UMBC

BALTIMORE—The UMBC women’s soccer team (0-6-1) heads north this weekend to take on America East rival Maine (3-3-1) Sunday afternoon in the conference opener for both teams. Kick-off from Alumni Field is set for 12 p.m.

Last Time Out: VMI midfielder Amanda Berrios scored less than four minutes into the overtime period to give the visiting Keydets a 1-0 victory over the Retrievers Thursday evening. UMBC sophomore goalie Mo Van Vlerah (Ijamsville, Md./Northwest) made five saves.

On the Black Bears: Maine is 3-3-1 on the season but has not played since a 4-1 victory over Northeastern last Sunday… The Black Bears are led by forward Laura Martel, who has scored a conference-best five goals and 10 points on the season… Goalie Meagan Price-Leibenzeder has posted a 1.23 goals-against average and a .743 save percentage with 26 saves… Maine is the top scoring team in the America East with 1.43 goals per game… The Black Bears were picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll.

Last Time vs. Maine: In the 2008 America East Conference opener, UMBC midfielder Danielle Kell (Willards, Md./Parkside) scored her first career goal late in the 61st minute to give the Retrievers a 1-0 victory over the Black Bears at UMBC Soccer Stadium. Back Christine Sadowski (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) was credited with the assist on the free kick. UMBC goalie Christine Bacinski made three saves in the shutout, while Maine keeper Jasmine Phillips stopped two shots. Kell was named America East Rookie of the Week the next day for her role in the win.

The Series: Last season’s victory marked the first time in seven meetings that UMBC defeated Maine. The teams have faced off every year since the Retrievers joined the America East Conference in 2003.

Saving the Day: Van Vlerah is tied for the league lead with 7.57 saves per game and ranks fourth with 53 saves on the season. She stopped a career-high 14 shots at George Mason on Tuesday, besting her 10-save effort in the previous game against George Washington. Van Vlerah has played every minute between the pipes for the Retrievers.

Extra, Extra: The Retrievers’ double-overtime tie with George Washington on Friday was their first overtime game since Oct. 7, 2007, at Maine, and their first tie since Sept. 21, 2007, at Sacred Heart. With Thursday’s overtime loss to VMI, UMBC has now played back-to-back games of more than 90 minutes after not playing one for nearly two years.

Underclassmen on Top: With freshman midfielder Katie Gitlin’s (Owings, Md./Northern) goal against George Washington last Friday, 26 of UMBC’s 29 goals since 2007 have been scored by underclassmen, including 18 by freshmen.

Up Next: The Retrievers return home to host Penn Quakers under the lights at UMBC Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m.