UMBC

Freshman Danielle Guldner scored three points against Vermont with her first career goal and assist.

Burlington, Vt.-Kelly McClintock scored a school-record four goals to lead Vermont (4-7, 1-0 America East) past the UMBC field hockey team (1-8, 0-1 America East) in both squads’ America East Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Archie Post Field.

McClintock took a feed from teammate Megan Maynard just 0:31 into the game to give the Catamounts an early 1-0 lead. But the Retrievers tied it up less than two minutes later, as senior attack Katie Cutchall (Hustontown, Pa./Forbes Road) converted a pass from freshman attack Danielle Guldner (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) at 2:22. The goal was Cutchall’s third on the season and gives her a team-leading eight points, while the assist was the first of Guldner’s career.

McClintock tallied three more times in the next six and a half minutes, twice on dishes from Danielle Collins and once unassisted, to give Vermont a 4-1 advantage. Guldner closed the Catamount to 4-2 before halftime with her first career goal on an assist from junior attack Rebekah Krolus (Westminster, Md./Westminster). The dish was the first of Krolus’ career, as well.

Junior attack/midfielder Kristi Troster (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) scored right out of the gates in the second period on a shot off a penalty corner at 36:32 to bring the Retrievers to within one goal at 4-3. Senior midfielder/attack Amanda Heinz (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) registered the assist. It was Troster’s third goal of the season, while it was Heinz’s second assist.

But sisters Merrie-Beth and Megan Maynard responded almost right away, as Merrie-Beth tallied 30 seconds later at 37:02 and Megan added a goal at 38:33 on an assist from Merrie-Beth to give the Catamounts a 6-3 advantage.

Collins added to Vermont’s lead at 54:21 on Merrie-Beth Maynard’s second assist of the game. Freshman attack Paige Hartman (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) responded less than a minute later at 55:04 for her second goal of the season to cut the lead to 7-4.

But the Catamounts were not finished yet, as Liz Berry converted a pass from Kate Lipton at 56:56 before Kari Furlani took a dish from Maegan Luce at 59:45 to give Vermont a 9-4 advantage.

The Retrievers were awarded a penalty corner as time expired, and junior midfielder/attack Julie Moore (Rising Sun, Md./Rising Sun) notched her third goal of the season, while freshman defender Emily Smith (Rising Sun, Md./Rising Sun) was credited with her team-leading fourth assist on the year.

Senior defender Tiffany Deinzer (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito) registered her career-high eighth defensive save of the season, while Hartman added the first of her career.

Sophomore goalie Ashley Benitez (Sykesville, Md./Century) recorded eight saves in 49:28, allowing six Catamount goals before junior Kathryn Tag (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace/U.S. Merchant Marine Academy) took over for the final 20:32 of play and stopped two shots while allowing three Vermont goals. Catamount goalkeeper Ariel Eber tallied one save against three goals allowed in 56:56 of play before Erin Hickey took over for the final 13:04, stopping two shots against two goals allowed.

Vermont out-shot UMBC 27-14, but the Retrievers held a 4-2 advantage on penalty corners.

UMBC’s three active scoring leaders all added to their career points totals in the game. Moore’s goal gives her 40 career points, leaving her two behind Chris Marsiglia for second place all-time. Cutchall’s goal gives her 27 career points, moving her past Althea Stewart and into sixth place all-time, just one behind Monica Penn for fifth. Finally, Troster’s goal gives her 24 career points, leaving her two behind Stewart for seventh place all-time.

Still in search of their first-ever America East Conference victory, the Retrievers return home next Saturday, Oct. 8, to host league foe Boston University at noon at UMBC Stadium.