LYNCHBURG, Va. – Freshman Elysia Paolillo (Holliston, Mass./Worcester Academy) netted an equalizing goal in the 60th minute, but it wasn't enough for the UMBC women's team as they fell, 2-1, to the Liberty Flames on Thursday, Sept. 7. The Flames move to 2-3-2 on the season, while the Retrievers fall to 1-4-1.

Liberty sent the first goal of the game into the net in the 11th minute after Isabella Habuda crossed a pass from the left side of the box in front of the goal, where Devon Jones knocked it into the net.

UMBC's best chances in the first half came within a 30 second period where two shots from junior Wren Aye (Columbia, Md./St. John's College) and freshman Christina Corbi (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) each sent a shot toward the net, where each bounced off the crossbar. Freshman Olivia Bronson (Gaithersburg, Md./St. Andrew's Episcopal) also made an attempt to put a ball in the net, but Liberty's Melody Jayroe was able to make the save.

Paolillo would net the equalizer in the 60th minute after Corbi passed the ball to her from five yards outside the left side of the net. It was Paolillo's first collegiate goal.

The teams battled through the rest of the second half before Lissi Gordon crossed the ball toward the net, allowing Kayleigh Kardos to give the Flames the 2-1 lead.

With time running out, UMBC made a last minute attempt to tie things up again, as Meredith Webber (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) had a shot blocked to set up a corner kick, but it was punched out to end the game.

Corbi and Bronson led the Retrievers with three shots each, followed by sophomores Nikki Saad (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Jessica Hopkins (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) with two apiece. In goal, Jayroe made eight saves for Liberty, while junior Leah Roth (Valencia, Pa./Pine-Richland) made four saves in 90 minutes of play.

UP NEXT FOR THE RETRIEVERS: UMBC will open a four-game homestand as they welcome Longwood to Retriever Soccer Park on Sunday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.