UMBC

Mary Strain scored the eventual game-winner against St. Francis for her first collegiate goal.

Baltimore-The UMBC field hockey team defeated St. Francis (Pa.), 2-0, Friday evening at UMBC Stadium for its first victory of the year, snapping a season-opening five-game losing streak. The Retrievers improve to 1-5 overall, while the Red Flash fall to 0-6.

The game was scoreless for nearly half of the opening period as the teams battled back and forth, but freshman Mary Strain put UMBC on the board with her first collegiate goal at the 16:02 mark, taking a pass from sophomore Danielle Guldner after a rebounded shot. The goal marked the first time the Retrievers scored first in a game or held a lead at any point throughout a contest this season.

The teams each took two shots in the first half, but the Retrievers carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.

Both offenses stepped it up in the second half, firing off a combined 20 shots in the period, but each team’s goalie came up with five shots apiece.

The score remained 1-0 in favor of UMBC until sophomore Amanda Yanulevich collected the ball after it was deflected by a St. Francis player, beat Red Flash goalie Erin Reifsteck and put it in the cage for her first goal of the season and the 2-0 Retriever advantage at the 57:45 mark.

UMBC out-shot St. Francis, 14-10, including 12-8 in the second half. The Red Flash held an 8-4 advantage on penalty corners.

Retriever goalies Kat Tag and Ashley Benitez split time in the cage, with Tag recording two saves in the first half and Benitez stopping five shots in the second period. Reifsteck went the distance for the Red Flash, posting six saves and allowing two goals.

The Retrievers return to action Friday, Sept. 22, as they host Longwood at 7 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.