Ed Stephenson returns to UMBC as the team's associate head coach after having a lot of success as Binghamton's head coach.

Former head coach of the Binghamton Bearcats Ed Stephenson has been named the associate head men’s lacrosse coach at UMBC, head coach Don Zimmerman announced today.

Stephenson served as the head coach of UMBC’s conference-rival since it started in 2001 but resigned midseason after several disagreements with the administration in the Bearcats athletic department. Prior to that job, Stephenson was a full-time assistant for the Retrievers from 1995-2000.

At Binghamton Stephenson built a very successful program that went undefeated in 2004, only the team’s third season, and was named the America East Coach of the Year after the Bearcats had the nation’s top scoring defense. In 2006 Binghamton ranked in the top-20 for the first time, at No. 16.

More than just being a good coach, Stephenson has been a man honored for his high levels of integrity and character. He decided to leave Binghamton because he reportedly felt his players were unfairly treated and in 2004 and 2006 Binghamton earned the National Sportsmanship Award. Binghamton maintained the highest men’s lacrosse team grade-point average and earned the highest percentage of academic honorees in the America East from 2008-2010.

As a players Stephenson earned All-America honors as a defenseman at Towson University in his senior season in 1989 and later captained the South squad in the North-South All-Star Game that year. Then, after graduating and playing for the Pittsburgh Bulls of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1990-1992, Stephenson served an assistant coach for the Tigers until 1995, when he was hired as an assistant under Zimmerman.

Stephenson will primarily work with the team’s defense, replacing former defensive assistant Pat Tracy, who was hired as the associate head coach at High Point just one month ago.

Through 12 minutes UMBC was even with the Great Danes, as the game was tied 2-2 after Amanda Pappas responded to goals from Rachel Burek and Jodi Battaglia, respectively. They the Great Danes’ top-ranked defense took over, shutting UMBC out for nearly 50 minutes, from Pappas’ second goal at 18:15 in the first half to Ashley Stodter’s goal with 2:10 left in regulation.

In that time that UMBC failed to get anything going on offense Albany ripped off nine goals and took an 11-2 lead with less than five minutes to go in the game.

After Stodter ended UMBC’s scoring drought freshman Kristen Bilney scored the team’s fourth goal with eight seconds to go but the game was long over at that point.

Pappas, Natalie Rau, and Erika Braerman were all named to the All-Championship team. Pappas has six goals in the tournament while Rau had 14 saves and Braerman has five points.

Amanda Pappas led UMBC with four goals and had an assists in the victory.

For the second-straight year the women’s lacrosse team will be playing for the America East championship as they beat the team that beat them last year, Boston U, on the road in the semi-finals, 12-11, thanks to an overtime goal by Emily Coady.

With nearly six minutes left in the first overtime period Coady go free for the game-winning goal to give UMBC their first win against the Terriers since 2006.

UMBC trailed by four goals on two different occasions in the second half but by scoring five of the game’s last six goals the Retrievers sent it into overtime where Coady came up with the game-winner.

But this game was willed by UMBC’s seniors, Amanda Pappas and Erika Braerman. Pappas scored four goals and has an assists while Braerman scored two goals and had three assists. That dup had a hand in eight of the team’s goals.

Boston U scored the first two goals of the game at 21:48 and 19:41 and after Braerman netted UMBC’s first goal of the game, the Terriers scored back-to-back goals again to take a 4-1 lead over the Retrievers. But once the clock went below seven minutes UMBC started to heat upp on offense. At 6:54 Pappas netted a pass from Braerman and 51 seconds later another senior, Ashley Stodter, scored her first of two goals off an assist from Braerman.

Danielle Etrasco gave Boston a 5-3 lead at 2:17 but with 23 seconds left before the break Pappas scored her second goal of the game from a free position shot to make it a one goal game.

Only 48 seconds out of the break Lindsay Cox tied the game but the Terriers ripped off four-straight goals, giving them a four goal lead on UMBC with 17:50 left in the second half and after Stodter scored her second goal, which was assisted by Pappas, Molly Swain scorer her third of four goals to put UMBC down four goals again.

Then, something clicked for the Retrievers. Braerman scored on a free position goal with 13:50 left in the second half and 25 seconds later Cox scored her second of three goals to make it a two goals game. Two and a half minutes later Pappas scored her third goal of the game, which was assisted to Braerman to make it a one goal difference.

Even though Swain put UMBC down by two goals three and a half minutes later, UMBC battled back and Cox and Pappas each scored again in the final three minutes. Cox scored after a dodge and cut inside with 2:33 left in the second half and Pappas tied it with only 1:55 left in regulation off a free position shot.

