Men's Lacrosse Welcomes Mercer in Final Non-Conference Contest of 2023

The Retrievers and Bears face-off at noon on Saturday.

BALTIMORE - The UMBC men's lacrosse (4-1) team will play its final non-conference contest of the 2023 season when they welcome the Mercer Bears to UMBC Stadium on Saturday, March 11. The opening face-off is set for noon and the broadcast is available via AmericaEast.tv.

RETRIEVER NOTES

After earning a 8-4 victory in a physical contest versus Towson on Sunday, March 5, the Retrievers fell, 17-11, to Delaware at Delaware Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Retrievers suffered their first setback of the season and fell to 4-1, while UD improved to 4-2.
Junior attackman Mateo Brown led UMBC with four goals, while linemate and classmate Allen Hockenberry added a pair of goals and an assist.
Delaware broke open a tight game, outscoring UMBC, 7-0, in the third quarter.
The 4-0 start was the Retrievers' first since winning the first five games of the 1992 season. Moreover, the 8-4 victory over Towson was the 400th in the 55th season of intercollegiate competition (400-356).
The Retrievers are receiving votes in both the USILA Coaches' Poll (13 votes, 25^th overall) and Inside Lacrosse Media poll as of March 6.
Despite allowing 17 goals at Delaware, the Retrievers' scoring defense remains the top-ranked unit in NCAA Division I lacrosse. Through four games, UMBC had allowed 5.25 goals per game, now the number is 7.60.
The America East Conference named UMBC junior goalkeeper Jayson Tingue the Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week on March 6. Tingue allowed only four goals and made eight saves in back-to-back wins over St. Bonaventure (13-4) and Towson (8-4). He still leads the nation with a GAA of 6.94 and his save percentage of 59.0 is ranked sixth in the country.

Tingue was one of nine men's players across the country to be added to the Tewaaraton Watch List on March 9.

Junior attackman Mateo Brown has a team-high 15 goals on the season and is tied for 22nd nationally with 3.00 goals score per game. He entered the season with one goal scored in four games played.
Junior attackman Allen Hockenberry added his name to the list of first-time three-goal scorers. He tallied three goals and two assists versus St. Bonaventure. He has seven goals and a team-best six assists through five games after seeing action in two career contests prior to 2023.
In addition to Brown notching his first career multiple-goal game, sophomore midfielder Josh Tang also posted his first career three-goal effort in the 16-6 win over Mount St. Mary's.
Grad student Brett Baucia, has five goals to date and is one point shy of 50 (28-21-49). His 16-game scoring streak came to an end in the win over Towson.
Fifth-year midfielder Taylor Bohahan, who served as a co-captain in 2022, will reprise his role in 2023, along with senior defender Ricky Fedorchak and juniors Kyle Hoff (SSDM) and Brian Tregoning (A).
After competing on the grass at Retriever Soccer Park in 2022, UMBC returns to the turf at UMBC Stadium this spring. UMBC Stadium now features a new press box, a fan amenities building and new walking bridge to the facility.

A GLANCE AT THE BEARS

Mercer (1-4) has played a difficult early season schedule, facing national powers North Carolina, Army West Point and Richmond in the first month of competition.
The Bears' victory came in their Feb. 18 home opener versus Holy Cross. Led by Parker Junod's four goals, Mercer triumphed, 15-6 at Five Star Stadium.
On Tuesday, Mercer gave Richmond a tough battle before falling, 11-6. Bears' goalkeeper Colin Kelley made 12 saves to keep Mercer in striking distance throughout.
Taylor Dooley and Michael Frederick lead the Bears with four goals and four assists apiece.
Kelly has started all five games in goal and has 47 saves with 75 goals allowed.
Grad student Ashton Wood has won 55.9 percent (38-of-68) of his face-offs attempted.

ALL-TIME SERIES

This will be the third meeting between UMBC and Mercer, with the Retrievers winning 15-6, in 2014 and 15-4 three years later.
The 15-4 triumph at UMBC Stadium on Feb. 25, 2017 was the first victory in the career of Head Coach Ryan Moran.

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