The Chances That Mattered

UMBC vs. Towson Women’s Soccer
Sept. 3, 2026 | Catonsville, Maryland
Final: UMBC 3, Towson 1

At kickoff, it was approximately 88 degrees with little wind. The combination of heat and moisture repeatedly fogged my glasses, making it almost impossible to see through my camera. For roughly the first 10 minutes, I removed them and photographed through the viewfinder without them. As the sun disappeared behind the stadium and the conditions became more manageable, I was finally able to see the match clearly.

The same could not necessarily be said of the result taking shape in front of me.

Towson controlled long stretches of the match and finished with 23 total shots to UMBC’s 12. Yet possession and shot volume did not tell the full story. UMBC remained composed, created the more dangerous opportunities and placed seven shots on goal compared with Towson’s six.

The match changed in the 34th minute. Cami Mink forced Towson goalkeeper Teagan Gardner into a difficult save, and Nia Hudson reacted immediately to bury the rebound for the first goal of her collegiate career. Towson had generated more pressure, but UMBC had struck first.

From that moment, the energy felt different. The Retrievers played freely and visibly enjoyed the occasion. Their emotion showed in the way the players encouraged one another, celebrated together and continued attacking despite spending extended stretches without the ball.

Rian Stainton doubled the lead with a long-range strike in the 69th minute, and Delainey Proctor added a third six minutes later. Towson scored in the 86th minute, but by then the story had already been written.

UMBC’s 3-1 victory was its first over Towson since Sept. 29, 1998, ending the Tigers’ 15-match unbeaten run in the series. It was a reminder that the team controlling most of the action does not always control the outcome. UMBC did not need the most chances. It needed the chances that mattered.