In overtime, neither team got many looks but Coady hit the deciding shot to send UMBC to the America East championship game on Saturday, where they will play Albany at 1:00.

Rob Grimm scored a career-high four goals but his efforts were not enough to get a victory.

Hartford just seems to have UMBC’s number. It’s been three years since the last time the Retrievers beat Hartford and Wednesday night they dropped their fourth-straight game against them, 14-11, ending their hopes of a late tournament run.

Things started out perfectly for the Retrievers. Through the first ten minutes they found themselves with a 4-1 lead over Hartford.

While Ryan Compitello responded to UMBC’s opening goal at 13:35 only five seconds later, the Retrievers ripped off three-straight scorers courtesy of Rob Grimm, Scott Jones, and Joe Lustgarten. But at 2:54 Ben Knapton scored his first goal of the season for the Hawks and that sparked a six goal run over a nine minutes span.

Following Knapton’s goal Carter Bender got free for a shot after making a dodge and run at the goal to make it a 4-3 game after the first quarter. Then, Martin Bowes tied the game one and a half minutes into the second quarter before Carter Bender scored his first of three goals three minutes later to give Hartford the lead. They built on that lead they Compitello netted his second of three goals in a man-up situation at 8:08 and only five ticks of the clock there they took a three goal lead over UMBC when Tim Fallon scored after running up the field after a face-off.

UMBC did respond when Grimm scored back-to-back goals to close out the first half, making it a 7-6 game in favor of the Hawks, but they could not extend that into a run in the second half.

Bowes scored another goal a few minutes into the second half and though Ryan Johnston made it a one goal game again at 7:09 in the third, Hartford scored five of the games next six goals to give them a five-goal lead with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Bender started the run with 2:28 left in the third quarter and a few seconds later Jared Franze made it a 10-7 game at the end of the third quarter. Only 19 seconds into the fourth quarter Compitello completed his hat trick and after Grimm scored his career-high fourth goal of the game, Franze netted back-to-back goals, both assists by Rory Nunamacher, pretty much clinching the win for the Hawks.

But in the final six minutes the Retrievers did not go out with a fight. UMBC scored three of the final four goals in the game after Jamie Kimbles scored at 5:57 and Joe Lustgarten scored back-to-back Retriever goals but it was far from enough to get a win as UMBC got knocked out of the first round of the America East tournament for the second time in as many years.

Though UMBC was a perfect 19-for-19 in clears, Hartford dominated ground balls, 35-24, and beat UMBC on face-offs, 19-10.

Alicia Krause led UMBC in five different statistical categories.

Jamie Fahey was definitely one of the conference's top defenders when she was healthy.

When you’re team is really good your players get recognized. That’s the exact situation the women’s lacrosse team is in. With a 10-6 record with four of those wins coming in the team’s six conference games, UMBC is having a fine season and because of that six Retrievers saw their names listed on the all-conference team.

Junior midfielder Alicia Krause and sophomore defender Jamie Fahey were both named to the all-conference first team while seniors Erika Braerman, Amanda Pappas, and C.J. Durham were all second team honorees. Freshman midfielder Kristen Bilney was a unanimous selection to the all-rookie team.

Krause came in this season in better shape and found herself in a new position and she thrived in the role as a midfielder. She lead the team with 35 goals, 50 points, 28 grounds balls, 26 draw controls, and 18 caused turnovers. She also had 15 assists this season and scored at least one point in every game, with at least one goal in 15 of the team’s 16 games. This season she had a team-best 14 multi-point performances and 10 multi-goal performances with six hat tricks.

Fahey, the 2010 America East Rookie of the year and second team honoree, was selected to the conference’s first team despite missing the final three games with a season-ending injury. But when she was healthy she was a force and definitely one of the conference’s top defenders. She had 25 ground balls and 18 draw controls with 12 caused turnovers this season. Fahey was the anchor of the team’s defense that allowed only 9.69 goals per game through the team’s first 13 games but since her absence UMBC has allowed more than one goal more per contest.

For the second year in a row Braerman and Pappas had their names listed on the all-conference second team. Braerman leads UMBC with 18 assists and is second on the team with 48 points. Her 1.12 assists per game and 3.00 points per game both rank sixth in the conference while her 30 goals this season rank third on the team.

Pappas, on the other hand, is tied for Krause for team lead in goals with 35 and ranks third on the team with 40 points. She also has 14 ground balls, 16 draw controls, and nine caused turnovers this year. She is UMBC’s active leading scorer with 108 career goals and 134 career points. She has scored a goal in each of the team’s last 12 games and has seven hat tricks this season.

UMBC’s active leader in ground balls with 70 is Durham and in her final year she picked up a second team all-conference selection. This year she ranks second on the team with 14 caused turnovers and has 17 ground balls.

