Lowell, Mass. – The UMBC women's soccer team improved to 1-0-1 in the America East Conference after edging the UMass Lowell River Hawks 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Cushing Field.
"We played against a very good team that is super technical and mobile," stated UMBC head coach Rick Stainton. We devised a game plan that the team bought into and executed well. This result was extremely well-earned and was a program win. And we did it on the rod, which is always tough to do."
Senior Izzy Binko created havoc all afternoon as the speedy striker assisted on graduate student Natasha Munro's opening tally of the day and then added the game-winning marker early in the second half, her second of the season.
Senior Abbey Cowles played a terrific game in goal and made eight saves in 90 minutes of action. Several of her stops were game-saving plays, including a reaction stop in the 88th minute from point-blank range.
"Our team defending was organized as a unit, and Abbey Cowles made an amazing save near the end of the game," Stainton added. "Proud is an understatement. We know there is a lot of the season ahead, and we look forward to our continued progress."
The hosts outshot the Retrievers by a 22-8 margin in the contest, and had the Retrievers on their heels in the final moments of the contest but were unable to score the equalizer.
The Retrievers scored 5:37 into the second half for what turned out to be the game-winner. Sophomore forward Payton Schenning started the play from the 40-yard line as she found junior midfielder Misa Kasparcova at the midfield line. Kasparcova eluded a defender and located Binko, who was sprinting free down the left side. After collecting the pass, Binko carried the ball 30 yards towards the center of the box and forced River Hawks' keeper Taylor Burgess to vacate her line. Binko then slid a low shot just inside the right post for her second tally of the campaign.
UMBC (5-5-1) survived a scare with 18 minutes left as Maija Hodson struck the right post after a cross into the box.
Cowles was at her best with 2:33 remaining after Calliste Brookshire served a dangerous free kick into the box that landed just yards from the goal mouth. Hilary Jaen got her foot on the ball, but Cowles made a diving play on the line to save the day.
UMBC scored just five minutes into the contest to grab a 1-0 advantage. Graduate student forward Meghan McKye hit Binko with a great pass from her 40-yard line, and Binko collected the ball on the left flank just beyond midfield. Binko sprinted down the sideline all the way into the box and delivered a gorgeous cross to Munro, who was wide open in the center at the 5-yard line. Munro tapped in the feed with her right foot into the top center of the net as Burgess had no chance on the play.
UMass Lowell (1-7-2, 0-1-0) responded in the 20th minute, just moments after a free-kick opportunity. Brookshire sent a cross into the box, and Jaen came sliding in to tap home the equalizer from five yards out.
UMBC nearly took the lead back in the 34th minute as Binko sent another great cross right in front of the goal from the left side. Munro was in position again, but a defender came in at the last second to break up the play.
The Dawgs will return home for another conference tilt against Binghamton on Thursday evening.
