Women's Soccer Travels to 2023 Patriot League Champion Bucknell on Thursday Evening

UMBC (0-1-0) at Bucknell (1-0-1) | Thursday, Aug. 22, 7:00 p.m. | Lewisburg, Pa. | Watch | Live Stats

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The UMBC women's soccer team created numerous scoring chances but came up just a bit short in their 1-0 season-opening loss against The Towson Tigers on Monday afternoon at Retriever Soccer Park.
The game was suspended in the 14th minute on Sunday evening due to heavy storms and lightning in the area, but the local rivals resumed play under a warm sun in the early afternoon.
UMBC fired 18 shots compared to just 11 by the visitors. However, the hosts could not sneak one past Towson graduate student keeper Riley Melendez, who made a game-high ten saves.
Towson (1-1-0) graduate student Rebecca Groseibl scored the game-winner in the 39th minute as she surprised Retrievers' goalie Abbey Cowles from 35 yards out.
Sophomore Payton Schenning took a career-high seven shots, while graduate student Meghan McKye added four in the contest. Cowles made four saves in 90 minutes of action.
Towson held a slight 7-6 edge in corner kick chances.
Graduate student Natasha Munro started her 35th straight game.

About the Bison

The Bison, the 2023 Patriot League champions, received contributions from both old and young on the way to a 1-0-1 start, and one veteran and one newcomer earned Patriot League weekly honors on Monday. Senior Katie Schiano was selected as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, while freshman Katie Connell was tabbed as the PL Rookie of the Week.
Schiano, who was named Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month, locked down the opposition's left flank and also assisted on the opening goal in both matches. The 2024 season wasn't even two minutes old when Schiano's back-post cross was finished by Henna Andican for a quick 1-0 lead against La Salle. The Bison would go on to win 2-1 against an Explorers squad that finished second in the Atlantic 10 and advanced all the way to the A-10 Tournament final last season.
In Sunday's 1-1 draw with Delaware, Schiano's throw-in sprung Connell for the game's first goal early in the second half. Connell split two defenders at the edge of the box and slotted home a shot between the goalkeeper's legs for her first collegiate tally.
Connell is off to a strong start as a substitute midfielder, playing 40 minutes against La Salle and 50 against Delaware.

Series History

UMBC is 4-6-1 all-time against the Bison. However, the Dawgs are 2-0-1 over the last three battles.
The Retrievers and Bison played to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting in Baltimore on Aug. 23, 2015.
The Dawgs are 1-4 all-time in Lewisburg.

Players Mentioned