UMBC Sports Blog

Fall Sports:

Men’s Soccer-
MVP: Andrew Bulls (8 goals, 2 assists)
Freshman of the Year: Andrew Bulls (8 goals,, 2 assists)

Women’s Soccer-
MVP: Morgan Warrington (5 Goals, 1 assist)
Freshman of the Year: Mo Van Vlerah (35 saves, 67.3%)

Volleyball-
MVP: Alyssa Lang (319 kills, 317 digs)
Freshman of the Year: Alyssa Lang (319 kills, 317 digs)

Men’s Cross Country-
MVP: Paul Zwama

Women’s Cross Country-
MVP: Sara Parkinson

Winter Sports:

Men’s Basketball-
MVP: Darryl Proctor (20.0ppg, 8.8rpg, 46.7 FG%)
Freshman of the Year: Chauncey Gilliam (10.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 51.4 FG%)

Women’s Basketball-
MVP: Carlee Cassidy (20.4ppg, 35.8 FG%, 32.1 3-pt%)
Freshman of the Year: Michelle Kurowski (13.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 40.6 FG%)

Men’s Swimming and Diving-
MVP: Justin Bronson

Women’s Swimming and Diving-
MVP: Samantha Maccherola

Men’s Indoor Track and Field-
MVP: Adrian Arthur

Women’s Track and Field-
MVP: Imani Colbert

Spring Sports:

Men’s Lacrosse-
MVP: Jeremy Blevins (151 saves, 54.5%)
Freshman of the Year: Rob Grimm (10 goals, 17 assists, 18 ground balls)

Women’s Lacrosse-
MVP: Kara Dorr (40 goals, 10 assists, 26 ground balls)
Freshman of the Year: Emily Coady (22 goals, 13 assists, 11 ground balls)

Baseball-
MVP: Shawn Retz (.380, 60 hits, 27 runs, .627 Slg%, 9 Home runs)
Freshman of the Year: Max Himmelstein (.303, 40 hits, 18 runs, .432 Slg%, 3 Home runs)

Softball-
MVP: Stephanie Weigman (2.20 ERA, 22-16, 245.0 Innings Pitched, 293 strikeouts)
Freshman of the Year: Keala Mason (.255, 13 hits, 5 runs, .353 SLG%, 1 HR)

Men’s Indoor Track and Field-
MVP: Victor Gilreath

Women’s Track and Field-
MVP: Britney Foreman

Men’s Tennis-
MVP: Fredi Voorman

Women’s Tennis-
MVP: Cornelia Carapcea

Final Awards

Men’s POY: Darryl Proctor
Women’s POY: Stephanie Weigman

Men’s ROY: Andrew Bulls
Women’s ROY: Michelle Kurowski

In a surprising move women’s lacrosse coach Courtney Connor’s contract was not renewed for undisclosed reasons and her assistant Kelly Berger will replace her.

The fact that an assistant coach is taking over means that the athletic department made a coaching change for reasons other than poor performance. Actually the team had their best season in a while and we one win away from the conference tournament and look to be in perfect shape to be contenders next year or the following year. Connor probably left for personal reasons.

Kelly Berger served as Connor’s assistant for the last two years and was named the head coach today.

“I’m really excited,” Berger said. “I know I have a lot to learn, but I feel I’ve had wonderful mentors and believe they have prepared me very well. I’m excited for what the future will bring and I know I have a great administration behind me to support me.”

“Kelly did an outstanding job as our top assistant the last two seasons, and I believe she is ready to step up and coach our Retriever women’s lacrosse team,” Dr. Brown said. “She has been a success as both a player and an assistant coach, and I expect the same as a head coach and look forward to great things from our women’s lacrosse team.”

There is little denying the women’s lacrosse team had a successful season despite missing the conference tournament. There nine wins was a five game improvement from a season ago and the most since 2006 when the wont the regular season conference championship. There success was heavily recognized by the coaches as the end of the season awards were announced.

After leading the conference in save percentage and ranking third in number of saves of eligible players, Kate Quick was honored at the lone retriever on the first team all-America East.

She was not alone on the all-conference teams though. After a leading the team with 40 goals with 10 assists for 50 points, midfielder Kara Dorr was named to the second team. she was joined by sophomore midfielder Ashley Stodter who scored 25 goals with three assists. Junior defender Sarah Willis was also honored after leading the team with 32 ground balls with 16 caused turnovers and lock down defense.

The only unanimous selection for UMBC was freshman Emily Coady on the all-rookie team after starting all but two games at attack with 22 goals and 13 assists.

