UMBC

Freshman Aly Gazarek

BALTIMORE—The UMBC women’s soccer team (0-3-0) concludes its season-opening four-game road trip on Sunday when it takes on cross-town rival Towson (2-1-0) on Sunday. Kickoff from the Towson Center Soccer Complex is set for 1 p.m.

Last Time Out: The Retrievers held host Bucknell scoreless for more than 85 minutes, but the Bison tallied twice in the final five ticks for a 2-1 victory on Wednesday. The teams were locked in a scoreless battle through halftime, but UMBC finally cracked the scoreboard on an own-goal in the 55th minute. But Bucknell rallied back with a goal early in the 86th frame and another just three minutes later. Sophomore goalie Mo Van Vlerah (Ijamsville, Md./Northwest) was stellar in goal, turning away a season-high seven shots.

Tiger Tales: Towson is 2-1-0 on the season after a pair of victories at the JMU/Comfort Inn Harrisonburg Invitational… The Tigers take on Rutgers Friday evening before hosting the Retrievers on Sunday… Forward Erica Marshall leads Towson with seven points on two goals and three assists, while midfielder Phyllicia Rosselli is tops with three tallies… Goalies Kristen Sample and Jocelyn Papciak have combined for a 1.29 goals-against average and an .810 save percentage… Towson was picked to finish 10th in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason coaches’ poll after posting a 4-14-1 record in 2008.

The Series: UMBC leads the all-time series, 6-4-0, but Towson has won the last four meetings, including a 5-1 decision at UMBC Soccer Stadium in 2007. UMBC forward Sandra Vacarino scored her first career goal in the game, while forward Kaitlyn Zamroz led the Tigers with a pair of tallies.

Road Swing: The Retrievers play their first four games of the season on the road, where they have won just two games since 2006. All four games are home openers for their opponents. UMBC does not play at home until Friday, Sept. 18, against George Washington. That game will be played under the lights of UMBC Stadium. The Retrievers’ first game on the Bermuda grass at UMBC Soccer Stadium is Thursday, Sept. 24, against VMI.

Dawg Bites: Van Vlerah has made 17 saves in three games, including a season-high seven at Bucknell on Wednesday… Freshman forward Rachel McKee (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) has taken five of the Retrievers’ 15 shots on the season… UMBC’s eight shots against the Bison more than doubled their previous season total… Ten of the Retrievers’ 15 shots have been on goal… After not earning a corner kick in the first two games of the year, UMBC had eight at Bucknell… Senior back Arielle Tagger (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) and junior back Christine Sadowski (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) have been named team captains for the 2009 season.

Up Next: The Retrievers have nearly two weeks off before playing their first home game on Friday, Sept. 18, when they host regional rival George Washington at UMBC Stadium.