By Subir Nigam
Staff Writer
The UMBC women’s soccer team got off to a good start in their 2014 campaign this past Friday with a 1-0 victory over Navy. Junior goalkeeper Jen Nance earned her first shutout victory in her debut as the Retriever’s top keeper.
Nance is replacing Lauren Kadet, who graduated after last season. Kadet broke the UMBC all-time saves record her senior year. With big shoes to fill, Nance stepped up in the season opener by stopping a penalty kick and earning the win.
A hand-ball in the penalty area gave Navy a great chance to tie the game with less than four minutes left in the first half, but Nance came through with a huge save to preserve the 1-0 lead. Navy had more shots on goal after the first half, but Nance stopped all shots that she faced. Finishing the game with a total of four saves, the UMBC goalkeeper completed her second career start with a solid victory.
Jen Nance saw playing time twice in 2013; her career debut came in an overtime match against Loyola. Nance is no stranger to success though, as her Severna Parks High School soccer team won the Anne Arundel County and Regional Championships when she was team captain her senior year.
Her athletic accomplishments do not start and end with soccer goalkeeping though, as she was also a successful track star in high school. As an honor roll athlete, Nance seems to have a bright future ahead of her.
