Video Highlights | Postgame Press Conference

BALTIMORE - UMBC junior forward Juliana Rafaniello (Old Bridge, N.J.) scored twice and added an assist in a 14-minute span in the first half, leading the Retrievers to a 3-1 victory over Robert Morris in the opening contest for both squads.

The goals were the first two of Rafaniello's career, coming in her 24th career contest.

Junior midfielder Caroline Koutsos (Boyds, Md./Good Counsel) scored in the sixth minute for UMBC, registering her first career goal.  

UMBC Head Coach Vanessa Mann said, "We had nine freshmen out there that got to play… we not only have the trust in them as a staff, but the upperclassmen trust them as well. It was nice to close out the game today."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rafaniello and Koutsos shared the ball brilliantly from forty yards out, with Koutsos converting Rafanello's second pass to her and scoring into an unguarded net just 5:32 into the game.
• Graduate student Erin Stevenson (Sellersville, Pa.) sent a perfect through-ball to Rafaniello, who slotted a 10-yarder past RMU starting goalkeeper Isabella Bohlen at the 13:30 mark.
• Rafaniello finalized the scoring, after taking a short cross from sophomore Grace Harvey (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) and knocking the ball just inside the right post from eight yards out at 19:45.
• UMBC led at halftime, 3-0, but lost the shutout bid, as RMU's Haleigh Finale scored in the 76'.

OTHER GAME DETAILS

• RMU outshot UMBC, 14-11 and there were only three corners (2-1, UMBC) in the game
• UMBC freshman netminder Isy Davy (Bungenbore, NSW, Australia) got the victory in her collegiate debut, recording three saves.

NOTES

• In addition to Davy, five other freshmen were in the UMBC Starting XI. Freshmen fullbacks Lauren Reid (Denver, Colo.) and Annie Grove (Garran, ACT, Australia) played all 90 minutes. In total, nine freshmen made their debuts for UMBC.
• Rafaniello's two-goal game was UMBC's first since Christina Corbi netted a pair vs. UML in October, 2018.
• UMBC improved to 8-3-0 versus RMU.
• The Retrievers are now 3-2-3 in their last eight home openers
• An energetic crowd of 363 tested out the new bleachers at Retriever Soccer Park. 
• UMBC heads for Staten Island, N.Y. and a date with Wagner on Sunday, August 22. The opening kick is set for 1:00 p.m.