The UMBC women's swimming and diving team tallied 1,006 points to run away with their second Patriot Invitational in three years at George Mason University this past weekend.

"Our women exceeded our expectations and have shown the mentality of a true championship team," coach Chad Cradock said.

Senior Sam Maccherola started things off right for the Retrievers on day 1, winning the 500 free in a time of 4:52.53, while freshman teammate Amy Fay took third in 4:58.22.

Fellow senior Tereza Kaplanova recorded the second fastest 200 individual medley time in UMBC history when she won in a time of 2:04.92. Kaplanova and Maccherola teamed up with seniors Tina Cantwell and Jennifer Esposito to win the 400 IM relay in a time of 3:49.61.

The Retrievers were in second place after day one, but on day two they dominated the competition, leading UNC-Wilmington by 103 points by the end of the day.

Once again Maccherola got off to a quick start, winning the 200 free in a time of 1:49.49, and once again it was Fay who took third in a time of 1:53.73. Cantwell won the 100 breast in a time of 1:04.43, while Kaplanova finished third and teammate Gaby Johnston took fourth.

Esposito finished second in the 100 fly in a time of 56.82 while teammates Lindsay Sherman and Sarah Ryan finished fourth and fifth. Junior Rebecca Godwin finished third in the 400 IM in a time of 4:32.92.

Kaplanova took third in the 100 back with the fifth fastest time in school history in 58.22, while sophomore Kelsey Fitzpatrick's sixth-place time of 59.08 was good enough for the ninth best time in school history. Cantwell, Esposito, Kaplanova, and sophomore Abbey McKenney teamed up for third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:46.55.

UMBC had two teams in the 800 free relay which placed second and third. The 'A' team of Kaplanova, Fay, Maccherola, and sophomore Ashley Sippel finished in 7:32.53 for second. The 'B' team of Ryan, Godwin, junior Danielle Cruz, and freshman Tara Morrissette took third in 7:42.55.

On day three Godwin won the mile in 17:08.13 while Fay took third in 17:29.80. Kaplanova took the 200 breast title in 2:19.10, and Fitzpatrick took fourth in the 200 back in a time of 2:05.75. Maccherola and McKenney took second and fourth in the 100 free in times of 51.50 and 52.47, respectively.

UMBC swept the 200 fly as Esposito took the top spot in a time of 2:02.56, Sherman took second and Ryan took third in times of 2:03.76 and 2:07.33, respectively. The 400 freestyle relay team finished second in the final event of the meet. Maccherola, McKenney, freshman Ashley Miller and sophomore Erin Wohlers teamed up for the second place finish in a time of 3:28.88.

The team will have several weeks to enjoy this win as they do not compete again until January 9, 2010 when they face Drexel and Howard in a dual home meet.