) was also
honored before the game. Cox was the team's leading goal scorer
from 2012, but suffered a torn ACL and missed the final 12 games of
the season.
