UMBC

Sandra Vacarino scored both goals for UMBC against New Hampshire.

BALTIMORE—Junior midfielder Sandra Vacarino (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional) posted her second two-goal game of the season, but the UMBC women’s soccer team (2-13-1, 1-6-0 AE) fell to America East rival New Hampshire (4-12-1, 3-4-0 AE) by a score of 3-2 Thursday afternoon at UMBC Soccer Stadium.

Before the game, the Retrievers honored seniors LaShawna Epps (Baltimore, Md./Mercy), JoAnne Jackson (Portland, Ore./Lincoln), Katie McKay (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech), Naomi Opaleye (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands) and Arielle Tagger (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) in a Senior Day ceremony.

Just 7:32 into the game, junior back Christine Sadowski (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) sent a free kick to Vacarino, who was alone in front of the net, and Vacarino knocked the ball into the goal to give the Retrievers an early 1-0 lead.

But 20 minutes later, New Hampshire midfielder Monique Lamotte took the ball from two defenders and lobbed it over the head of UMBC sophomore goalie Mo Van Vlerah (Ijamsville, Md./Northwest) from the top of the box to knot the score at 1-1.

Then in the 40th minute, UNH forward Shaunna Kaplan made a long run down the left side and placed the ball just inside the far post to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead, which they took into halftime.

The Retrievers stormed back early in the second stanza when freshman midfielder Katie Gitlin (Owings, Md./Northern) dribbled through the defense on the left side and sent a cross to Vacarino in front of the goal. Vacarino, who was UMBC’s America East Player of the Game for the second time this season, knocked the ball in to tie the score at 2-2 in the 53rd minute.

But with less than seven minutes remaining in the game, UNH back Meg Wiley sent a free kick into the box to forward Morgan Keefe, who headed the ball into the goal for the game winner.

Van Vlerah finished with four saves in the game, while New Hampshire goalie Ally Yost stopped three shots.

The Wildcats outshot the Retrievers, 20-12. Corner kicks were even at two apiece.

The Retrievers conclude their season on Sunday when they visit defending America East champion Boston University.