Sandra Vacarino scored four of the team's 14 goals and was one of five players to start every game this year.

It was not quite the storybook ending for the women’s soccer team this season. This year was a rough campaign. They finish the year 2-14-1 and 1-7-0 in conference play. They were outscored by opponents 51-14, recorded a goal in only six games, and were shutout 11 times this year, and to end the season they loses 5-0 to finish in last place in the America East.

The team was not really expected to do well this season after losing a lot of players in the off season, but to only score 14 goals in a season is quite disappointing.

Against Boston University the team was just outmatched and did not even get off a shot while the Terriers rallied off 31.

Mo Van Vlerah recorded three saves and gave up three goals in the first half. With an understanding that the game was already over Alyssa Radu switched goalies at halftime to give Jaclyn Drummond some work this season and she recorded six saves and gave up two goals in the second half.

While the team loses five seniors, LaShawna Epps, JoAnne Jackson, Katie McKay, Naomi Opaleye, and Arielle Tagger, next year they will return a very talented senior class and all of their starters in hopes to make the conference tournament for the first time since the 2005 season.

UMBC (0-4):
F- Rachel McKee (0 goals, 0 assists, 5 SOG)
F- LeAnne Edgar (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
M- Elyse Bilardo (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M- Sandra Vacarino (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Danielle Kell (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M- JoAnne Jackson (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
B- Katie Gitlin (4 Starts)
B- Christine Sadowski (4 Starts)
B- Aly Garzarek (4 Starts)
B- Erin Johnson (4 Starts)
GK- Mo Van Vlerah (24 saves, 12 goals allowed, .667 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Brooke Piper (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Megan McDonald (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
B- Katie McKay (3 games played)
B- Morgan Andrews (4 games played)

George Washington (2-3-1):
F- Kayley Sullivan (0 goals, 1 assist, 10 SOG)
M- Sierra Smidinger (0 goals, 1 assist, 3 SOG)
M- Misa Eiritz (2 goals, 0 assists, 6 SOG)
M- Brittany Eger (3 goals, 0 assists, 6 SOG)
M- Jillian Morgan (0 goals, 1 assist, 3 SOG)
M- Kristen Slack (0 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG))
B- Molly Bruh (6 sames started)
B- Michelle Aueron (6 games started)
B- Samie Cloutier (6 games started)
B- Emily Gower (6 games started)
GK- Lindsey Rowe (33 saves, 7 goals allowed)

Key Reserves:
F- Adriana Moya (0 goals, 0 assists, 7 SOG)
M- Brittain Schorstein (0 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
M- Ashley Starks (0 goals, 0 assists, 3 SOG)
B- Clare Roche (Six games player)

While UMBC has yet to score a goal they, have had almost two weeks off to figure out that is gong wrong. The alignment will likely be changed in order to get something going. UMBC is going to have a challenge but George Washington is not great at scoring either. Both teams have good goalies that will be hard to get by. The game will rely on them. If the defense and Vlerah play well they could come out with the win, but they still need to score their first goal of the season for themselves.

UMBC (3-0):
F- LeAnne Edgar (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
F- Rachel McKee (0 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
M- JoAnne Jackson (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Sandra Vacarino (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Elyse Bilardo (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M- Danielle Kell (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
B- Erin Johnson (3 Starts)
B- Aly Gazarek (3 starts)
B- Katie Gitlin (3 Starts)
B- Christine Sadowski (3 Starts)
GK- Mo Van Vlerah (17 saves, 11 goals allowed, 60.7 save%)

Key Reserves:
M- Megan McDonald (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Morgan Andrews (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
B- Katie McKay (2 games played)

Towson (2-2):
F- Kaysi Ward (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
F- Erica Marshall (2 goals, 3 assists, 10 SOG)
F- Phylicia Rosselli (3 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
M- Annie Hillin (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
M- Danielle Rosanova (1 goal, 0 assists, 3 SOG)
M- Britney Hadaway (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
B- Samantha Young (4 Starts)
B- Melissa Gomes (4 Starts)
B- Alex Davis (3 Starts)
B- Ashley Ventura (4 Starts)
GK- Kristen Sample (11 Saves, 2 GA, 84.6 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Cheyenne Skidmore (1 goal, 2 assists, 1 SOG)
M- Courtney McKee (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M- Kim Speese (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
D- Jordan Luithle (2 games played)
D- Alex Evitts (3 games played)
D- Courtney Lupinek (4 games played)
D- Sarah Thomas (3 games played)
GK- Jocelyn Papciak (10 saves, 3 GA, 76.9 save%)

