Newark, N.J. – In an America East Conference battle on Thursday evening at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, sophomore midfielder
Zoe Brossman netted the decisive first-half goal to lift the UMBC women's soccer team to a dominant 1-0 victory over the NJIT Highlanders.
UMBC improved to 2-1 in conference play and is now 8-3-2 overall after delivering a commanding performance on a warm Newark evening. The Retrievers' relentless attack kept NJIT on their heels all night, as UMBC fired 21 shots to the Highlanders' 7 and permitted just two shots on target. The Dawgs dominated set pieces, earning seven corner kicks while denying NJIT a single corner opportunity. The Highlanders, who dropped to 4-6-1 overall and 1-2 in the America East, struggled to break through UMBC's disciplined defense.
"Earning three points on the road in conference play is never easy, and I'm incredibly proud of our group tonight," said UMBC head coach
Rick Stainton. "We showed tremendous grit, competed for one another, and adapted when the game demanded it. Finding a way to earn a result like this says a lot about this team's growth and character. We'll enjoy this one, keep working, and continue forging forward together."
NJIT nearly seized an early lead just thirty seconds into the match. Brianna Garyah found herself with a clear look at goal from point-blank range and unleashed a powerful shot, but UMBC junior goalkeeper
Amara Codd reacted swiftly, diving to her right to make a spectacular save and deny the hosts a quick start.
After that early scare, the Retrievers asserted control for the remainder of the game. Their disciplined back line and organized midfield stifled NJIT's offense, allowing Codd to face only one more shot on target.
Senior forward
Payton Schenning had a couple of great opportunities in the opening half but misfired wide on an early chance and then was denied by NJIT netminder Penelope Krieger on another, after she spun around a defender on the left side of the box.
Schenning also sent a great cross to junior
Kristiana Kolega in the 23
rd minute, but her attempt from seven yards out went wide of the post.
Freshman forward
Brooke Clagett also had a tremendous chance with 8:08 left after winning a ball in the box. Clagett turned and fired a shot on target, but it was right at Krieger.
UMBC netted the decisive goal with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, showcasing crisp teamwork and awareness. Off a throw-in, freshman forward
Brooke Clagett threaded a perfectly placed ball into the left corner, where graduate forward
Cece Price outmaneuvered her defender along the endline. Price delivered a precise pass to
Zoe Brossman, who was positioned near the five-yard line. Brossman wasted no time, firing a low, hard shot that NJIT goalkeeper Penelope Krieger could only partially stop as the ball slipped through and rolled over the goal line. Both Clagett and Price earned assists on the well-worked sequence.
The Retrievers had several more quality scoring chances in the final half, and they didn't need to convert.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak against the Highlanders.
UMBC hosts UAlbany on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Retriever Soccer Park.
