BALTIMORE – The UMBC women's soccer team scored on a second-half penalty kick and held on for a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Wagner Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at Retriever Soccer Park. UMBC improved to 5-1-2 and is off to its best start since the 2014 campaign.
The Retrievers, who are now 5-1-1 at home, played a tremendous defensive contest, shutting down the defending Northeast Conference Champions and allowing just eight shots and few quality scoring chances.
UMBC nearly got on the board in the opening half, but Seahawks' goalkeeper Abigail Marcello denied Retrievers' senior forward
Cece Price with a tremendous diving save to preserve the 0-0 deadlock. Freshman forward
Brooke Clagett blazed down the center of the pitch, slicing through defenders before dishing to Price on the left. Price carried the ball into the box and unleashed a rocket toward the net, but Marcello's acrobatics sent the ball ricocheting off the post.
After halftime, the Retrievers ratcheted up the intensity and finally seized their moment in the 61
st minute. Reserve senior forward
Payton Foster muscled her way into the left side of the box, drawing a critical foul as she spun to fire a shot. Sophomore midfielder
Delainey Proctor coolly stepped up to the penalty spot and buried the game-winner into the bottom left corner, her second clutch goal in as many games.
Proctor nearly added some insurance when she unleashed a dangerous strike from distance, a shot destined for the lower corner, only to be denied by yet another sensational diving save from Marcello, who kept Wagner in the fight.
With 16:50 remaining, Wagner nearly turned the tables. Forward Megan Knapp pounced on a loose ball at midfield and dashed alone toward goal. But her shot from just inside the box soared over the crossbar, preserving the Retrievers' lead.
UMBC junior goalie
Amara Codd also made a nice save as she leaped into the air to stop a free kick with just under 16 minutes left.
UMBC outshot the Seahawks 19-8 and held a 3-1 margin on corner kicks.
Codd turned aside five shots to secure her second shutout.
UMBC travels to Robert Morris on Thursday evening.
