Just four days after winning the America East men’s lacrosse championship, UMBC defeated Marist to head to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. They’ll face No. 1 seed Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania, at noon on Sunday, May 12.

UMBC lacrosse player in black, gold and gray uniform and Marist lacrosse player in red and white uniform, on the field. — Steven Zichelli plays for UMBC on May 8, 2019.

The Retrievers toppled the Red Foxes, 14-8, to win their first NCAA tournament game in 12 years. In 2007, UMBC bested the University of Maryland, College Park, in a 13-9 victory.

Steven Zichelli ‘21, media and communication studies, and Trevor Patschorke ’21 led with three goals and one assist each. Patschorke’s goals pushed him passed the 30-goal mark for the season. Ryan Frawley ‘20, biological sciences, became the tenth Retriever in UMBC men’s lacrosse history to score 40 goals in a season.

Looking forward to the game ahead, today’s Baltimore Sun asks, “Can UMBC pull off another upset of No. 1 seed?”

The paper notes, “The first round of the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament will have an overwhelmingly local flavor to it. With UMBC’s 14-8 opening-round win at Marist on Wednesday, five Baltimore-area teams will compete in first-round action Saturday and Sunday, tied for the second most from the state in tournament history. A record six made the 2007 field, but only the Retrievers and eventual champion Johns Hopkins advanced to the quarterfinals.”