Men's Lacrosse Live Blog Recap: UMBC 9, Vermont 8

UMBC midfielder Joe Lustgarten said his pass to attackman Scott Jones, who scored the game-winning goal on the play, is something the two practice daily.

Lustarten hit Jones, cutting to goal from the right side, and Jones bounced a shot in for the game-winner. The sophomore attackman had three goals and two assists for the Retrievers (6-5, 3-1 America East Conference), who beat Vermont 9-8 and have secured a spot in the AEC Tournament.

"I got a pass from Jamie Kimbles off a dodge and Scott Jones was wide open," Lustgarten said. "(We) work on it everyday in practice and paid off today."

"I delayed the cut and Joe fed me the ball with a nice dodge from Jamie," Jones added. "In practice, when I'm open Joe usually gets me the ball so I was pretty confident he was going to get it to me."

Jones may have been confident Lustgarten would find him, but few of the 766 in the stands at UMBC Stadum could have been confident the Retrievers would best the Catamounts (6-8, 1-3), in a sometimes-sloppy game that went back and forth throughout.

The teams combined for 41 turnovers. UMBC had 25, and completed only 17-of-26 clears.

"We didn't play our best game of the year, but we got away with it," Retrievers coach Don Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman and Kimbles both said weather had an impact on the game. Temperatures were in the high 40s and heavy rain fell at the game's start, but by the third quarter temperatures had risen to high 60s with clear skies.

The rain was especially troublesome, Kimbles said, when it came to turning the ball over.

"It started out raining and you try to adjust your stick for the rain, and (then you) come out at halftime and it gets sunny and your stick changes a little bit," said Kimbles, who had two goals and one assist. "It's not easy to do but there's no excuses...for turnovers. ... We have to get better at that."

Zimmerman added that once the rain stopped, today was the first warm day the team has played in a mostly-chilly 2011 season. But the Retrievers have heated up with the weather.

UMBC has now won four games in a row and five of their last six after a disastrous 1-4 start to the season. With young players continuing to step up late in the season -- second midfielder Conor Finch's two goals being case-in-point -- Zimmerman said he's happy with the Retrievers, who are showing a knack for winning close games.

"This team has character," he said.

(3:02 p.m.) UMBC has won, 9-8. The win clinches a spot in the America East Conference Tournament for the Retrievers.

Vermont called a play for midfielder Garrett Virtue coming out of timeout. Virtue tried to bubble out past a UMBC defenseman and drive straight down the alley.

But Virtue's shot bounced wide to the right. The Retrievers were closest as the ball went out with two seconds remaining, and on the restart UMBC goalkeeper Brian McCullough launched the ball downfield as time expired to secure the victory.

I'll be back after chatting with the winning combination - Lustgarten to Jones - and UMBC coach Don Zimmerman. Final: UMBC 9, Vermont 8.

(2:58 p.m.) With 20 seconds left in the game, Rob Grimm turned the ball over. Vermont has cleared the ball and has possession with nine seconds remaining in the game.

The Catamounts are coming out of a called timeout with one chance to tie this game and send it to overtime.

(2:57 p.m.) UMBC got what it needed - a turnover free possession - and attackman Scott Jones made it count. The Retrievers lead 9-8 with 33 seconds remaining.

Jones scored with 41 seconds left on the clock after Joe Lustgarten assisted Jones, who was streaking toward the goal and converted his shot for the sophomore's third goal and fifth point today.

A false start by Vermont on the ensuing face-off has given the Retrievers a chance to hold onto possession and clinch a spot in the America East Conference Tournament with a win. UMBC 9, Vermont 8.

(2:53 p.m.) With 54 seconds to play, UMBC has called time out with possession of the ball and the score tied at eight.

The Retrievers have turned the ball over 24 times today, but need only one turnover-free possession and a good shot to make that statistic less painful.

(2:52  p.m.) Turnovers are killing UMBC.

The Retrievers had an extra man opportunity after a Vermont pushing penalty, but turned the ball over before the extra-man clock expired. UMBC never got off a shot in the possession.

We're still tied, under two minutes to play.

(2:47 p.m.) With 4:17 to play, the game remains tied.

UMBC just had a long possession, but a shot from Matt Gregoire was saved after he made a quick dodge inside that appeared destined to end in a goal.

The Retrievers had a handful of opportunities to regain possession has the Catamounts struggled to find an open man to clear the ball, but couldn't come up with a forced turnover.

A UMBC slashing penalty may provide the Catamounts the scoring change they need to take the lead. Vermont 8, UMBC 8.

(2:40 p.m.) Vermont's Thomas Galvin scored unassisted with 9:09 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game for the first time since the first half.

Galvin came around from behind the goal to score his second goal of the game. Vermont 8, UMBC 8.

(2:34 p.m.) UMBC was up two men after two Vermont penalties, but managed only two shots -- one wide, and one that was saved -- and failed to capitalize on an excellent opportunity to increase their lead to two.

(2:30 p.m.) At the end of three quarters, UMBC leads 8-7.

Vermont outscored the Retrievers 2-1 in the quarter.

UMBC has had a knack for pulling off wins in close games in the last month. They'll have to do the same here today to secure a spot in the conference tournament.

(2:28 p.m.) UMBC's lead has dwindled to one goal, after Vermont's Cal Case scored off a Drew Philie assist.

The Retrievers had their largest lead of the game this quarter, three goals, but the Catamounts have responded. UMBC 8, Vermont 7.

(2:23 p.m.) UMBC goalkeeper Brian McCullough's low pass after a save was intercepted near midfield by Drew Philie.

Philie tossed the ball to Geoff Worley, who scored to negate a goal the Retrievers had just put on the board.