UMBC is coming off a really disappointing loss and may be fired up to avenge it in this game. But one thing is for sure: they will have a tough challenge ahead of them. Towson is a pretty good team and what makes them hard to beat is their defense. They are extremely deep on defense and those fresh legs in all the time really help them. With a choice of two very good goalies to put behind them Towson does not allow much through. What UMBC has to do is keep the ball. If they keep the ball and pressure the defense, it doesn’t matter how good they are, they will eventually break. Mo Van Vlerah is a good goalie for UMBC. Her stats don’t show it because the defense has not been playing very well so he has been pelted with shots, but she will keep them in this game. UMBC just has to figure otu a way to get goals, something they haven’t actually done all season, their only goal was an own goal by Bucknell.

The game really looked like UMBC was going to get their first win. Ten minutes into the second half UMBC had a corner kick opportunity that put them on top. While a UMBC player has still yet to score this season, the Bison defender jumped and attempted to head the ball away from danger, but instead of going towards the middle of the field it bounced behind her into the goal, putting UMBC up 1-0. The Retrievers looked to be in good shape the rest of the way. They played great defense Mo Van Vlerah was dominating in goal, recording seven saves on the night.

But then came final five minutes of the game. Bucknell tied the game when Rosemary Walker got past the defender and blasted a shot from 15 yards out for the goal.

While UMBC was still playing well following that goal, with less than two minutes to play Brooke Stokes got the go ahead Bison goal after good passing from her teammates.

So UMBC is now 0-3 and while no player has scored a goal yet they were not shutout. The bright spot once again was Vlerah. She is going to be a very good goalie for UMBC and she is going to keep them in games, the only problem is can the offense help her. It does not matter how good the goalie is, if her offense can’t keep possession and she is constantly pelted with shots and she has no offensive support the team cannot do well. UMBC really has to shoot more but to shoot they need possession more. they were once again out shot by their opponent (17-8) and in the first three games the defense has given up 66 shots.

UMBC (0-2):
F- Brooke Piper (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
F- Rachel McKee (0 goals, 0 assists, 3 SOG)
M- Megan McDonald (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Danielle Kell (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Sandra Vacarino (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Elyse Bilardo (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
D- Erin Johnson (2 Starts
D- Aly Gazarek (2 Starts
D- Katie Gitlin (2 Starts
D- Christine Sadowski (2 Starts
GK- Mo Van Vlerah (9 goals allowed, 10 saves, 52.6 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- LeAnne Edgar (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
M- JoAnne Jackson (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Morgan Andrews (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)

Bucknell (0-2):
F- Brooke Stokes (0 goals, 1 assists, 1 SOG)
F- Megan DeGennaro (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
F- Christa Matlack (0 goals, 0 assists, 3 SOG)
M- Kellian Doherty (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M- Molly Linhart (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
D- Caitlin Holtz (2 Starts)
D- Casey Crowley (2 starts)
D- Kelsey Johnson (2 Starts)
D- Amanda Citron (2 Starts)
D- Lauren Stoller (2 Starts)
GK- Kathryn Sutton (4 goals allowed, 7 saves, 63.6 save%)

Key Reserves:
M- Sadie Canter (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Jenna Tyron (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)

I have a good feeling about this game for UMBC, not because Nucknell is bad *which really helps) but because when you saw how aggressively Rachel McKee has played you know sh’es going to get one past pretty soon. There has honestly only been two bright spots for UMBC, one is McKee and the other is goal keeper Mo Van Vlerah. She did give up nine goals but 10 saves is very good, especially when the opposing teams take 49 shots.

Last game UMBC lost to a down LaSalle team so presumably Alyssa Radu is going to go back to her openning day roster, because the changed didn’t work. With Van Vlerah and McKee playing very well right now it would not be a shock if UMBC edges this game out. They just have to shoot the ball.

