The UMBC women's soccer team (3-2-2) opens its 18th season of America East Conference play on Sunday, Sept. 19 when they take on the Maine Black Bears (2-1-2) at the Mahaney Diamond Field in Orono, Maine.  

The match gets underway at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

In their latest outing, the Retrievers snapped a brief two-game winless streak with a 2-0 win at Wagner on Sept. 16. Junior forward Juliana Rafaniello (Old Bridge, N.J.) and junior midfielder Caroline Koutsos (Boyds, Md./Good Counsel) scored in a six-minute span in the second half, while freshman goalkeeper Abbey Cowles (Colts Neck, N.J.) earned her second shutout and first career win on Staten Island.

HONORED:

• Cowles earned America East Conference Defender of the Week and co-Rookie of the Week honors for games ending Sept. 12. In her collegiate debut, Cowles made 13 saves versus Longwood on Sept. 9.

NOTABLE:

• Rafaniello leads the squad with four goals and nine total points. She has netted the game-winning goal in all three of the Retriever wins this season and leads America East in GWG per game.
• Koutsos has now scored in back-to-back games, which included a highlight-reel goal at Wagner. She shook off and pulled away from a defender who seemed to have a firm grip on her jersey forty yards from goal and scored from just inside the box. She leads the conference with 13 shots on goal.
• Cowles has not allowed a goal in 200 minutes of play. UMBC is tied for second in the conference, allowing 1.00 goals per game.

A GLANCE AT THE BLACK BEARS:

• Maine comes in with a record of 2-1-2
• They tied their last match Sunday, Sept. 12 versus Marist, 1-1.
• Maine's last win came at Bryant University August 29, winning 1-0
• Sophomore Delaney LaBonte is the leading goal scorer for Maine, scoring two goals thus far this season
• Senior forward Saylor Clark is a transfer from the University of Maryland 
• Senior goalie Kira Kutzinski has allowed six goals in five games, a GAA of 1.10
• Scott Atherley is in his 23rd season as the head coach of the Black Bears. 
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SERIES NOTES:

• UMBC trails Maine in the all-time season series record, posting a record of 5-12-1 versus the Black Bears
• UMBC beat Maine in the last matchup they played against each other, winning 2-1 at Maine on Oct. 20, 2019.
• UMBC has won the last two meetings vs Maine

UP NEXT:

• UMBC will get some much needed rest after a hectic five days of travel and not play again until Sunday, Sept. 26 when they host Hartford at Retriever Soccer Park. Kick-off time is 2:00 p.m.