UMBC

Danielle Guldner scored UMBC's first goal of the season in a 5-2 loss to Sacred Heart.

Fairfield, Conn.-The UMBC field hockey team scored its first two goals of the season, but still dropped its fourth straight decision, 5-2, at Sacred Heart Sunday afternoon. The Retrievers fall to 0-4, while the Pioneers improve to 4-2 on the year.

Sacred Heart got off to a fast start, scoring three goals in the first 12:50 of the game. Colleen Carney put the Pioneers on the board with a penalty corner conversion in the sixth minute. Jenn Howley and Leah Stoeher were each credited with assists.

Becky Ford scored Sacred Heart’s second goal at the 11:38 mark, corralling a long downfield pass at the top of the circle, dribbling in, faking past Retriever goalie Kat Tag and putting the ball in an open cage.

Just 1 minute, 18 seconds later, Carisa Eye put the Pioneers up 3-0 when she parked herself in front of the goal and deflected a shot by Katie Bohren into the back of the cage for what turned out to be the game winner.

The Pioneers dominated the first half offensively, out-shooting the Retrievers, 9-0, to take a 3-0 lead into the break. But the Retrievers came out hungry in the second half and were able to get back into the game.

Sophomore forward Danielle Guldner put UMBC on the board 3:55 into the second half when she put a rebound shot past Pioneer goalie Whitney Mills. The goal was the Retrievers’ first of the season.

Senior midfielder Julie Moore made it 3-2 nine minutes later when she converted on a penalty stroke opportunity, firing a shot into the corner of the cage. But the Retrievers could not complete the comeback, and Sacred Heart’s Brittany Rosselle scored two minutes later, at the 49:41 mark, to make it 4-2. Carney was credited with an assist.

Eye scored her second goal of the game with 7:55 left in the contest. After a scramble in front of the cage yielded several shots, Eye swooped in from the corner to clean up the rebound and complete the play.

Sacred Heart out-shot UMBC, 21-13, but the teams were even with five penalty corners apiece.

Tag recorded one save and allowed three goals in 18:47 of play before being relieved by junior Ashley Benitez, who stopped five shots but allowed two goals in 51:13. Pioneer keeper Ashley Del Greco played the first half and did not have the opportunity to make a save as UMBC did not take a shot. Whitney Mills played the second period for Sacred Heart and posted nine saves while allowing two goals.

The Retrievers return to action Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Lehigh.