Dorr, Quick, and Ashley Lancer were also honored for their academic achievements as well. Dorr was one of two unanimous selections after accumulating a 3.72 GPA in political science over her four years. Lancer, who is also in her senior year, has accumulated a 3.60 GPA as a double major in Psychology and Pre-nursing. Quick accumulated a 3.35 GPA in psychology in three years at UMBC.

It was a sad day for the women’s lacrosse team. Not only did they lose to Boston U, but Vermont “upset” Stony Brook to eliminate them from the conference tournament. Abbey Swift eds her career with 99 points after an amazing three goal, four assist day. Kara Dorr scored three goals while Amanda Pappas added two and Emily Coady an Carrie Paris each added one to round out the scoring.

Even tough the team missed out on the conference tournament this year there is one thing that is for sure, they progressed far better than expected this season. In the beginning of the season I would have said they were far away from a championship. Now I can say with confidence if it’s not next year it’s the year after. they lose some good seniors but those juniors got really good and those sophomores and freshman played far above expectations and they have good building blocks in Coady, Paris, Pappas, Meagan Linkous, and Bria Phillips who will make them very competitive for a while.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (9-7, 3-2):
A- Emily Coady (21 goals, 13 assists, 11 ground balls)
A- Abbey Swift (17 goals, 12 assists, 13 ground balls)
M- Kara Dorr (37 goals, 10 assists, 24 ground balls)
M- Ashley Stodter (25 goals, 3 assists, 18 ground balls)
M- Kristen Milligan (1 goal, 0 assists, 5 ground balls) ***5 games
M- Amanda Gable (17 goals, 7 assists, 13 ground balls)
M- Amanda Pappas (26 goals, 8 assists, 27 ground balls)
D- Ashley Lancer (24 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers)
D- Sarah Willis (32 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers)
D- C.J. Durham (15 ground balls, 26 caused turnovers)
D- Meagan Linkous (19 ground balls, 7 caused turnovers)
GK- Kate Quick (138 saves, 50.0save%)

Key Reserves:
A- Carrie Paris (7 goals, 8 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Bria Phillips (18 goals, 7 assists, 14 ground balls)
M- Erika Braerman (9 goals, 11 assists, 8 ground balls)
M- Rachel Pincus (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 ground balls)
D- Kristen Snyder (5 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers) ***six games

Boston U (12-3, 5-0):
A- McKinley Curro (33 goals, 20 assists, 6 ground balls)
A- Xan Weitzel (10 goals, 31 assists, 10 ground balls)
A- Erica Baumgartner (10 goals, 32 assists, 6 ground balls)
A- Traci Landy (44 goals, 5 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Hannah Frey (18 goals, 4 assists, 8 ground balls)
M- Sarah Dalton (71 goals, 9 assists, 44 ground balls)
LSM- Jenny Martin (15 ground balls, 7 caused turnovers)
LSM- Mandy Rogers (16 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers)
LSM- Corcoran Downey (18 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers)
D- Courtney Burd (7 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers)
D- Kelly Munroe (20 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers)
GK- Rachel Klein (128 saves, 46.0 save%)

Key Reserves:
M- Rachel Collins (9 goals, 2 assists, 9 caused turnovers)
M- Steph Walker (4 goals, 0 assists, 3 ground balls)

Boston U isn’t a very deep team, but with that much talent in the starters who needs depth? Sarah Dalton is far and away the best player in the conference and definitely on of the best in the nation. There is a reason Boston U is ranked as high are they are and are undefeated in the conference- they are really good. But they are beatable. Their weakness is their defense. They give up a lot of goals but just outscore everybody by a lot. But any time a defense gives up a lot of goals it’s a good sign for an opponent. If you play a little defense you can definitely beat them. UMBC almost has to win this game to get in the playoffs. If they win they are guaranteed a spot but if they lose they need Stony Brook to upset Vermont to save them their chance to get in. If UMBc comes out confident they can pull off the upset but if they come out and try to play with Boston and not enforce their game it may be gone in the first half.

The game did not matter towards conference but as I said before it gives them a three game winning streak going into a game against top seeded Boston U.

UMBC pretty much sealed the win after the first half as they went in with a 9-2 lead. But they outscored Le Moyne again in the second half 8-5 with five straight goals to end the game.

Ashley Stodter recorded a career high five points with three goals and two assists while Freshman Emily Coady recorded two goals and two assists. Kara Dorr has her first two goal day back from her injury. She also has one assists. Abbey Swift also has a a fine day with one goal and a team high three assists.

