Newark, DE – In a terrific defensive effort, the UMBC women's soccer team battled the unbeaten Delaware Blue Hens to a dramatic scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon.
UMBC (3-1-2), competing in their first road match of the campaign, snapped a four-game losing streak against the Blue Hens and recorded their first result in Newark since a 1-0 victory in 2002.
"I'm incredibly proud of the effort, energy and enthusiasm our group brought today," said UMBC head coach
Rick Stainton. "We were relentless in our team defending, competed for one another, and still found moments to create some dangerous opportunities going forward. Earning a result like this on the road against a very good opponent is another important step in our growth, process and progress. We're excited to keep building as we turn our attention to the beltway battle against Towson."
Junior
Amara Codd was terrific in goal, turning away a career-high nine shots and anchoring the defense with several nice saves. Senior midfielder
Regan Rubin led the offensive charge with three shots, while freshman forward
Brooke Clagett kept the pressure on with two attempts.
Clagett had the Retrievers' first opportunity early in the opening half, but a Blue Hens defender blocked her shot in the eighth minute.
Senior midfielder
Regan Rubin had an opportunity in the 21
st minute, but Delaware goalkeeper Sophie Hall turned aside her shot from outside the box.
Codd made three saves late in the first half, including one on a free kick by Olivia Bley with 2:06 left to keep the game scoreless at the break.
The hosts (2-0-3) nearly took the lead just a minute into the second half after a corner kick. Still, Codd punched away an attempt by Sophia Zeppos, and a UMBC defender blocked the follow-up by Cassandra Saldarini.
The Retrievers received free kick opportunities in the 54
th and 74
th minutes, but attempts by Rubin and Clagett were off target.
Sophomore forward
Nia Hudson had UMBC's final opportunity with just under 14 minutes remaining but was turned aside by Hall as Hudson sent a shot on target to the center of the goal.
UMBC survived a heart-pounding sequence in the 86
th minute, as the Retrievers bravely blocked back-to-back shots from Maggie Groh and Saldarini before Codd came up big once again with a clutch save on Ava Sallee's third attempt.
The Retrievers will host Towson on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