Scott Jones has scored his second goal of the game off a Jamie Kimbles assist with 7:25 left in the quarter. UMBC 8, Vermont 6.

(2:19 p.m.) Luck appears to be on UMBC's side today, at least so far.

Somehow, a shot by Vermont's Garrett Virtue that bounced at the feet of Retrievers goalkeeper Brian McCullough went straight up, rather than at an angle, and hit the top post rather than the back of the net.

UMBC still leads, 7-5.

(2:12 p.m.) The second half is underway. A Vermont pushing penalty gave UMBC a man-up opportunity with 13 minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Retrievers were unable to do much with those 30 seconds. Shortly afterward, UMBC turned the ball over for their 18th today.

(2:03 p.m.) At haftime, UMBC leads 7-5.

Vermont's Thomas Galvin got off a shot with eight seconds remaining, but Retrievers goalkeeper Brian McCullough made the save, his sixth today.

Through one half, the teams have combined for 26 turnovers. Vermont holds a 20-17 edge in ground balls. UMBC has won 9-of-14 face-offs, but has struggled clearing the ball (8-of-14). Shots are even at 15.

(1:56 p.m.) Mere seconds after coming out of a timeout, UMBC's Rob Grimm scored an unassisted goal on the restart with one minute remaining in the quarter. The Retrievers now have a two-goal lead.

Vermont has possession and a good clear with 19 seconds remaining before halftime. The Catamounts have called timeout. UMBC 7, Vermont 5.

(1:54 p.m.) With 1:21 remaining, UMBC has retaken the lead off a Jamie Kimbles goal, assisted by Scott Jones.

It's the senior midfielder's second goal of the game.

Though the Retrievers have turned the ball over an astonishing 15 times in this half, UMBC is having one of its better shooting halves this season. The team has put 9 of 14 shots on goal, and six of those shots have eluded Vermont goalkeeper David Barton. UMBC 6, Vermont 5.

(1:53 p.m.) Vermont's Geoff Worley scored with five minutes remaining in the second quarter to tie the game again.

We're under two minutes now in this second quarter at UMBC Stadium. Vermont 5, UMBC 5.

(1:44 p.m.) Scott Jones, streaking to the goal, scored on an overhand shot after receiving a pass from Rob Grimm, and UMBC has a one-goal lead with 8:14 remaining in the half.

Shorlty before that, Grimm was assisted by attackman Scott Jones on a long pass that Grimm quickly slipped past the goalie from just outside the crease with 8:48 remaining, tying the game. The Retrievers' top two scorers have made their presence felt here in this second quarter. UMBC 5, Vermont 4.

(1:34 p.m.) Vermont's Luke Ryder absolutely crushed a UMBC midfielder and was called for an illegal body check to the head, briefly stopping play and giving possession to UMBC.

But with an extra-man opporunity for one minute, the Retrievers couldn't mount any kind of offense, as UMBC again turned the ball over.

(1:31 p.m.) At the end of one quarter, Vermont leads by one, 4-3.

Both teams seem to be playing with a sense of desperation, but there has been a lot of sloppiness on the turf, too, as there have already been 15 turnovers between the two teams. UMBC has lost possession nine times and the Catamounts have turned it over six times. Vermont 4, UMBC 3.

(1:28 p.m.) Twisting, turning and taking shots all the way through a clogged alley in front of the goal, A.J. Masson somehow managed to release a shot and score for Vermont with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.

UMBC's Brian Patton was called for an illegal body check on the play, and the Catamounts are playing with an extra-man for the next minute. Vermont 4, UMBC 3.

(1:25 p.m.) We're tied at three after Vermont's Geoff Worley scored to answer Conor Finch's second score of the game -- and the season -- for UMBC.

Worley's goal was assisted by A.J. Masson. With 3:05 remaining in this first quarter, the teams are matching each other blow-f0r-blow, knowing a win means a berth in the America East Conference Tournament. Vermont 3, UMBC 3.

(1:18 p.m.) After Vermont scored to take a one-goal lead, UMBC senior Jamie Kimbles sprinted past a Catamount defender and shot across his body from the right side, directing a shot into the lower left corner of the goal with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.

With 9:13 remaining, Vermont's Drew Philie scored off a Thomas Galvin assist to give the Catamounts the lead. The Retrievers won the ensuing face-off, however, before Kimbles' score. UMBC 2, Vermont 2.

(1:15 p.m.) Vermont's Thomas Galvin scored with 10:22 remaining off an assist by Geoff Worley. The score came three seconds after an extra man opportunity expired following UMBC defenseman David Stock being called for a hold. Vermont 1, UMBC 1.

(1:11 p.m.) Conor Finch just gave UMBC the early lead, 1-0, after scoring unassisted with 11:59 remaining in the first quarter.

Before Finch's goal from the left side, the Retrievers had turned the ball over twice in their first two possessions. Vermont has turned the ball over twice, also.

UMBC goalkeeper Brian McCullough had a save on the Catamounts' third possession. UMBC 1, Vermont 0.

(12:55 p.m.) Winners of three straight, the UMBC men's lacrosse team has a chance to clinch a spot in the America East Conference Tournament today.

The Retrievers (5-5, 2-1 AEC) host Vermont (6-7, 1-2) at UMBC Stadium at 1 p.m. Rain is pouring here in Catonsville.

The Catamounts are just 1-6 on the road this season, while UMBC is 3-1 at home. The Retrievers are also celebrating Senior Day, with this contest being the last regular season home game of the year for UMBC.

As I wrote a couple months ago, .

UMBC has only three seniors on its youth-laden roster: Jamie Kimbles, J.D. Harkey and David Stock.