Katie Quick recorded nine saves but Susie Sweeney started the game and recorded four saves and allowed just two goals for the win.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (8-7, 3-2):
A- Emily Coady (19 goals, 11 assists, 26 ground balls)
A- Abbey Swift (16 goals, 9 assists, 13 ground balls)
M- Kara Dorr (35 goals, 9 assists, 24 ground balls)
M- Amanda Pappas (23 goals, 8 assists, 26 ground balls)
M- Amanda Gable (16 goals, 7 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Bria Phillips (16 goals, 7 assists, 13 ground balls)
M- Ashley Stodter (22 goals, 1 assist, 17 ground balls)
D- C.J. Durham (13 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers)
D- Meagan Linkous (19 ground balls, 7 caused turnovers)
D- Ashley Lancer (24 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers)
D- Sarah Willis (29 goals, 15 caused turnovers)
GK- Katie Quick (139 saves, 49.2save%)

Key Reserves:
A- Carrie Parris (6 goals, 8 assists, 10 ground balls)
M- Erika Braerman (8 goals, 10 assists, 10 ground balls)
M- Rachel Pincus (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 ground balls)
D- Erika Welck (9 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers)

Le Moyne (5-9):
A- Rebekah Elmer (28 goals, 9 assists, 27 ground balls)
A- McKenzie Gray (8 goals, 25 assists, 15 ground balls)
A- Leah Lazarz (5 goals, 4 assists, 6 ground balls)
A- Jackie Lundblad (11 goals, 6 assists, 4 ground balls)
M- Nerissa Barzee (26 goals, 2 assists, 26 ground balls)
M- Maura Kenville (9 goals, 1 assist, 29 goals)
M- Mia Valletta (25 goals, 4 assists, 15 ground balls)
D- Katlin Walker (10 goals, 1 assists, 30 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers)
D- Kari DeWick (17 ground balls, 1 caused turnover)
D- Jennifer Lewis (6 goals, 2 assists, 19 ground balls, 9 caused turnovers)
D- Caitlin Stevens (25 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers)
GK- Kelly Fucillo (173 saves, 51.0save%

Key Reserves:
A- Michelle Phillips (10 goals, 3 assists, 3 ground balls)
M- Stephanie Dussing (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 ground balls)
D- Carolyn Barry (5 ground balls, 0 caused turnovers)

This game doesn’t really meanmuch to UMBC, but it is an important game to win. If UMBC wins this game they will go to Boston to take on the top team in the conference riding a three game winning streak rather than going in off a loss. Le Moyne has a very very potent offense and can score on the best defenses. Their problem has been their defense. They just give up a lot of goals and with all those attacks on the field it is taking away from their defending midfielders. Even their defenders can score in mass quantities. If UMBC doesn’t watch out this could be an upset game with all that offensive firepower, but if they play the way they have been it should be a win.

There are 60 different scenarios for the final two weeks of the season. Of the 60 different chances the Women’s Lacrosse team has a 60% chance of guaranteeing a spot flat out. Then they have a 20% chance of being in a tie for the final tournament spots. That’s all in all an 86% chance of making the tournament. Also, there is still a 12% chance of hosting the tournament.

The final games are:
Boston U vs. Binghamton
Albany vs. Stony Brook
New Hampshire vs. Vermont
Boston U vs. UMBC
Vermont vs. Stony Brook
New Hampshire vs. Binghamton

The Standings:
Boston U: 4-0
UMBC 3-2
Albany 3-2
New Hampshire- 2-2
Vermont- 2-2
Stony Brook- 1-3
Binghamton- 0-4

Boston U is the only team that is in and Binghamton is the only team that is out. If all goes according to play and there are no upsets the winners would be:
Boston U over Binghamton
Albany over Stony Brook
New hampshire over Vermont
Boston U over UMBC
Vermont over Stony Brook
New Hampshire over Binghamton

The new standings out be:
Boston U: 6-0
Albany: 4-2
New Hampshire: 4-2
Vermont: 3-3
UMBC: 3-3
Stony Brook: 1-5
Binghamton: 0-6

UMBC would be out because they lost to Vermont in the head to head matchup. But in all honest Vermont should lose to Stony Brook which would put UMBC in no question.

The two other most interesting scenarios are:

Boston U over Binghamton
Stony Brook over Albany
Vermont over New Hampshire
Boston U over UMBC
Stony Brook over Vermont
New Hampshire over Binghamton

This would leave the standings as:
Boston U: 6-0
UMBC: 3-3
Albany: 3-3
New Hampshire: 3-3
Vermont: 3-3
Stony Brook: 3-3
Binghamton: 0-6

This would leave a five way tie for three spots as UMBC beat Albany and Stony Brook, Albany beat New Hampshire and Vermont, New Hampshire beat UMBC and Stony Brook, Stony Brook beat Albany and Vermont, and Vermont beat New Hampshire and UMBC.

