Retrievers

Despite Friday night's 16-10 setback to No. 11 and America East foe Albany, UMBC is in the driver's seat regarding its entry into the conference tournament. If the team defeats Binghamton this Saturday at UMBC Stadium in Catonsville, the Retrievers will finish in the top four of the league standings and lock up a spot in the tournament. A loss would drop UMBC to 5-8 overall and 2-3 in the America East and into a tie with the Bearcats, who would improve to 6-8 and 2-3 respectively.

Brittain Altomare had two goals and goalie Kelsey Gregerson made six saves, including one on the doorstep with 10 seconds left, as Hofstra beat Towson, 6-5, in women's lacrosse Friday night at James M. Shuart Stadium. Kelsea Donnelly (South River) made a career-high 13 saves for the Tigers (7-8, 5-1 Colonial Athletic Association). Towson's conference winning streak ended at 17 games. The streak dated to April 2011. Gregerson made five saves in the second half as Hofstra (9-6, 3-2)

If Johns Hopkins coach Janine Tucker had any concerns that her team would suffer a letdown after last week's upset of then-No. 15 Virginia, she learned early against UMBC on Wednesday she needn't have worried. Hopkins looked every bit the national women's lacrosse power, holding the host Retrievers scoreless for the first 24:34 and building an early five-goal lead before cruising to an 11-5 win at UMBC Stadium. It could've been a trap game, with No. 6 Penn State coming to town Sunday for a critical conference contest.

No midfielder has made more starts for UMBC than Pat Young, and the freshman continues to reward the coaching staff for that decision. Young, who has started nine of 11 games for the Retrievers (5-6), ranks second on the team in both goals (22) and points (28). He has recorded eight goals and four assists in three contests against America East foes and was named the conference's Rookie of the Week after he scored two goals - including the game-winner - in UMBC's 13-12 decision over Stony Brook last Saturday.

UMBC's 13-12 win at Stony Brook last Saturday propelled the team closer to its 10th consecutive appearance in the America East tournament. The Retrievers improved to 5-6 overall, but - more importantly - 2-1 in the conference and a second-place tie with Hartford (6-5). Both teams trail No. 14 Albany (9-3 overall and 3-0 in the league), but are one game ahead of the Seawolves (6-6, 1-2) and Binghamton (5-6, 1-2). “It was a big win for us in a number of ways,” coach Don Zimmerman said Monday afternoon.

Scott Jones scored a career-best six goals to propel UMBC to a 19-6 thrashing of Vermont last Saturday, marking the sixth consecutive game in which the senior attackman has scored at least two goals in a contest. Jones - who became the 30th player in school history to amass 100 career points (86 goals and 18 assists) - has been shut out just once this season and limited to just one goal, which also happened last season. Coach Don Zimmerman said Jones is expanding his game in his final year of eligibility with the Retrievers (4-6 overall and 1-1 in the America East)

UMBC's 13-goal thumping of Vermont last Saturday had a plethora of motivations, but the disappointment of a 15-14 overtime loss to Hartford on March 30 fueled the team. The Retrievers had a one-goal lead until the Hawks scored with 11 seconds in regulation and then 54 seconds into the extra frame in the season-opening America East contest for both sides. Coach Don Zimmerman wasn't shy about admitting that the setback to Hartford inspired UMBC's effort against the Catamounts. “I think it was a combination of things,” he said Tuesday morning.

Last Saturday's 15-14 overtime loss to Hartford saddled UMBC with a 0-1 start in the America East. The team is just one game behind the Hawks, No. 19 Albany and Stony Brook in the conference standings, which is why coach Don Zimmerman said Saturday's home contest against Vermont (3-7 overall and 1-0 in America East) is critical. “That's the way we're approaching it,” he said Thursday morning. “You don't want to go 0-2 in the conference. So with that said, I would say that this is a must-win.” The Retrievers (3-6)

UMBC opens play in the America East this Saturday with a visit to Hartford. The Hawks began the season with three consecutive losses, won three straight and then dropped a 13-11 decision to Massachusetts last Saturday. Despite Hartford's uneven campaign thus far, the Retrievers (3-5) are fully aware of how much improvement the Hawks have made since February. “I see a vastly improved team from the beginning of the year to where they are now,” coach Don Zimmerman said. “If you look at their first three games, I think their offense averaged a little under six goals per game.

The first half of the season has ended with UMBC compiling a 3-5 record. But the next five weeks may be more important -- and even more rewarding -- for the men's lacrosse team. Saturday's road contest at Hartford begins America East play for the Retrievers. They have won or shared four conference regular-season titles and three league tournaments, which include an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. That's why Saturday's game has been likened to the start of a new season. “It's the most important part of the season because we want to compete for a conference championship and we want to secure a bid to the NCAA tournament,” coach Don Zimmerman said Wednesday afternoon.