UMBC Reaches Lacrosse Tournament Quarterfinal

Ticket information for NCAA Quarterfinals

The UMBC men's lacrosse team achieved a first in the program's history by reaching the quarter-final round of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament. In the 27 years since UMBC moved to Division I, the team never had won an NCAA tournament game. When the Retrievers stunned seventh-seeded Maryland 13-9 on May 13, they were one victory from reaching the Final Four on Memorial Day weekend.

The Retrievers advanced to face Delaware in Annapolis, Md., at noon on Sunday, May 20. To follow the Retrievers' performance, see www.umbcretrievers.com.

The meeting between UMBC and Delaware ensures there will be at least one historically new entry in the Final Four, a nationally televised event to be played May 26 (semi-final round) and May 28 (championship game) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The 70,000-seat stadium is home to the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The NCAA anticipates crowds of at least 55,000 on both days.

Delaware defeated Virginia, the defending national champion, on May 13. Shortly after Delaware's surprise win, the Retrievers beat Maryland on the Terrapins' home field behind freshman attackman Cayle Ratcliffe (four goals) and sophomore goaltender Jeremy Blevins. Blevins turned away a career-high 18 shots as UMBC erased a 3-0 first quarter deficit.

The Retrievers had lost their three other NCAA Tournament Division I appearances.

"This team has been fighters all year," Head Coach Don Zimmerman said after UMBC stunned the Terrapins. "They have a great attitude and we had a terrific week of practice. We came ready to play against a tough Maryland team in Byrd Stadium."

The Retrievers' accomplishment caps a notable year of success for UMBC athletics. The men's tennis team recently earned its first America East championship. In March, the women's basketball team became the first school in America East Conference history to win the conference tournament by upsetting the No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds. The Retrievers played on a national stage in the NCAA Division I women's tournament, losing in Hartford to perennial national power Connecticut.

Meanwhile, the men's basketball team reached its first America East semifinal, losing to 2005 conference champion Vermont 72-63. Finally, the men's and women's swimming and diving teams won the America East title, the fourth straight for the men and the first for the women. Their performances marked the first time in a decade the same institution produced both the men's and women's champions.