Amara Codd, UMBC Defense Battle Unbeaten Delaware to Scoreless Draw
By Brian Hradsky
UMBC women’s soccer showed plenty of toughness on the road Sunday afternoon, battling unbeaten Delaware to a 0-0 draw at Grant Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
The Retrievers improved to 3-1-2 on the season, while Delaware moved to 2-0-3. More importantly for UMBC, the result came in its first road match of the season against a Blue Hens side that entered the day without a loss.
Junior goalkeeper Amara Codd turned in the best statistical performance of her UMBC career, making a career-high nine saves and helping the Retrievers withstand considerable Delaware pressure throughout the 90 minutes.
Delaware controlled much of the possession and finished with a 25-7 advantage in shots, including a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Despite that disparity, UMBC repeatedly found ways to deny the Blue Hens in dangerous areas and earned its first shutout of the season.
Codd Keeps UMBC Alive
UMBC generated the first notable opportunity in the eighth minute when freshman forward Brooke Clagett had a shot blocked by a Delaware defender.
Senior midfielder Regan Rubin followed with an opportunity in the 21st minute, firing from outside the penalty area before Delaware goalkeeper Sophia Hall made the save. Rubin finished with a team-high three shots, while Clagett added two.
As Delaware began creating more pressure, Codd became increasingly important.
She made three saves late in the opening half, including a stop on Olivia Bley’s free kick with just over two minutes remaining before halftime. That save helped send the teams into the break scoreless.
Delaware threatened again almost immediately after halftime.
Following a corner kick in the opening minute of the second half, Codd punched away an attempt from Sophia Zeppos. Cassandra Saldarini collected the follow-up opportunity, but the UMBC defense blocked her attempt and once again prevented the Blue Hens from breaking through.
UMBC continued looking for opportunities of its own. Rubin and Clagett each had free-kick chances during the second half, although neither attempt found the target.
Sophomore Nia Hudson produced one of UMBC’s better second-half scoring opportunities with just under 14 minutes remaining. Hudson put her attempt on goal, but Hall made the save. Hall finished with two saves as Delaware recorded its second consecutive shutout.
Retrievers Survive Late Delaware Push
UMBC faced perhaps its most difficult sequence of the match in the 86th minute.
Delaware’s Maggie Groh and Saldarini had consecutive shots blocked by the Retriever defense. Ava Sallee then received another opportunity during the same attack, but Codd stepped up with another save to preserve the 0-0 score.
That sequence summarized UMBC’s afternoon.
Delaware generated chances, but the Retrievers remained organized, competed for loose balls and protected their goalkeeper when necessary. When Delaware managed to get through the defense, Codd was there.
The shutout represented a significant defensive improvement for a UMBC team that had allowed nine goals over its first five matches. Codd entered the Delaware match having made 18 saves and emerged with 27 through six games, a .750 save percentage and her first clean sheet of the season.
A Historically Difficult Trip
The draw also ended a lengthy drought for UMBC against Delaware.
The Retrievers had lost four consecutive matches against the Blue Hens and had not earned a result in Newark since defeating Delaware 1-0 in 2002.
That made Sunday’s performance particularly meaningful considering the circumstances.
UMBC had opened the season 3-0 with victories against Mount St. Mary’s, American and Fairmont State before drawing West Chester 2-2. St. John’s handed the Retrievers their first defeat, 2-0, on Aug. 27.
Rather than allow that loss to become the beginning of a difficult stretch, UMBC responded three days later by going on the road and shutting out an undefeated opponent.
The Retrievers have scored 12 goals through six matches while allowing nine. Their 3-1-2 start gives them a solid foundation with America East play still ahead.
MSB Take
This might not have been UMBC’s prettiest performance statistically, but a road draw like this can tell you a lot about a team.
Delaware had 25 shots. UMBC had seven. The Blue Hens spent significant portions of the match applying pressure, especially during the second half. Yet UMBC never broke.
That is encouraging.
Codd showed that she can steal a result when the Retrievers need her. The defense also deserves significant credit because this was not simply nine saves and hoping for the best. UMBC repeatedly blocked shots, defended second opportunities and survived Delaware’s best attacking sequences.
There will be matches during America East play when UMBC does not control possession or generate 15 or 20 shots. Being capable of grinding out a result under those circumstances can become extremely important later in the season.
Offensively, UMBC will want more than seven total shots moving forward. But after being shut out by St. John’s three days earlier, responding with a clean sheet on the road against an unbeaten Delaware team represents progress.
The Retrievers showed they can win high-scoring games earlier this season. Sunday demonstrated that they can also survive a defensive battle.
That gives head coach Rick Stainton another building block as UMBC moves deeper into the 2026 campaign.
Next Up: Beltway Battle With Towson
UMBC returns home Thursday, Sept. 3, for another Maryland matchup when Towson visits Retriever Soccer Park at 7 p.m.
The Tigers will present another test, but UMBC returns to Baltimore with confidence after earning one of its toughest results of the young season.
For a Retriever team still developing its identity, shutting down an undefeated Delaware squad on the road was a strong response — and perhaps an important indication of what this UMBC team can become.