Finally, leaving the future looking bright for the Retrievers, Bilney, who started 13 games this year, was an all-rookie team selection after ranking second on the team with 18 draw controls while scoring eight goals with 11 points and causing 10 turnovers and scooping nine grounf balls.

With 22 goals this year, Scott Jones was far and away UMBC's best scorer.

It seems like it has been a long time since the UMBC men’s lacrosse team was without a representative on the America East all-conference first team but in 2011 the Retrievers had three be selected to the all-conference second team.

Scott Jones, Jamie Kimbles, and Sam McKelvey represented all three areas of the field for UMBC on the all conference list.

Jones was an afterthought coming into this year, scoring only two goals last season. But he was far and away UMBC’s most dangerous scorer this year. Jones scored a team-high 22 goals this season, five of which came against Albany on April 16, which was the most goals by a Retrievers since Matt Latham scored six on April 17, 2010. He has scored a point in all but one game this year and has the game-winning goal in all three of UMBC’s conference victories.

Meanwhile, Kimbles not only had to take on the responsibility as the team’s co-captain this season as a senior but he also had to work through an early season injury that made him miss most of the preseason. But when Kimbles finally got healthy he was a force and while he put up a respectable nine goals with eight assists, the more impressive part of his game was how he moved the ball around the field and managed the Retrievers’ offense. He scored four of his goals against Albany, where he also had two assists.

McKelvey was the final Retriever on the all-conference second team. Last year McKelvey was primarily used on the team’s man-down unit but this year he worked his way into the starting line up and was one of UMBC’s most disciplined defenders. He recorded 16 ground balls, caused four turnovers, and was only whistled for one foul all season.

Two other Retrievers were honored on the all-conference list. Zach Linkous was named to the conferences’ all-rookie team after playing in every game this season, starting six of them in the midfield, and scoring six goals with four assists. He had three multi-point games in his initial campaign.

Sophomore Neill Lewnes was named to the conference’s all-academic squad. The financial economics major battled through injuries this season but saw time in every game and recorded 40 ground balls and caused six turnovers while scoring six goals and having two assists.

It’s something about Scott Bement. He has some huge games against UMBC and this time in Hartford’s 10-6 victory over UMBC he saved 14 shots. Offensively, one again, it was Carter Bender that did all of the damage to the Retrievers as he had three goals with one assist while Aidan Genik and Martin Bowes each has two goals and one assist.

Scott Jones led the Retrievers with two goals while Rob Grimm scored one goal with two assists but Hartford had eight more ground balls that UMBC and caused seven turnovers while the Retrievers failed to cause any.

Hartford got started early with the games first three goals, the first two coming from Ganik and the third coming from Martin Bowes.

Jones got UMBC on the board with less than two minutes left in the first quarter off an assist from Grimm and the Retrievers managed to tie the game after goals from Zach Linkous and Ryan Johnston.

After Hartford snapped their 15 minutes scoring drought with Bowes’ second goal of the game Jones netted his second goal of the game with 1:21 left in the first half to make it a 4-4 game at the break.

But coming out of the second half the Hawks were on fire, shutting out the Retrievers in the third quarter and scoring five-straight goals, the last three coming from Bender.

UMBC’s first goal of the second half came with less than four minutes to go in the game when Scott Hopmann scored and after Rory Nunamacher scored Rob Grimm gave UMBC their sixth goal of the game with 2:08 left but at that point the game was over.

Now UMBC will have to travel back to Hartford on Wednesday for a rematch in the America East semifinals.

Lindsay Cox was one of three Retrievers to score three goals against Albany.

One goal – that was the difference between the women’s lacrosse team being the top seed in the America East tournament and being the third seed in the America East tournament.

Last year UMBC had no pressure on them when they went up against Albany in the semi-finals of the America East tournament and that lack of pressure led to a huge upset from the Retrievers and put them in the tournament finals.

This time around there was a lot more pressure, not only were the Retrievers in contention to win the conference tournament but they also were the final opponent in the regular season between Albany and a perfect season.

Two and a half minutes into the game Erika Braerman gave the Retrievers a 1-0 lead with a free position shot but Albany took a 9-6 lead into the half after Jodi Battaglia scored three goals and Ariana Parker and Rachael Burek each scored two goals.

Parker and Battaglia his back-to-back goals following Braerman’s scored but Braerman tied things up at 18:43 and just over a minute later Amanda Pappas gave the Retrievers the lead back.

Albany responded with back-to-back goals again, both from Burek but Emily Coady tied the game with a goal at 10:28.

Then the Great Danes separated themselves. Albany scored four-straight goals over the nest seven and a half minutes with the final two coming from Battaglia.

