BALTIMORE – The host UMBC women's soccer team gave first-place Maine all they could handle but eventually fell to the Black Bears, 2-1, in an America East Conference contest on Sunday afternoon at sun-splashed Retriever Soccer Park.
All the scoring took place in the opening 45 minutes as neither team created many scoring opportunities in the second half.
Maine (9-1-2, 5-0 AE) struck first in the 19th minute as Kristina Kelly beat UMBC goalie
Abbey Cowles with a well-struck shot to the lower left corner of the net. Defender Luise Reinwald initiated the play as she found Rebecca Grisdale inside the box. Grisdale then spotted Kelly all alone at the top of the center of the box and Kelly finished off her third tally of the season.
UMBC (5-8-1, 1-3-1) responded just over a minute later as graduate student
Natasha Munro scored her team-leading fifth goal. The forward, who has 10 career tallies, has now scored in four straight contests. Senior forward
Izzy Binko delivered a beautiful cross from the left side, and Munro got by the back line to put in a shot from point-blank range along the far post.
The Black Bears beat the horn just before halftime as Abbey Thornton put in the game-winner with just two seconds left. Just moments after a corner kick, Julie Lossius put a shot on goal from the right side of the box. Thornton stuck her foot out along the goal line and re-directed the attempt into the back of the net.
The Retrievers had a couple of scoring opportunities late in the second half but could not get the equalizer. With 18:30 remaining, senior back
Alyssa Clearfield sent a free kick into the box from the 25-yard line. The ball bounced off a few defenders and trickled near the goal line, but defender Myla Schneider was there to clear it away.
UMBC had one final chance in the final seconds as Binko sent a cross from the left side into the box for sophomore forward
Grace Dunbar. Dunbar's header with three seconds left sailed over the crossbar, and time expired just moments later.
Maine held a 17-5 advantage in shots and took all five corner kicks in the match.
The Dawgs will travel to Bryant on Thursday evening.
