BALTIMORE – The UMBC women's soccer team shook off a near three-hour weather delay and defeated Fairmont State, 5-3, on Thursday evening at Retriever Soccer Park. The Retrievers improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2014 campaign.
Freshman forward
Brooke Clagett, the reigning America East Conference Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, led the way with two goals and an assist. Sophomore midfielder
Zoe Brossman added a goal and a career-high two helpers. Freshman midfielder
Emma Schupansky and senior forward
Payton Schenning also chipped in with goals.
Brossman put the hosts on the board first as she beat Fairmont State goalie Olivia Johnston on a penalty kick opportunity in the 21
st minute. Graduate
Cece Price was taken down from behind at the top of the box to set up the opportunity.
The Falcons answered just nine minutes later as Lyndy Van Horn beat Retrievers' junior goalie
Amara Codd with a shot to the lower left corner off assists by Sam Yuen and Ava Yannucci.
Schupansky scored the first of a combined six second-half goals with a laser from the right side of the box, staking the hosts to a 2-1 lead just 1:57 into the stanza. Off a giveaway, Brossman started the play with a cross to the middle of the box for Clagett, who then found Schupansky all alone.
Schenning made it 3-1 in the 58
th minute as she took a feed from Price, advanced the ball past a defender, and delivered a rocket to the upper left corner from 25 yards out.
Clagett, who has tallied four goals this season, struck seven minutes later with a spectacular one-one-one move along the goal line, after receiving a long feed from senior midfielder
Regan Rubin.
Fairmont State made things interesting with two goals in a span of 1:34 to close within 4-3 in the 69
th minute. Addison Castaneda and Sam Yuen produced the markers for the Falcons
Clagget gave the Retrievers some insurance with her second tally of the half with 18 minutes left after a free kick by sophomore defender
Hailey Ahmed. Ahmed put the ball deep into the box for Brossman, who then tapped the ball to Clagget at the three-yard line.
UMBC held a 21-10 advantage in shots and attempted five corners compared to two by the visitors.
The Retrievers will host West Chester on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