Alicia Krause ended UMBC’s nine and a half minute scoring drought with a goal with 1:00 left and after Frink scored with 27 seconds left Lindsay Cox netted a goal with five seconds left to make it only a three-goal game at the break.

The Retrievers made a valiant effort in the second half. Pappas, Cox, and Braerman each completed their hat tricks in the second half but nobody else on the team could find the net and Albany did just enough to get by and take the top seed in the tournament while bumping UMBC down to the three seed, where they will face Boston University in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Jamie Kimbles

A – Joe Lustgarten (2 g, 6 a, 2 GB)
A – Scott Jones (17 g, 6 a, 9 GB)
A – Ryan Johnston (4 g, 0 a, 5 GB)
M – Dave Brown (12 g, 10 a, 8 GB)
M – Jamie Kimbles (7 g, 7 a, 5 GB)
M – Zach Linkous (5 g, 4 a, 3 GB)
D – Aaron Verardi (14 GB, 4 CT)
D – Sam McKelvey (13 GB, 4 CT)
D – David Stock (13 GB, 5 CT)
GK – Brian McCullough (74 a, 76 GA, 49.3 s%)
FO – Phil Poe (44-46, 47.6 FO%, 25 GB)

Key Reserves

A – Rob Grimm (10 g, 14 a, 8 GB)
A – Greg Korvin (3 g, 0 a, 2 GB)
M – Scott Hopmann (10 g, 1 a, 9 GB)
M – Neill Lewnes (6 g, 2 a, 36 GB, 6 CT)
SSM – Tony Spada (5 GB,. 4 CT)
SSM – Brian Patton (1 g, 2 GB, 1 CT)
SSM – J.D. Harkey (1 g, 1 a, 17 GB, 4 CT)
LSM – Ethan Murphy (1 g, 19 GB, 6 CT)
LSM – Nathan Klein (6 GB, 3 CT)
D – Riley Hansen (5 GB, 1 CT)
D – Tim Shaeffer (1 g, 8 GB, 5 CT)
FO – Joe Impallaria (33-36, 47.8 FO%, 18 GB)

Key Wins
Binghamton – 8-6
@ Albany – 13-9

Key Losses
Johns Hopkins – 16-5
@ Stony Brook – 16-5

Goals Per Game 8.60
Goals Allowed Per Game 11.30

Vermont (6-7, 1-2 AE)

Drew Philie

A – Geoff Worley (17 g, 15 a, 17 GB)
A – Thomas Galvin (13 g, 6 a, 6 GB)
A – Drew Philie (28 g, 10 a, 24 GB)
M – Garrett Virtue (3 g, 6 a, 5 GB)
M – A.J. Masson (8 g, 19 a, 30 GB, 15 CT)
M – Luke Ryder (10 g, 2 a, 1 GB)
D – Evan O’Brien (16 GB, 15 CT)
D – Derek Braig (13 GB, 3 CT)
D – Augie Remien (4 GB, 3 CT)
GK – David Barton (132 s, 107 GA, 55.2 s%)
FO – Tom Frasca (118-104, 53.2 FO%, 50 GB)

Key Reserves

A – Conner McNamara (12 g, 1 a, 3 GB)
A – Derek Lichtfuss (3 g, 1 GB, 1 CT)
M – Kyle Sminkey (13 g, 1 a, 1 GB)
M – Ahmad Zachary (4 g, 1 a, 7 GB)
M – Cal Case (1 g, 1 a, 1 GB)
M – Kodie Englehart (0 g, 2 a, 6 GB)
M/FO – Andrew Muscara (2 g, 1 a, 21 GB, 3 CT, 25-20, 55.6 FO%)
LSM – Max Gradinger (1 g, 49 GB, 18 CT)
D – Granger Jewett (15 GB, 3 CT)
D – Matt Jankow (7 GB, 2 CT)

Key Wins
Holy Cross – 15-5
Albany – 11-6

Key Losses
Binghamton – 8-7 (OT)
Dartmouth – 9-7)

Goals Per Game 8.85
Goals Allowed Per Game 8.46

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It’s senior day and that means UMBC has a bunch of guys out there playing, wanting to send their seniors off with a victory in their final regular season home game. But adding to their desire to get a big victory over Vermont, which would be their fourth-straight if they do, a win would mean they could be playing Hartford next week in Hartford for the rights to play a home semi-final game in the America East tournament as the number two seed, or if a miracle happens, they would be hosting it. But for either situation to happen, they have to win and while UMBC has dominated this matchup Vermont is a much improved team this year with a very good defense. Both teams score roughly the same number of goals but Vermont is allowing less than nine per game, so they are always in a position to win games. But what makes them so dangerous is that they have so many players on offense that can score. They may not all get on the same page in the same game, but they have five guys that can have a huge game and lead their team to a victory.

