UMBC

Mo Van Vlerah made a season-high seven saves against Bucknell.

LEWISBURG, Pa.—The UMBC women’s soccer team (0-3-0) held host Bucknell (1-2-0) scoreless for more than 85 minutes, but the Bison tallied twice in the final five ticks for a 2-1 victory Wednesday evening at Emmitt Field.

The Retrievers outshot the Bison, 4-3, in the first half as the teams battled to a scoreless draw at halftime. UMBC had the best chance in the opening period when sophomore midfielder Danielle Kell (Willards, Md./Parkside) struck the post with 12:30 remaining.

But the second half was a different story, as Bucknell held a 14-4 shot advantage. Still, UMBC took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute when a Bison defender accidentally headed the ball into the Retrievers’ net off a corner kick by freshman defender Aly Gazarek (Manassas, Va./Freedom/South Florida) for an own-goal.

Bucknell took 10 shots over the next 30 minutes, and UMBC sophomore goalie Mo Van Vlerah (Ijamsville, Md./Northwest) made five saves during that stretch en route to a season-high seven stops in the game. But early in the 86th minute, Bison midfielder Rosemary Walker beat her defender in the box and buried a shot from 15 yards out to tie the game.

Then just three minutes later, Bucknell midfielder Molly Linhart sent a pass into the box, where forward Kayla Yee headed it to forward Brooke Stokes, who flicked it past a diving Van Vlerah for the game-winner.

Bucknell goalie Kathryn Sutton made four saves in 90 minutes.

The Retrievers’ eight shots more than doubled their previous season total. In addition, after not earning a corner kick in the first two games of the season, UMBC held an 8-6 advantage against the Bison.

The Retrievers return to action on Sunday when they conclude their season-opening four-game road trip at cross-town rival Towson.