UMBC's win over No. 1 Albany was the second time the Retrievers beat the nations top-ranked team (1998).
BALTIMORE –– For the second time in three weeks, a UMBC team has knocked off the nation's best.
This time, it was on the lacrosse field as the Retrievers defeated top-ranked Albany, 11-7, in an America East clash before 961 fans at UMBC Stadium.
The upset replicated the men's basketball team's Friday night, March 16 triumph over Virginia, 74-54, in the first round of the men's basketball tournament.
Albany (10-1, 3-1 America East) came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation for six consecutive weeks. They presented the nation's top offense at 15.4 goals per game, its top scoring defense, allowing seven goals per game and the top face-off unit at 81.5 percent.
Tell us if you've heard this one before: UMBC pulls off the stunning upset against the No. 1 team in the country!
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX)
The Retrievers upset No. 1 Albany, 11-7, to defeat a top ranked team for the first time since 1998 on the lacrosse field.
But UMBC (3-7, 1-2 America East), which snapped a four-game slide scored a season-high 11 goals and freshman netminder Tommy Lingner (Fort Salonga, N.Y.) backstopped a stout defense which held the Great Danes to four goals below their previous season-low.
Lingner made a season-high 16 saves, including seven in the fourth quarter.
"[Albany] is a tremendous team, they have a great coaching staff and great players," said head coach Ryan Moran. "To be able to go in there and execute our game plan, play hard and do the things we needed to do to win, I'm just really proud of this program and proud of the players in that locker room."
The victory was the program's second over a No. 1-ranked team. The 1998 squad defeated No. 1 Maryland, 12-8, in the regular season finale and was propelled into its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament.
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Junior midfielder Billy Nolan (Crofton, Md./Arundel) led a balanced effort with a three-goal, two-assist effort.
The Retrievers never trailed, and the game was only tied once, at 2-2, with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter. But UMBC reeled off six consecutive goals and held Albany scoreless for 26:11 to open up an 8-2 advantage deep into the third quarter.
Albany (10-1, 3-1 America East) came into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation for six consecutive weeks. They presented the nation's top offense at 15.4 goals per game, its top scoring defense, allowing seven goals per game and the top face-off unit at 81.5 percent.
UMBC takes down No. 1! Sound familiar?! upsets Albany and snaps their 31-game regular-season conference winning streak with an 11-7 victory!
— America East (@AmericaEast)
But UMBC (3-7, 1-2 America East), which snapped a four-game slide scored a season-high 11 goals and freshman netminder Tommy Lingner (Fort Salonga, N.Y.) backstopped a stout defense which held the Great Danes to four goals below their previous season-low.
Lingner made a season-high 16 saves, including seven in the fourth quarter.
Junior midfielder Billy Nolan (Crofton, Md./Arundel) led a balanced effort with a three-goal, two-assist effort.
The Retrievers never trailed, and the game was only tied once, at 2-2, with 2:10 remaining in the first quarter. After UMBC freshmen Michael Zichelli (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) and Ben Keller (Grand Rapids, Mich.) recorded goals 4:39 into the game, Albany struck back on goals by Troy Reh and Kyle McClancy. But UMBC took momentum heading into the second quarter, as junior Gunnar Schimoler (Edgewater, Md./South River) scored after clearing the ball with just five seconds left in the first period.
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UMBC scored three goals in a span of 2:47 in the second quarter to take a 6-2 lead with 7:09 to play in the half. Freshman Brett Baucia (Crofton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) set up two those goals, including a highlight-reel score by junior Jack Andrews (Arnold, Md./St. Mary's) at the 7:09 mark. Andrews also scored the final goal of the 6-0 run, converting a pass from Nolan with 1:49 to play in the half.
Each team scored once in the third quarter, but the Danes started to mount a comeback early in the fourth, scoring twice and cutting the lead to 9-5 with 10:38 remaining.
But Nolan rifled a shot home from the right alley 100 seconds after the Danes' fifth score and Keller put sealed the victory by blasting home a shot from the right side after a Steven Zichelli feed with just 2:26 to play.
The magic continues from March to April for ! takes down No. 1 Albany in tonight's 11-7 win!
— America East (@AmericaEast)
Andrews and Keller netted two goals each, while Steven Zichelli added a goal and two assists.
Albany freshman attackman Tehoka Nanticoke and senior midfielder Kyle McClancy each recorded hat tricks for the visitors.
Albany won 19-of-21 draws, all recorded by sophomore TD Irelan. But UMBC countered by only committing six turnovers and clearing successfully 23-of-23 times.
The Retrievers snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Danes and cut Albany's series lead to 12-11.
UMBC heads to Binghamton for its next contest, a Saturday night affair on April 14.