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Starters

UMBC
A – Joe Lustgarten, Rob Grimm, Scott Jones
M – Dave Brown, Jamie Kimbles, Zach Linkous
D – Aaron Verardi, Sam McKelvey, David Stock
GK – Brian McCullough

Vermont
A – Geoff Worley, Thomas Galvin, Drew Philie
M – Garrett Virtue, A.J. Masson, Luke Ryder
D – Evan O’Brien, Matt Jankow, Granger Jewett
GK – David Barton

No surprises at all in Don Zimmerman’s lineup, he’s going with the lineup that has won his team three-straight games, the only difference is that instead of Ryan Johnston, who has served much better off the bench, has been replaced by Rob Grimm, UMBC’s leading scorer.

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First Quarter

13:50
It’s rainy here in Catonsville, the field is slick, guys are slipping, not getting good passes off, and there has already been a bunch of dropped passes.

12:51
Geoff Worley has a point-blank shot at UMBC’s goal but Brian McCullough got his stick up for the high save.

11:59 – UMBC Goal
Connor Finch scored his first career goal after a dodge to the left right in front of the crease, getting the ball past David Barton’s right side. 1-0 UMBC

10:56
David Stock got called for a hold, Vermont will have an EMO for 30 seconds.

10:22 – Vermont Goal
The second UMBC got even Thomas Galvin ripped in a shot off a pass from Geoff Worley, just inside the left post of the goal. 1-1

9:13 – Vermont Goal
Brian McCullough saved a shot but it bounced out of his stick and Vermont was able to regain possession. Twenty seconds later Drew Philie ripped in a shot off a pass from Thomas Galvin. 2-1 Vermont

8:24 – UMBC Goal
Jamie Kimbles came storming around the goal from the left to right and blasted a shot into the far side ti even things up. 2-2

6:55
Zach Linkous was bumped around in traffic right in front of the crease but got a high shot off, however, David Barton got his stick up for a save.

5:49
Vermont caused a turnover on their end of the field, Thomas Galvin got a shot up but Brian McCullough made the one-on-one save.

4:55 – UMBC Goal
Freshman Connor Finch scored his second goal of the season on senior day. 3-2 UMBC

4:33 – Vermont Goal
Geoff Worley came right down the middle of the field, got the pass from A.J. Masson and put it in the bottom of the net. 3-3

4:29
After the goal Vermont got the face-off, came right down the field but Andrew Muscara’s shot got saved by McCullough, his third of the game.

1:43 – Vermont Goal
A.J. Masson was getting hammered by the UMBC defense inside but somehow managed to get a shot off and it went low past McCullough to give Vermont a lead. 4-3 Vermont

On the play Brian Patton got called for an illegal body check, and Vermont will have an EMO for one minute.

1:25
Timeout UMBC, Don Zimmerman is going to attempt to settle his guys down right now.

0:01
Jamie Kimbles ripped a shot from about 15 yards out but David Barton got his second save of the game.

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End of the First Quarter – Vermont 4, UMBC 3

Connor Finch might be pulling a Bobby Stockton, who four years ago on senior day went from an unknown player to recording a hat trick to lead the team to a victory. Now the defense has to settle down and they’ll be fine.

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Second Quarter

13:48
Vermont midfielder Luke Ryder got called for an illegal body check, giving UMBC a man advantage for one minute.

12:33
Derek Lichtfuss had a one-on-one shot right in front of the goal but Brian McCullough made his fourth save of the game.

8:49 – UMBC Goal
In transition, Scott Jones threw the ball up the field to Rob Grimm, who got a low shot in the goal from just outside the crease on the left side. 4-4

8:14 – UMBC Goal
Rob Grimm returned the favor, getting the ball to Scott Jones running right around the goal from left to right, and Jones put it in the side of the net for the go-ahead goal. 5-4 UMBC

5:00 – Vermont Goal
A.J. Masson was behind the goal, got the ball to Geoff Worley on the opposite side of the cage. Worley spun around and ripped the shot high to even the score. 5-5

1:36
Vermont got called for a push right outside of the crease. UMBC will have an EMO for 30 seconds.

1:21 – UMBC Goal
Jamie Kimbles strikes again early in the man-up situation, scoring off a pass from Scott Jones to take the lead. 6-5 UMBC

1:00 – UMBC Goal
Right as the clock hit one minute Rob Grimm scored his second goal of the game to give UMBC a two-goal advantage. 7-5 UMBC

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Halftime: UMBC 7, Vermont 5

Things were a little rough for UMBC early on but they settled down in the second quarter and outscored the Catamounts 4-1 to takes a 7-5 lead at halftime. Rob Grimm, Jamie Kimbles, and Conor Finch all had two goals for UMBC will Scott Jones has one and two assists.