UMBC (0-1)-
F: Brooke Piper (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
F: Rachel McKee (0 goals, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
M: Megan McDonald (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M: Danielle Kell (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M: Elyse Bilardo (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M: Sandra Vacarino (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
D: Erin Johnson (1 Start)
D: Aly Gazarek (1 Start)
D: Katie Gitlin (1 Start)
D: Christine Sadowski (1 Start)
GK: Mo Van Vlerah (4 goals allowed, 6 saves, .600 save%)

Key Reserves:
F: LeAnne Edgar (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M: JoAnne Jackson (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)

LaSalle (2-0)-
F: Melanie Gamble (1 goal, 0 assists, 2 SOG)
F: Traci DePasquale (0 goals, 2 assists, 0 SOG)
M: Ally Kennedy (2 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
M: Lauren Barker (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
M: Kierstyn Mabey (1 goal, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
M: Amanda Komarnicki (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
D: Sara Copare (2 Starts)
D: Becky McGuigan (2 Starts)
D: Jess Philips (2 Starts)
D: Carissa Mabey (2 Starts)
GK: Gabby Pakhtigian (0 goals allowed, 9 saves, 1.000 save%)

Key Reserves:
F: Dani Allizzo (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 SOG)
M: Morgan Golden (0 goals, 1 assist, 0 SOG)

LaSalle is another very good team that will test UMBC. While Mo Van Vlerah is turning into a good goal keeper, she can only do so much. For the last three season the team only has 44 goals in 56 games (Including the one game so far in 2009). That type of play absolutely has to stop. To win games you must shoot the ball. Even if it’s not a perfect shot you’re shooting and keeping the defense honest. If you don’t shoot they get confident that they are doing everything right…mostly because if you don’t shoot they are doing everything right. Shots do not have to be completely accurate or always go in. They just have to pressure the defense. If UMBC wants to pull out an upset over LaSalle they have to shoot and shoot and shoot. Eventually a shot or two will go in, but you cannot win with zero goals, which the team has had way too much in recent years.

UMBC (0-0):
F: Brooke Piper (2 goals, 0 assists)
F: LeAnne Edgar (0 goals, 0 assists)
M: JoAnne Jackson (0 goals, 2 assists)
M: Elyse Bilardo (0 goals, 0 assists **only two games)
M: Sandra Vacarino (0 goals, 1 assist)
M: Danielle Kell (1 goal, 2 assists)
B: Erin Johnson (0 goals, 0 assists, 18 starts)
B: Katie McKay (0 goals, 0 assists, 10 starts)
B: Christine Sadowski (1 goal, 1 assists, 17 starts)
B: LaShawna Epps (0 goals, 0 assists, 5 starts)
GL: Mo Van Vlerah (17 goals allowed, 35 saves, .673 save%)

#20 Rutgers (0-0):
F- Caycie Gusman (8 goals, 0 assists)
F- Kristie Lang (1 goal, 1 assist)
F- Ashley Jones (4 goals, 1 assist)
M- Gina Demaio (0 goals, 13 assists)
M- Kelsey Dumont (0 goals, 0 assists)
B- Jasmine Edwards (1 goal, 0 assists, 0 starts)
B- Rheanne Sleiman (0 goals, 0 assists, 21 starts)
B- Ashley Medcalf (1 goal, 0 assists, 22 starts
B- Jenifer Anzivino (0 goals, 1 assist, 22 starts)
B- Becky Wise (1 goal, 1 assists, 21 starts)
GK- Erin Guthrie (14 goals, allowed, 87 saves, .861 save%)

*STATS FROM 2008*

UMBC is very mysterious right now. While nobody really expects them to have a great season, nobody really knows anything about them. The starting lineup is a complete mystery to everybody who follows the team closely. Radu is making a home coming by traveling north to face Rutgers (her former team) and it will be a very tough challenge for them. Rutgers is ranked 20th in the nation and made it to the NCAA tournament’s third round last year. They return all but three starters from that team last year and while the odds are UMBC has no shot to win the game you can never say never, but it would sure be the biggest win possibly in UMBC women’s soccer history.