UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse
Encyclopedia
The UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I men's college lacrosse
competition. The Retrievers play their home games at UMBC Stadium
, located in Baltimore, Maryland with a capacity
of 4,500 spectators. UMBC competes as a member of the America East Conference
.
at the NCAA Division II level. The Retrievers advanced to the NCAA Division II championship finals in 1979 and 1980, and won the latter. In 1981
, UMBC promoted its lacrosse team to the Division I level. Watts, however, struggled to build the team in the face of poor facilities and scheduling.
In 1989, newly hired athletic director Charlie Brown began campaigning for upgrades to UMBC Stadium
, which finally came to fruition in 1996 with funding of $2.3 million. In 1993, UMBC increased its scholarship allotment
from eight to the NCAA maximum of 12.6. That year, Watts resigned as head coach and was replaced by Don Zimmerman
, who had previously led Johns Hopkins to three national championships. Early in his tenure at UMBC, Zimmerman and his staff had difficulty recruiting in their targeted region, New York
. Of Zimmerman's initial 1994 recruiting class of nine, only two players remained at UMBC for the entirety of their collegiate career. In 1996, an increased strength of schedule
led to a 3–9 finish for the Retrievers, which included a school record 27 goals allowed against Towson State
. The UMBC staff landed some highly sought after Baltimore area recruits and transfers with the incentive of early playing time, including two Baltimore Sun Players of the Year in 1996. In 1997, UMBC improved to a 9–3 record, but missed the tournament because of a relatively weak schedule. The Retrievers entered the 1998 season with a No. 18 preseason ranking, and upset Maryland, 12–8, to clinch an invitation to the school's first NCAA Division I tournament
as the No. 8 seed. UMBC returned to the tournament the following year
.
Into the 2000s, UMBC continued to grow as a nationally competitive team. The Retrievers won the America East Conference
tournaments in 2006, 2008, and 2009, while being eliminated in the final in 2007. In 2007
, UMBC upset seventh-seeded Maryland, 13–9, in the first round to advance to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals where they were eliminated by Delaware. The Retrievers finished the 2009 season with a 12–4 record, winning the America East tournament before being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament
by North Carolina
. UMBC has compiled an all-time record of 327–268 (0.550
).
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I men's college lacrosse
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
competition. The Retrievers play their home games at UMBC Stadium
UMBC Stadium
UMBC Stadium is a 4,500 seat stadium on the campus of UMBC in Catonsville, Maryland. The stadium opened in 1976. It is home to the UMBC Retrievers men's and women's lacrosse, field hockey, and track and field programs, as well as an alternate venue for soccer...
, located in Baltimore, Maryland with a capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 4,500 spectators. UMBC competes as a member of the America East Conference
America East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
.
History
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County was founded in 1966, and athletic director and men's lacrosse coach Dick Watts started the first team in 19681968 in sports
1968 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall champion: Jean-Claude Killy, France** Women's overall champion: Nancy Greene, Canada-American football:...
at the NCAA Division II level. The Retrievers advanced to the NCAA Division II championship finals in 1979 and 1980, and won the latter. In 1981
1981 in sports
1981 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, USA** Women's overall season champion: Marie-Theres Nadig, Switzerland-American football:...
, UMBC promoted its lacrosse team to the Division I level. Watts, however, struggled to build the team in the face of poor facilities and scheduling.
In 1989, newly hired athletic director Charlie Brown began campaigning for upgrades to UMBC Stadium
UMBC Stadium
UMBC Stadium is a 4,500 seat stadium on the campus of UMBC in Catonsville, Maryland. The stadium opened in 1976. It is home to the UMBC Retrievers men's and women's lacrosse, field hockey, and track and field programs, as well as an alternate venue for soccer...
, which finally came to fruition in 1996 with funding of $2.3 million. In 1993, UMBC increased its scholarship allotment
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
from eight to the NCAA maximum of 12.6. That year, Watts resigned as head coach and was replaced by Don Zimmerman
Don Zimmerman
Donald "Don" Zimmerman is an American lacrosse coach. He is currently serving as the head coach for the UMBC Retrievers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a position he has held since 1994. Between 1984 and 1987, Zimmerman coached Johns Hopkins to three national championships...
, who had previously led Johns Hopkins to three national championships. Early in his tenure at UMBC, Zimmerman and his staff had difficulty recruiting in their targeted region, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Of Zimmerman's initial 1994 recruiting class of nine, only two players remained at UMBC for the entirety of their collegiate career. In 1996, an increased strength of schedule
Strength of schedule
In sports, strength of schedule refers to the difficulty or ease of a team's/person's opponent as compared to other teams/persons. This is especially important if teams in a league do not play each other the same number of times.-Computation:...
led to a 3–9 finish for the Retrievers, which included a school record 27 goals allowed against Towson State
Towson Tigers
The Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson University. All of the major athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association with 20 Division I athletic teams The Towson Tigers, formerly Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson...
. The UMBC staff landed some highly sought after Baltimore area recruits and transfers with the incentive of early playing time, including two Baltimore Sun Players of the Year in 1996. In 1997, UMBC improved to a 9–3 record, but missed the tournament because of a relatively weak schedule. The Retrievers entered the 1998 season with a No. 18 preseason ranking, and upset Maryland, 12–8, to clinch an invitation to the school's first NCAA Division I tournament
1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 28th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
as the No. 8 seed. UMBC returned to the tournament the following year
1999 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1999 NCAA Division I tournament championship game was played at University of Maryland's Byrd Stadium with an attendance of 24,135. After building a 9-3 lead in the third quarter, the Virginia Cavaliers were able to hold off the Syracuse Orange, the number eight seed, 12-10. It was Virginia's...
.
Into the 2000s, UMBC continued to grow as a nationally competitive team. The Retrievers won the America East Conference
America East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
tournaments in 2006, 2008, and 2009, while being eliminated in the final in 2007. In 2007
2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 12 through May 28, 2007. This was the 37th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
, UMBC upset seventh-seeded Maryland, 13–9, in the first round to advance to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals where they were eliminated by Delaware. The Retrievers finished the 2009 season with a 12–4 record, winning the America East tournament before being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament
2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 9 through May 25, 2009. This was the 39th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
by North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
. UMBC has compiled an all-time record of 327–268 (0.550
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
).