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Third Quarter

13:04
Vermont defender Derek Braig gets called for a push, giving UMBC an EMO for 30 seconds.

8:04
Thomas Galvin got caught offsides, UMBC will have an EMO for up to 30 seconds.

7:25 – UMBC Goal
It’s been a sloppy third quarter but Scott Jones extended UMBC’s three to three after shooting a ball past two Vermont defenders on a Jamie Kimbles assist. 8-5 UMBC

5:46 – Vermont Goal
Brian McCullough got the ball, made a cross the field pass but got picked off by Drew Phili. Phili got the ball up to Goeff Worley and he beat McCullough back to the net. 8-6 UMBC

2:15 – Vermont Goal
Drew Phili recorded his third point of the game after getting the ball to Cal Case for a goal to cut UMBC’s lead to one. 8-7 UMBC

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End of the Third Quarter – UMBC 8, Vermont 7

Vermont is putting up a big fight and are not letting UMBC run away with this one at all.

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Fourth Quarter

14:47
Max Gradinger got called for a 30 second push and Granger Jewett got called for an illegal body check, which is one minute, unreleasable. UMBC will have a two man advantage for 30 seconds.

9:09 – Vermont Goal
Thomas Galvin ties the game after coming around from behind the left side of the goal and getting inside the Retriever defender for the shot into the top of the goal. 8-8

5:28 – Timeout Vermont
UMBC is not playing fluid offense in this second half, managing only one goal after the break. But right now this game could go either way.

4:15
David Stock got called for a slash, giving Vermont an EMO for one minute.

2:49
A.J. Masson held Jamie Kimbles, UMBC will have an man advantage for 30 seconds.

1:37
Scott Jones got called for an offsides penalty, Vermont will have an advantage for 30 seconds.

0:54 – UMBC Timeout
We’re all even now and now Zimmerman is calling a timeout to get his team ready for an attempt at the game-winning goal.

0:41 – UMBC Goal
Scott Jones gets a pass from Joe Lustgarten, runs right at the goal and nets it low and to the left for the go-ahead score. 9-8 UMBC

0:33 – UMBC Timeout
UMBC will have the ball after the timeout from outside of the box, making them capable of running the rest of the time off the clock.

0:09 – Vermont Timeout
Vermont forced a turnover, got the ball inside the box and called the timeout so they can try to tie the game.

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Final Score: UMBC 9, Vermont 8

UMBC escaped with their fourth-straight win thanks to a huge game from Scott Jones, who recorded three goals and had two assists while Rob Grimm, Jamie Kimbles, and Conor Finch each scored two goals.

Now UMBC is set up for a battle for second-place and the right to host a semi-final game next weekend against Hartford.

More to come

Erika Braerman scored two goals and had an assist on senior day.

The seniors stepped up on senior day. Amanda Pappas scored UMBC’s first three goals and Erika Braerman netted two goals and an assist as the Retrievers got by the Bearcats of Binghamton, 9-8 in a very rough game consisting of 54 fouls, eight yellow cards, and 25 turnovers.

The emotion of senior day may have gotten to the Retrievers early on and not even four minutes in UMBC found themselves behind by two goals but Amanda Pappas netted back-to-back goals to draw even. and after Kristen Stone gave the Bearcats a lead again, Pappas completed her hat trick to tie the game at three each.

Ali Castiglie gave Binghamton the lead again with her first of three goals but with 1:07 left in the first half Kristen Bilney scorer for the eighth time this year to re-tie the game. Then, with one tick left on the clock Braerman netted her first goal of the game to give UMBC their first lead of the game.

UMBC extended the run to three 10 seconds into the second half when Alicia Krause scorer her first or two goals following the opening face-off in the second half.

But Binghamton did not make things easy and kept responding and outscored UMBC 3-1 over the next nine minutes to draw even at seven each.

Braerman gave UMBC the go-ahead goal with just under 10 minutes left in the game but Binghamton once again found a way to even the score when Beth Moore scored her third goal of the game with 8:43 left in the game.

But with exactly 8:00 left in the game Ashley Stodter scored her first goal of the game and extended her scoring streak with the game-winning goal.

Goals were at a premium for UMBC as Binghamton keeper Lauren Scott was phenomenal with 14 saves in 60 minutes.

