UMBC Lacrosse Drops Defensive Battle to No. 11 Loyola

BALTIMORE-Sophomore attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) scored three times, but it was Loyola goalkeeper Kerry Stoothoff who stole the show, as the 11th-ranked Greyhounds (2-1) handed the UMBC women's lacrosse team (2-1) its first loss of the season, 7-4, in the Retrievers' home opener at UMBC Stadium Tuesday evening.

The Greyhounds tallied the first three goals of the game before UMBC junior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) put the Retrievers on the scoreboard with 13:18 remaining in the first half. Loyola led, 4-1, at intermission.

Coady scored the first two goals of the second stanza just 22 seconds apart to pull the Retrievers back to within one, 4-3, at the 20:53 mark, but Loyola midfielder Abby Rehfuss converted a free-position attempt 92 seconds later for the eventual game winner.

The Retrievers outshot the Greyhounds, 24-22, but Stoothoff made a career-high 16 saves. UMBC senior goalie Kate Quick (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep) was also outstanding in net, stopping a season-high nine shots. An America East first-team all-conference selection a year ago, Quick has allowed just 17 goals through three games this season for a goals-against average of 5.67.

Loyola attack Grace Gavin led the Greyhounds with three points on two goals and an assist, while attack Caroline Hager also tallied twice for the visitors.

UMBC held a 19-18 edge in ground balls, while draw controls were even at six apiece.

It was the 15th time that UMBC has not recorded an assist in the game and the first since a 9-5 loss at Old Dominion on March 8, 2008. In addition, it was the fewest goals scored by the Retrievers since an 11-4 loss at New Hampshire on March 22, 2008, but also the fewest goals allowed in a loss since falling to Monmouth, 7-5, on April 4, 2003.

The Retrievers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, when they host 13th-ranked Vanderbilt at 1:00 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.

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Kerry Stoothoff kept up her spectacular play with a career-high 16 saves as the 11th ranked Loyola Greyhounds defeated the UMBC Retrievers, 7-4, in a toughly contested local rivalry at UMBC Stadium. Grace Gavin and Caroline Hager led the team with two goals apiece, while Gavin also added an assist.

Stoothoff was tested early and often in the first half, making several great saves before the Greyhounds attempted a shot.

Emily Gibson got Loyola on the board first just over five minutes into the game as she stole a ball at midfield and had a two-on-one breakaway along with Gavin against the goalie. Gibson made the feed to Gavin, and as the goalie focused on Gavin, she fed the ball back to Gibson for the score.

Gavin scored the second goal for Loyola off a free-position shot by Abby Rehfuss. As the clock started, Rehfuss drove in from the right, forcing the defense to her, and she found a streaking Gavin coming in from the left-center who had an open shot at the goal.

Filippelli found the back of the net three minutes later to give Loyola a commanding 3-0 lead.

After trading goals, UMBC cut the lead to one at 4-3 before goals by Rehfuss and Gavin extended the lead back to three.

UMBC's Emily Coady scored her third goal of the game with 11:49 left in regulation before Hager iced the game with her second goal of the game four minutes later.

Stoothoff also cradled a career-high five ground balls to lead the 'Hounds in the category, while four others picked up two apiece. After being dominated, 5-1 in the first half on draw controls, Loyola reversed that number with a 5-1 advantage in the second half, thanks to three by Gibson and two by Rehfuss.

Cass Cursaro, Ana Heneberry, Rehfuss and Filippelli led the team with a pair of caused turnovers.

Loyola is back in action March 3 when they travel to Denver to take on the Denver University Pioneers.

2010-02-24