TOWSON, Md. – Senior forward Erica Marshall scored the game's only goal with three minutes remaining to lead the Tigers (3-2-0) to their third win in the last four games, a 1-0 non-conference victory over UMBC (0-4-0) at the Towson Center Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Marshall, who scored her third goal of the season in the victory, took a crossing pass from senior Phyllicia Rosselli and scored on a quick shot past sophomore Mo Van Vlerah for her second game-winning goal of the year.
“To win when you don't play your best is a sign of a good team and we were able to do that today,” Towson Coach Greg Paynter said. “We were playing with heavy legs after a very tough game on Friday night and UMBC had four days of rest. At times, we struggled to connect on our passes.
“We had many opportunities today and most of them didn't go through for us,” Paynter added. “Phyllicia did a good job of serving the ball into the middle of the field and Erica did just as well in putting the ball away.”
The Tigers controlled the offense during most of the first half and held a 12-3 advantage in shots at the intermission. Van Vlerah made five saves in the opening 45 minutes, including a diving save in the eighth minute, to preserve the scoreless tie.
In the 50th minute, the Tigers had an opportunity to score, but a shot from senior midfielder Danielle Rosanova was stopped by Van Vlerah. With 22:30 remaining in regulation, Marshall had another chance to break the tie, but her attempt hit the far goal post.
The Retrievers had their best chance of the game in the 78th minute when freshman Katie Gitlin took a shot which was stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Jocelyn Papciak.
Papciak made three saves to earn the first shutout of her college career as Towson outshot UMBC by an 18-9 margin. The Tigers also had an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Van Vlerah made seven saves in a losing effort for the Retrievers, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games, dating back to last season.
The Tigers will travel to Philadelphia on Friday night to take on Saint Joseph's at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Retrievers will host George Washington in their home opener on September 18.
College Women's Soccer: Towson University 1, UMBC 0
UMBC (0-4-0) 0-0 / 0
Towson (3-2-0) 0-1 / 1
Goals: TOW – Erica Marshall 1 (87:00). Assists: TOW – Phyllicia Rosselli 1. Saves: UMBC – Mo Van Vlerah 7 (90:00, 1 goals allowed); TOW – Jocelyn Papciak 3 (90:00, 0 goals allowed). Shots: UMBC – 9; TOW – 18. Corner Kicks: UMBC – 4; TOW – 8. Attendance: 378.
Corner Kicks: Marshall now has five career game-winning goals, which is tied for fourth in school history … She is also one goal shy of fourth place on the Tigers' career goals list … Papciak's shutout is the first solo shutout for the Tigers since October 21, 2007 when Brandi Daniels, '07 made four saves in a 1-0 win over Old Dominion … The Tigers and the Retrievers were meeting for the 13th time in a series which UMBC now leads by a slim 7-6 margin … However, the Tigers have won the last four meetings in the series … UMBC has now been outscored by a 12-1 margin in its four games this year.