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UMBC (9-5, 3-1 AE)

Lauren Mundell

A – Erika Braerman (25 g, 16 a, 4 GB, 3 CT)
A – Ashley Stodter (24 g, 2 a, 20 GB, 9 CT)
A – Lindsay Cox (10 g, 1 a, 5 GB, 3 CT)
M – Alicia Krause (32 g, 14 a, 25 GB, 15 CT)
M – Amanda Pappas (29 g, 5 a, 14 GB, 7 CT)
M – Meagan Linkous (1 g, 1 a, 7 GB. 5 CT)
M – Kristen Milligan (17 GB,3 CT)
D – C.J. Durham (14 GB, 14 CT)
D – Jessica Harkey (10 GB, 5 CT)
D – Lauren Mundell (13 GB, 9 CT)
GK – Natalie Rau (80 s, 110 GA, 42.1 save%)

Key Reserves

A – Emily Coady (19 g, 9 a, 6 GB)
M – Kristen Bilney (7 g, 3 a, 7 GB, 8 CT)
M – Madi Bell (3 g, 4 a, 13 GB, 8 CT)

Key Wins:
New Hampshire – 10-8
Stony Brook – 10-8

Key Losses:
@ Boston U – 13-9
Johns Hopkins – 12-7

Goals Per Game: 11.14
Goals Against Per Game: 9.86

Binghamton (3-10, 1-2 AE)

Beth Moore

A – Kimberly McGeever (10 g, 4 a, 13 GB, 1 CT)
A – Lis Zuern (27 g, 11 a, 9 GB, 4 CT)
A – Ali Castigle (27 g, 7 a, 14 GB, 3 CT)
M – Beth Moore (31 g, 1 a, 28 GB, 17 CT)
M – Lizzie Wright (5 g, 3 a, 11 GB, 7 CT)
M – Lena Amalfitano (4 GB, 4 CT)
D – Siobhan Menz (1 g, 31 GB, 12 CT)
D – Lindsay Vona (6 GB, 7 CT)
D – Lauren Lukefahr (1 g, 23 GB, 20 CT)
D – Kristin Pennino (11 GB, 12 CT)
GK – Lauren Scott (118 s, 159 GA, 42.6 save%)

Key Reserves

A – Lindsay Angelillo (4 g, 4 GB, 1 CT)
M – Katherin Hunsberger (6 g, 10 GB, 8 CT)
M – Brittany Stufano (2 g, 1 a, 7 GB, 3 CT)
M – Amanda Hughes (2 g, 5 GB, 6 CT)
M – Casey Bulman (1 g, 1 a, 6 GB, 1 CT)
M – Allie Sabitus (1 g, 2 GB, 1 CT)

Key Wins:
Niagara – 20-8
Vermont – 14-13

Key Losses:
Boston U – 15-6
Stony Brook – 10-9

Goals Per Game: 9.23
Goals Against Per Game: 12.23

*Projected Starters

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UMBC has not played particularly great their last four game, even their wins were too close for comfort, so last game Kelly Berger made a couple changes in her lineup hoping to find something to spark the team. But it didn’t work. With the loss of Jamie Fahey on the defensive end of the field the women’s lacrosse team was outrun by Johns Hopkins as their fastest player and possibly best defender is done for the season. But they still have plenty of offensive talent on the team and can make huge runs against any team that goes against them.

As for Binghamton, they are a better team than their record says, many of their games they’ve been in until their opponents made late runs to make things look worse than they were. Binghamton is a scrappy defensive team but they’re going to be going up against a very emotional women’s lacrosse team that want to give their seniors a senior day victory.

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Starters

UMBC
A – Erika Braerman, Emily Coady
M – Alicia Krause, Ashley Stodter, Kristen Milligan, Kristen Bilney, Amanda Pappas, Madi Bell
D – Meagan Linkous, Jessica Harkey, C.J. Durham
GK – Natalie Rau

Binghamton
A – Lindsay Angelillo, Lis Zuern, Ali Castigle
M – Beth Moore, Lizzie Wright, Katherin Hunsberger, Amanda Hughes
D – Siobhan Menz, Lindsay Vona, Lauren Lukefahr, Kristin Pennino
GK – Lauren Scott

The one time I don’t project Emily Coady in the starting lineup she gets back in. There aren’t too many changes from last game, except Coady is in for Lindsay Cox, which is presumably a strategy to get more offense.

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First Quarter

29:13 – Binghamton Goal
UMBC is down a goal quick after Katherine Hunsberger took an inside pass from Lis Zuern and put it in the top right corner of the goal. 1-0 Bing

27:49 – Binghamton Goal
Beth Moore made a dodge right in front of the goal and got the ball right past Natalie Ray on the one-on-one situation. 2-0 Bing

25:48 – UMBC Goal
Emily Coady came around the back of the net from the right side and passed it right inside to Amanda Pappas, who put it right in the top of the goal for the score. 2-1 Bing

24:48
Binghamton keeper Lauren Scott made a pass out to the left side of the field and had the pass knocked down by Ashley Stodter. Stodter scooped up the ground ball, shot it high after running in toward the goal, but Scott made the save.

