NEWARK, Del. - Senior attack Ali Levendusky (Baldwin, Md./John Carroll) posted another hat trick - her sixth of the season - but the UMBC women's lacrosse team (2-5) dropped its third straight game, 16-8, to host Delaware (3-1) Monday evening.
The Retrievers held a 2-1 lead with 19:38 remaining in the first half on goals by sophomore midfielder Kelly Burgoyne (Sykesville, Md./Century) and freshman midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake), but the Blue Hens scored four straight goals and eight of the last 10 to take a 9-4 halftime advantage. Delaware attack Nicole Flego scored three times during that stretch, while attack Casey McCrudden and midfielder Katie Muth each tallied twice.
The Blue Hens scored the first five goals of the second half to take a commanding 14-4 lead with two more tallies each by Flego and McCrudden.
Levendusky scored three straight goals in a six-minute span to pull the Retrievers to within seven, but UMBC would get no closer.
Levendusky was the only Retriever with multiple goals, while freshman attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) scored the first of her career. Senior attack Meghan Keelan (Randallstown, Md./Mount de Sales) tallied two points on a goal and an assist.
Flego and McCrudden finished with a game-high five goals and five points apiece, while attack Emily Schaknowski posted four points on two goals and two assists.
UMBC junior Susie Sweeney (Madison, N.J./Madison) went the distance in goal for the Retrievers and recorded 13 saves, while Jessica Cerveney played all 60 minutes in the cage for the Blue Hens and stopped six shots.
Delaware out-shot UMBC, 37-20, including 22-9 in the first half. The Blue Hens also edged the Retrievers, 14-12, in draw controls and ground balls.
The retrievers return to action on Saturday, March 15, when they take on cross-town rival Towson at 12 p.m.