Box Score

UMass Lowell women's soccer grabbed its first Division I win in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind double overtime, 3-2 victory against America East Conference leader Maryland Baltimore County, Sunday afternoon, at the Cushing Field Complex.
 
Sophomore Samantha Barbeito (Edison, N. J.) got the game winner in the 103^rd minute of play, heading home a cross from sophomore Selja Snorradottir (Reykjavik, Iceland) to complete a comeback from a two-goal second half deficit.
 
"Selly had the ball out wide and I got into a good spot at the back post and she gave me a perfect ball and I was just there for it," said Barbeito.  "It was one of the greatest feelings; our first win, it felt really good."
 
"It's on the crosser to put the ball where the goalkeeper isn't and it's on the recipient to be hungry and attack the ball with as much vigor as possible," said Head Coach Elie Monteiro.  "Selly hit a great cross and (Barbeito) did a great job on timing her jump and heading the ball where the goalkeeper wasn't."
 
As the ball settled into the back of the UMBC goal, Barbeito disappeared under celebratory avalanche of teammates.
 
"We've had a lot of doubts this season, but we just kept working hard," said Barbeito.  "We work for each other, we can't give up."
 
The head coach just smiled.  "I just smiled because we took a chance today," said Monteiro, "we changed the way we played and all that belief I have in them sunk in."
 
The win was UMass Lowell's first as a member of America East and Division I and improves the River Hawks record to 1-14-1 overall and 1-5-0 in conference play.  UMBC falls to 9-5-2 / 4-2-0 and into a three-way tie for second place in the conference.
 
As dramatic as the victory was, it was difficult.  The River Hawks trailed 1-0 before the match was two-minute old and was down two goals early in the second half.  Both Retriever goals came off the foot of Alexa Quaranta.
 
Down, yes.  Out, no.
 
"One constant thing all season long has been the effort," said Monteiro.  For 90 minutes these kids just keep going as hard as they can."
 
Senior Captain Sarah Raye, (Salem, N. H.) got UMass Lowell on the board in the 54^th minute drilling home a rebound after junior Emily Bracken's (Bridgewater, Mass.) shot hit the crossbar.
 
The River Hawks got the equalizer in the 77^th minute.  Freshman Taylor Packwood (Somerset, N. J.) took a pass from freshman Erin Scanlon (Auburn, Mass.) and chipped the ball past UMBC GK Lauren Kadet.
 
"We were a little bit more aggressive going forward," said Monteiro.  "We were aggressive pressuring the ball in the opponent's defensive third as opposed to waiting for them to get to the midfield.
 
It appeared UMBC had taken a lead in the 90^th minute, but the apparent go-ahead goal was waved off when officials ruled a "hand ball."
 
Shots in the game were even at 12, UMBC had a slight edge on target, 9-6.
 
River Hawk Goalkeeper junior Jane Hatzikonstantis (Tewksbury, Mass.) made seven saves.  Kadet had three.
 
The River Hawks return to action and return home on Thursday (6:00 pm) to host Binghamton.  They wrap up the regular on the road Sunday (1:00 pm) at the University of Albany.