Vestal, N.Y. – Visiting UMBC rallied from an early six-goal deficit to climb within 15-12 after three quarters, but could not complete the comeback and fell, 18-13, at Binghamton in the America East opener for both squads.
Senior attack
Claire Bockstie recorded three goals and three assists on UMBC's first eight goals of the game. Red-shirt sophomore
Kolby Weedon tallied a season-high five goals, while junior
Mary Ellis contributed a career-high four assists to pace the Retriever attack.
UMBC fell to 6-3 overall, while Binghamton improved to 6-4.
The Retrievers trailed, 14-8, at halftime, but outscored BU, 4-1, in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 15-12. In the final minute of the period, the Bearcats were assessed a pair of yellow cards to give the Retrievers a two-player up advantage. But
Dymin Gerow's free position shot was blocked with 11 seconds to play in the period and Binghamton controlled the opening draw of the fourth in the game's most critical juncture.
Binghamton would tally twice to go ahead, 17-12, before Weedon's career-tying best fifth goal brought her side to within 17-13 with 3:16 remaining. But the Bearcats won the ensuing draw and added an insurance goal to seal the victory.
Gerow was the other UMBC multiple-point scorer with a goal and an assist.
Binghamton outshot UMBC, 37-22, and Retriever junior goalkeeper
Isabella Fontana made five of her ten saves in UMBC's productive third quarter surge.
Weedon scored just 59 seconds into the game to give the Retrievers an early lead, but the Bearcats went on a 7-0 run to take a 7-1 lead with 4:33 to play in the first period. The hosts led, 9-3, after 15 minutes and had their largest lead at 13-6 with five minutes remaining in the first half.
BOCKSTIE WATCH: Bockstie leap-frogged three former Retrievers and is now tied with Sam Pratt (nee: Nolan) for fourth place on UMBC's all-time scoring list with 190 points (145-45-190). She remains in fourth place in goals scored and 11th place in assists.
UMBC has next weekend off and will return home to face Bryant at UMBC on Saturday, April 1 (noon).
