Huge First Half Leads Women's Lacrosse to 19-7 Win Over George Mason in Season Opener

BALTIMORE—Senior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) tallied a career-high eight points and the UMBC women's lacrosse team (1-0) scored 11 straight goals in the first half in a 19-7 victory over George Mason (0-1) Friday evening at UMBC Stadium in the season opener for both teams.

George Mason midfielder Allie Hilderbrandt put the Patriots on the board first just 47 seconds into the game, but the Retrievers responded with 11 unanswered goals over the next 19 minutes to take control of the game.

Junior attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) started the offensive barrage with back-to-back goals. Junior midfielder Alicia Krause (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron/Duquesne) scored three times during the run, while Braerman and sophomore midfielder Lindsay Cox (High Bridge, N.J./Voorhees) both tallied twice.

George Mason midfielder Caitlin Formato interrupted the run with consecutive goals on free-position shots, but UMBC senior midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) gave the Retrievers a 12-3 halftime lead with her second goal of the game.

Braerman scored right out of the gate in the second stanza, but the Patriots tallied four of the next six goals to pull to within 15-7 with 11:19 remaining. But Braerman's fifth goal of the game gave the momentum back to the Retrievers, who scored the game's final four goals for the 19-7 victory.

The America East Player of the Game, Braerman matched career highs with five goals and three assists, and the five goals came on just five shots. Krause tallied a career-best four goals and five points, while Coady and Pappas also notched hat tricks. Sophomore defender Jamie Fahey (Baldwin, Md./Loch Raven) picked up four ground balls and caused four turnovers to lead the Retrievers on the defensive end.

Formato paced the Patriots with three goals, while midfielder Emily Ellisen tallied twice.

Sophomore goalie Kendall Mason (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) recorded four saves between the pipes, while George Mason keeper Brittany Pastrana stopped seven shots.

The Retrievers outshot the Patriots, 31-12, including 19-5 in the first half. UMBC also held a 19-14 ground ball advantage and a 15-13 edge in draw controls.

The Retrievers return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 23, when they take on Florida in Gainesville, Fla.

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