Women's Soccer 8/26/2025 2:12:00 PM

Women's Soccer Welcomes Longwood to Retriever Soccer Park on Thursday Evening

Junior forward Payton Schenning scored a goal and added two assists as the UMBC women's soccer team overpowered the Iona Gaels, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon at Retriever Soccer Park. Schenning's two assists were a career high.
UMBC scored a pair of goals within a 3:32 span midway through the opening half and never looked back.
The Dawgs received the only goal they would need on an own goal in the 22nd minute. Sophomore defender Gabby Larson sent a gorgeous cross in front of the net for freshman Cami Mink, and the ball was redirected into the back of the net by a Gaels' defender.
Just over three minutes later, former Iona Gael Payton Foster produced her first goal as a Retriever, putting in a deflection after a free kick by Schenning.
The hosts put the game away in the second half with three more tallies. The first came in the 55th minute as Schenning scored her first goal of the season. Freshman Zoe Brossman played the initial ball into the left corner for Mink, who sent a great cross to the far side of the goal for Schenning. Schenning volleyed the ball into the upper left corner to complete the play.
UMBC recorded its fourth marker in the 62nd minute as freshman defender Olivia Nardone leaped into the air to head in a corner kick off the foot of Schenning.
Senior midfielder Maddie Schepers added a penalty kick with 6:30 remaining to round out the scoring.
Senior Sara Gavagan played the first 45 minutes in goal and made five saves. Graduate student Kalli Williams made a pair of acrobatic saves in the second half.
The five goals are the most UMBC's scored since a 5-1 victory at Delaware State on October 7, 2021.
UMBC earned a pair of America East Conference Weekly Awards on Monday afternoon. Senior goalie Sara Gavagan was named the Defensive Player of the Week while freshman defender Olivia Nardone earned Rookie of the Week accolades. It is the first set of honors for the duo. Gavagan recorded a .875 save percentage in two starts against Maryland and Iona. She made several acrobatic stops during the week. Nardone scored her first goal with a header in the 5-0 win over Iona and contributed to a defense that conceded only one goal in two games.

About Longwood

The Lancers won their first three contests but are coming off a 3-1 home loss against Charlotte.
Longwood is averaging 3.00 goals per game and have yielded 1.75 per game to their opponents.
Freshman Sam Fischer has gotten off to a hot start with four goals and an assist to lead the squad with nine points. She was named the Big South Freshman of the Week on Monday after her two-goal effort against VMI last weekend. She is the first Lancer to score four goals in her first three collegiate games since the team joined the Big South in 2012. She also earned Big South Offensive Player of the Week on August. 18.
Madison Fitzpatrick and Meghan Piazza have scored two goals apiece.
Sara Curtis owns a 1.57 goals against average as well as a .727 saves percentage thus far this season.
Longwood was selected fourth in the Big South preseason poll. The team finished fourth in 2024.
Peyton Curney, Sara Curtis, Emma Jones, Meghan Piazza, Sydney Robertson, and Berni Wayland were listed among the top returners in the conference this season by the league office.

Inside The Series

UMBC is 3-6-2 all-time against Longwood.
This is the fifth straight year that the two programs will lock horns. The Lancers hold a 2-1-1 mark over the last four seasons.
The Retrievers picked up a 2-1 victory last season in Farmville, Virginia. Payton Schenning and Delainey Varela-Keen scored second half goals to provide the Dawgs with the victory.
Amara Codd played the first half in goal while Sara Gavagan played the final 45 minutes.
The Lancers picked up a 1-0 victory the last time the squads played in Baltimore (8/20/23).

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Players Mentioned

#32 Sara Gavagan: GK; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#20 Delainey Varela-Keen: M; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#14 Payton Schenning: F; 5' 7"; Freshman

#8 Zoe Brossman: M; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#0 Amara Codd: Goalkeeper; 5' 7"; Junior

#2 Gabby Larson: D; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#10 Maddie Schepers: M; 5' 8"; Senior

#27 Cami Mink: D; 5' 4"; Freshman

#26 Olivia Nardone: D; 5' 6"; Freshman

#32 Kalli Williams: G; 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#32 Sara Gavagan
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: GK

#20 Delainey Varela-Keen
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: M

#14 Payton Schenning
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: F

#8 Zoe Brossman
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: M

#0 Amara Codd
: 5' 7"; Junior
: Goalkeeper

#2 Gabby Larson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: D

#10 Maddie Schepers
: 5' 8"; Senior
: M

#27 Cami Mink
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: D

#26 Olivia Nardone
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: D

#32 Kalli Williams
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student
: G