22:10 – UMBC Goal
Alicia Krause made a dodge inside and got the ball up to Amanda Pappas and from just outside the crease she put the ball in the right side of the goal to tie things up. 2-2 Ties

21:34
Emily Coady had a free position shot saved but the ball bounced off Lauren Scott’s stick and as Binghamton scrambles to get it back it went out of bounced, giving UMBC the ball back.

21:04
Alicia Krause was fouled and given a free position shot but Lauren Scott recorded her fourth save of the game.

18:56
Amanda Pappas was fouled and given a free position shot but it bounced right in front of the goal and went wide.

15:44 – Binghamton Goal
Kristen Stone was given a free position shot after a UMBC foul and two UMBC yellow cards, one on Kristen Bilney one on the team. 3-2 Bing

15:19
A yellow card on Binghamton evened the field to 10 on 10 but Erika Braerman sent the shot wide on a free position shot.

12:31
Krause rolled around a Binghamton defender and got a clear look at the goal but Lauren Scott recorded her sixth save in the first 18 minutes of the game.

9:31
Ashley Stodter was given a shooting space foul but sent the free position shot way high and way wide.

8:13 – UMBC Goal
Amanda Pappas is stepping up on senior day after taking an inside pass from Erika Braerman for her third goal of the game. 3-3

5:51
Madi Bell stormed right up the middle of the field and hit a shot in the top of the goal but it was taken back but her momentum carried her into the crease and it was taken away.

4:45 – Binghamton Goal
Right after the turnover by UMBC Binghamton ran up the field, made a few passes, drew a foul and Ali Castigle scored high on the free position shot. 4-3 Bing

1:27
Liz Zuern got a yellow card and UMBC will have an advantage for the remainder of the first half anf for the first 1:33 of the second half.

1:07 – UMBC Goal
UMBC storms up the field after the card and Kristen Bilney scored on a high shot to tie it up four. 4-4

0:01 – UMBC Goal
One tick left on the clock and senior Erika Braerman storms around the right side of the goal and blasts a low shot through traffic to the bottom of the goal. 5-4 UMBC

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Halftime – UMBC 5, Binghamton 4

This is one sloppy game, there are a combined 35 fouls and 17 turnovers between the two teams but Amanda Pappas is stepping up big time in her final regular season home game and scored UMBC’s first three goals but any score is hard to come by with Lauren Scott in goal for the Bearcats as she had nine saves in the first half.

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29:50 – UMBC Goal
Right after the opening draw control Alicia Krause ran right down the middle of the field and put the ball in the net to double UMBC’s lead. 6-4 UMBC

26:18 – Binghamton Goal
Ali Castigle came around the left side of the goal, made a cut to get to the outside of the UMBC defender and put her shot right past Natalie Rau’s head. 6-5 UMBC

22:26 – UMBC Goal
Alicia Krause took an inside pass made a cut to the outside and put the ball in the top of the goal to re-establish a two goal leads for UMBC. 7-5 UMBC

21:22 – Binghamton Goal
After a foul down UMBC’s side of the field Binghamton got the ball, got up the field in a hurry, and Beth Moore blasted the shot high into the goal to cut UMBC’s lead in half again. 7-6 UMBC

Following the goal Kendall Mason replaced Natalie Rau in goal.

20:56
Kristen Bilney was called for a yellow card, her second of the game, ejecting her from the game but after three minutes UMBC can sub back in. There was also a yellow card on Lis Zuern, which was her second so she is also out for the rest of the game.

17:00 – Binghamton Goal
Ali Castiglie scored her third goal of the game after a cross check just outside the crease gave her a free position shot. 7-7

UMBC called a timeout after the Binghamton goal and Natalie Rau is back in the cage.

11:25
Natalie Rau came up with a big save after Beth Moore ran right at her after a free position shot.

9:36 – UMBC Goal
Erika Braerman ran around the goal from the right side and while she was making her way to the left she blasted a shot low to give UMBC the lead. 8-7 UMBC

8:43 – Binghamton Goal
Beth Moore scored her third goal of the game with an inside cut to the goal. 8-8

8:00 – UMBC Goal
Senior Ashley Stodter scores her first goal of the game from right in front of the goal on a low shot. 9-8 UMBC

2:28
Binghamton’s Lindsay Vona gets a yellow card, she’s out for the left of regulation.

1:51
Beth Moore gets called for a foul and gets handed a yellow card so Binghamton is two down for the rest of regulation.

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Final Score – UMBC 9, Binghamton 8

UMBC escapes with a rough win to improve to 4-1 in conference play.

More to come after I chat with the players!