Can UMBC Lacrosse Make Late-Season Run?

After an 8-6 win over America East Conference opponent Binghamton on Saturday, UMBC men's lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman was in high spirits.

It was hard to blame the coach: After starting the season 2-5 and looking—in his own words—"silly" in a 16-5 loss to No. 3 Johns Hopkins and not faring much better in a 15-6 loss to No. 5 Maryland and 16-5 loss to No. 13 Stony Brook, Zimmerman had to be thrilled with the Retrievers' first back-to-back wins since April 2010.

The team also beat Towson 10-9 Wednesday night.

"I think that we're starting to play to our ability," Zimmerman said. "These young guys are really learning under fire."

One of those young players, sophomore attackman Dave Brown, led the team with four points (three goals, one assist) in Saturday's 8-6 win over Binghamton, while freshman defensive midfielder Brian Patton played a key role in holding the Bearcats to two second-half goals.

Zimmerman will need contributions from young players like Brown and Patton if his team is to continue its winning streak at Albany next weekend. UMBC has three seniors and five juniors on its roster; the other 39 are freshmen and sophomores.

The Retrievers hopes to make the America East Conference Tournament ride on forgetting a brutal start to the season and focusing on making a late-season run, with nothing but conference games remaining on the schedule.

Currently in fifth place in the conference (4-5, 1-1 America East Conference), the team will have to rise to fourth place in the standings to secure a spot in the conference tournament.

Given UMBC's offensive limitations (Rob Grimm leads the team in scoring with just 24 points on 10 goals and 14 assists), the Retrievers will likely have to continue winning close games.

Zimmerman didn't directly answer a question Saturday about whether his team could continue to win those close games, but the team's recent history speaks for itself: Since 2007, Zimmerman's teams have gone 22-11 in games decided by three goals or fewer.

Now, this week's list:

Quote of the Week: "It's been a tough stretch, we've taken it on the chin ... This team needed a win, and a good, hard-fought win." —UMBC lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman after the Retrievers held on for a 10-9 win over Towson on Wednesday.

Line of the Week: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 total points - UMBC attackman Rob Grimm, who was removed from the starting lineup versus the Tigers and responded with his second five-point game of the season.

Top Tweet: "Men's @UMBCXCTF wins Maryland Invitational, Women take home second! http://bit.ly/hXlryo #UMBC" -- @UMBCAthletics after the track team's strong showing in College Park, MD.

For the Record: Sara Parkinson broke the school 3,000 meter record (now 9:44.93) and took home gold at the Maryland Invitational. Loyal readers of this column will remember Parkinson , too, afer breaking the school 5,000 meter record.

Player to Watch: UMBC sophomore midfielder Dave Brown, who , will have to provide similar performances if the Retrievers are to make the America East Conference Tournament.

Game to Watch: The second-place UMBC women's lacrosse team (9-4, 3-1 America East Conference) plays its final home game of the regular season Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. versus Binghamton (3-10, 1-2).