BALTIMORE - Sophomore midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) scored the game-tying and the game-winning goals in the final three minutes to lead the UMBC women's lacrosse team (3-3) to a 9-8 victory over Delaware (0-3) Monday evening at UMBC Stadium.
With 2:36 left on the clock and the Blue Hens leading by one, 8-7, Delaware defender Amanda Lahiff was given a yellow card, which put her team at a disadvantage for the remainder of the game. Just 18 seconds later, Pappas found the back of the net on a free-position shot to tie the score.
Neither team could hold onto the ball after the ensuing draw, as they combined to commit five turnovers in the next 1:25, but the Retrievers finally gained possession when sophomore defender C.J. Durham (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) caused a miscue with 49 seconds left. The Blue Hens were called for a foul 12 seconds later, clearing the way for Pappas' game-winner with 33 seconds left in the game.
Delaware had one final chance when it won the next draw, but Julianna Jeffers was called for a charge with nine seconds remaining, and UMBC was able to run out the clock to earn its first victory over the Blue Hens since 2006.
The first half saw four ties and two lead changes, as neither team led by more than one goal. Delaware led, 4-3, with 4:10 remaining in the period before junior midfielder Amanda Gable (Mount Airy, Md./Glenelg) converted a feed from freshman attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) to tie the score with 40 seconds left. But Lahiff won the ensuing draw, and Delaware attack Nicole Flego scored 20 seconds later to send the Blue Hens into the locker room with a 5-4 halftime advantage.
The visitors scored the first two goals of the second half to take a game-high 7-4 lead with 15:20 left. But Coady and freshman midfielder Bria Phillips (Davidsonville, Md./Coronado (Calif.)) tallied three straight in a span of 2:15 to tie it up at the 8:55 mark.
Delaware midfielder Debbie Sloan gave the Blue Hens an 8-7 lead with 3:16 remaining before Pappas' back-to-back goals gave UMBC the win.
Pappas tied her career high with three goals to lead the Retrievers. Coady also scored three points on two goals and an assist. Gable scored twice in the first half, and both of her goals tied the game.
Junior defender Sarah Willis (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) picked up a game-high six ground balls and caused four turnovers, while Phillips corralled four ground balls and also caused four miscues.
Sloan led all scorers with five points on two goals and three assists for Delaware. Jeffers was the only other Blue Hen with multiple points, as she tallied twice in the first half.
UMBC junior goalie Kate Quick (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep), the reigning America East Defender of the Week, made eight saves, while Delaware keeper Jessica Cerveny also stopped eight shots.
The Retrievers return to action on Friday, March 13, when they host Old Dominion at 4 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.
