UMBC

Sophomore attackman Drew Westervelt scored exactly one minute into the second overtime period as UMBC (6-6) edged host Loyola (4-6), 9-8, in a non-conference contest at Diane Geppi Aikens Field.

The Retrievers never trailed, and built four three-goal leads during the course of the game. But Loyola continued to battle back and forged the first tie of the game at 5-all on a score with 2 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Retrievers responded with a three-goal fourth quarter run, opened on a score by senior midfielder Joe Cahill 1:19 into the period, and capped by goals by midfielders Travis Tomczak and James Hyland.  Freshman middie Joe Wojciechowski set up those two goals and UMBC was in control, 8-5, with 5:01 to play.

But Loyola scored an extra-man goal with 2:31 to play and Greyhound attackman Dan Bauers drew his squad to within 8-7 with 1:43 remaining. UMBC won the ensuing face-off, but turned it over twice in a 20-second span and Bauers scored the game-tying goal from close range with 37 seconds remaining.

The Greyhounds had the better of the play in the first overtime, but UMBC reserve netminder Chris Petrush made a key save late in the stanza. UMBC senior face off specialist Corey Warner won the draw to open the second extra session, and Westervelt surprised the Greyhound defense, bouncing a shot from the right side past Greyhound netminder Michael Fretwell.

UMBC jumped out to a 3-0 lead by scoring 3 times in a span of 1:15 midway through the quarter. Junior attackman Brendan Mundorf punctuated the rally with 2 goals in a span of 9 seconds. The Retrievers built leads of 4-1 and 5-2, but the host Greyhounds shaved the lead to 5-3 at halftime and held UMBC scoreless in the third quarter.

Six Retrievers posted two-point games, as Hyland and Mundorf scored 2 goals, Westervelt, Tomczak, and Cahill had 1 goal and 1 assist and Wojciechowski had a pair of assists.  Starting netminder Kevin Cepelak played the first half and made 4 saves, allowing 3 goals, while Petrush stopped 10 Loyola shots in the final 35 minutes of play. Each team had 36 shots and UMBC won 13 of 21 face offs.

UMBC won for the second straight year and now lead the all-time series, 16-13. It was UMBC’s first when of the season in a game decided by three or fewer goals (1-4).