BALTIMORE - Junior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) scored a career-best seven points to lead the UMBC women's lacrosse team (4-3) to an 11-6 victory over former Northeast Conference rival Monmouth (0-4) Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Stadium.
The America East Player of the Game, Braerman's seven points came on five goals and two assists, giving her career highs in goals (16) and points (27) through just seven games this season.
The Hawks scored three straight goals in a two-minute span to take a 4-2 lead midway through the first half, but the first of back-to-back scores by senior midfielder Amanda Gable (Mount Airy, Md./Glenelg) sparked a 5-0 UMBC run to end the half and give the Retrievers a 7-4 lead at intermission.
Braerman extended UMBC's run to six in a row with a goal at the 22:43 mark of the second stanza before Monmouth attack Rachel Feirstein tallied for the Hawks less than a minute later.
Braerman accounted for all the Retrievers' offense in the second half, scoring four times, while Monmouth scored just twice in the period.
Playing in just her second game of the season after recovering from injury, junior defender Meagan Linkous (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) tallied three points on two goals and an assist. Senior defender Sarah Willis (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) recorded six ground balls and five caused turnovers.
Monmouth midfielder Ali Pollock led the Hawks with five points on two goals and three assists.
Senior goalie Kate Quick (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep) registered nine saves between the pipes, while Monmouth keeper Kirby Mundorf stopped 16 shots.
The Retrievers outshot the Hawks, 30-22, and held a 28-20 advantage on ground balls, but Monmouth won the draw control battle, 11-5.
The Retrievers return to action next Wednesday, March 17, when they host American at 4 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.