The last interesting one is:
Binghamton over Boston U
Stony Brook over Albany
Vermont over New Hampshire
UMBC over Boston U
Stony Brook over Vermont
New Hampshire over Binghamton

The standings would be
UMBC: 4-2
Boston U: 4-2
Albany: 3-3
Vermont: 3-3
New Hampshire: 3-3
Stony Brook: 3-3
Binghamton: 1-5

UMBc would host because they have a head to head tie breaker over Boston U but there would also be a four way tied for the final two spots in the tournament.

While all of these are scenarios none of these are out of the question. Boston U is not unstoppable and Binghamton does have the ability to beat then despite what the records say. Also Stony Brook is much better than their record shows.

The tie breaker for the tournament is goals against (only team’s involved in the tie) which will only be known after the final game But currently they stand at:

(The tie breaker looks at toal not per game but with an uneven amount of games being played I will post per game)

Vermont: 9.5 (2 games)
UMBC: 9.8 (4 games)
Albany: 10.3 (3 games)
New Hampshire: 10.3 (3 games)
Stony Brook: 19.5 (2 games)

UMBC is in good shape should it come to a tie. Their number cannot go up, but it can’t go down like the other teams. Unless Stony Brook records two shutouts they cannot even tie UMBC’s goals against so come to a tie breaker situation UMBC has the advantage over then in goals against and if New Hampshire or Albany gives up more than eight goals they have the tie breaker on both of those teams.

Thanks for reading the long drawn out rant but with the rain I have nothing to write about.

This is a huge win. UMBC was not expected to win this game. Last week I said to be a good team you have to beat the team’s you’re supposed to beat, well to be a very good team you have to beat team’s you’re not supposed to beat and that’s what they did. Now if Binghamton plays spoiler to the Terriers next week, the season finale against Boston U game could for home field advantage.

Kara Dorr, Ashley Stodter, and Amanda Pappas all scored two goals while Emily Coady, Amanda Gable, and Abbey Swift each added a goal to the total. But the Defense won the game. Albany cam in with a high powered offense and the defense caused seven turnovers and dominated in ground balls getting 25 to Albany’s 19. But Katie Quick came up huge in the goal getting 9 saves and the win.

UMBC (7-7, 2-2)
A- Emily Coady (18 goals, 11 assists, 8 ground balls)
A- Abbey Swift (15 goals, 9 assists, 11 ground balls)
M- Meagan Linkous (4 goals, 1 assist, 17 ground balls)
M- Kara Dorr (33 goals, 8 assists, 23 ground balls)
M- Bria Phillips (16 goals, 7 assists, 13 ground balls)
M- Carrie Paris (6 goals, 8 assists, 9 ground balls)
M- Amanda Pappas (21 goals, 7 assists, 21 ground balls)
D- Ashley Lancer (20 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers)
D- Sarah Willis (26 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers)
D- C.J. Durham (12 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers)
D- Erika Welck (9 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers)
GK- Kate Quick (120 saves, 48.6save%)

Key Reserves:
A- Ashley Stodter (20 goals, 1 assist, 16 ground balls)
A- Amanda Gable (15 goals, 6 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Rachel Pincus (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 ground balls)

Albany (7-6, 3-1):
A- Jodi Battaglia (27 goals, 1 assist, 10 ground balls)
A- Melanie Sosnowski (10 goals, 1 assist, 7 ground balls)
M- Taylor Frink (19 goals, 8 assists, 23 ground balls)
M- Julie Bush (12 goals, 17 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Mel Rorie (31 goals, 6 assists, 18 ground balls)
M- Rory Redmond (10 goals, 4 assists, 12 ground balls)
M- Kayla Best (36 goals, 10 assists, 18 ground balls)
D- Tricia Primomo (18 ground balls, 8 caused turnovers)
D- Nikki Branchini (32 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers)
D- Caitlin Nevins (7 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers)
D- Sara Wolf (12 ground balls, 7 caused turnovers)
GK- Katie Neer (111 saves, 42.7save%)

Key Reserves:
M- Olivia Jarem (4 goals, 1 assists, 2 ground balls)
D- Jenn Primeau (12 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers)
D- Stephanie Kempf (2 ground balls, 0 caused turnovers)
D- Renee Levitin (6 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers)

Injuries have really limited Albany’s talented bench, but they still have enough to compete with anybody in there starters. Two thirty goal scorers with another just three away from that mark is hard to find on teams. UMBC has won with the next closest nine away. If UMBC wants to compete they have to do well on defense. The defense has good players on it but can struggle as a unit at times. If they avoid mistakes on defense it will really help out the offense. The offense can hang around though. Abbey Swift has been huge lately and her offense seems to be coming back to help out Kara Dorr, Amanda Pappas, and Ashley Stodter as well as the other three 15+ goal scorers on the team.