UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Junior attackman Andy Gallagher tied a career high with five goals, including three in the fourth quarter, as UMBC (3-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 12-8 win over 12^th-ranked (4-2) Denver at UMBC Stadium.

The Pioneers lost for the first time since an opening 13-7 setback to top-ranked Virginia.

Classmate Drew Westervelt also set a career high with a four-assist performance and he added a pair of goals for a six-point afternoon. He became the 22^nd player in school history to surpass the 100-point plateau and has moved into 20^th place with 105 points (58 goals, 47 assists) The third member of UMBC’s attack unit, senior Brendan Mundorf, contributed four assists to the Retrievers’ top offensive output of the season. Mundorf became the ninth player in school history to hit the 150-point mark as he has 87 goals and 63 helpers.

After Denver sophomore attackman Todd Ruport opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the game, UMBC rattled off four straight to take a 4-1 lead early in the second quarter. Gallagher scored the last two goals of the run, both on man-up opportunities. But Denver surged back, scoring four unanswered goals to lead 5-4 with 3:38 remaining in the half. Retriever junior midfielder Evan Kay scored the tying and go-ahead goals with 2:23 and 53 seconds left in the half, also both on extra-man situations as UMBC surged ahead to stay, 6-5, at intermission.

UMBC was four-of-four on extra man in the first half, and did not commit a penalty.

The teams exchanged the next four goals as Ruport brought Denver to within 8-7 just 1:05 into the final stanza. But Gallagher converted a Westervelt feed at the 9:52 mark, then tallied an unassisted goal to put the hosts ahead, 10-7, at 7:56. Sophomore midfielder Terry Kimener capped the game’s key run by converting Mundorf’s inside feed at the 8:30 mark. Denver senior midfielder Adam Goodwin gave the Pioneers hope with an extra-man goal with 2:46 to play, but Gallagher scored his fifth goal into a partially unguarded net with 1:12 remaining to seal the win.

Retriever midfielders James Hyland and Kay tallied twice, while Kimener posted a goal and an assist. Ruport led Denver with three goals, Goodwin added a pair and one assist, and junior attackman Ryan Zordani posted a goal and two helpers.

UMBC prevailed despite an incredible effort by Pioneer senior midfielder Geoff Snider. Snider won 20 of 24 face offs, garnered 19 ground balls and added a pair of goals. Retriever freshman netminder Jeremy Blevins made a season high 13 saves in 60 minutes of work. Denver’s Jeb Hollingworth took the loss, allowing ten goals and making seven saves in 53 minutes. Austin Konkel made a pair of saves and allowed two goals in seven minutes of action.

UMBC had been outscored, 19-4, in the fourth quarter in its previous five games, while the Pioneers had outpointed their foes, 16-3 in the final stanza. The Retrievers open league play next Sunday vs. three-time defending champion Albany at UMBC Stadium.