WASHINGTON, D.C. – First year co-head coaches Tony Giro and Amy Appelt opened their tenures at the helm of UMBC women's lacrosse with a 15-12 victory over American on Saturday afternoon at Jacobs Field. Senior midfielder Lindsay Cox (High Bridge, N.J./Voorhees) and sophomore Alyssa Semones (Westminster, Md./Westminster/Penn State) tallied four goals apiece, while junior midfielder Kristen Bilney (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) registered the game-winner in the victory.

UMBC opens the season with a victory for the fourth time in the last five years, while American starts the season 0-2.     

The Retrievers wasted no time, jumping on the board 28 seconds into the contest on a goal from sophomore attack Abby Wilson (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) – assists by Sam Nolan (Fallston, Md./Fallston).

UMBC and American traded goals in the opening half, with neither team able gain more than a two goal advantage in the period. The Eagles scored three-straight to jump out in front 6-4 on a goal from Alex Lugovina – one of her four on the afternoon – with 11:50 remaining in the first stanza, but the Retrievers strung together a pair of scores, the first coming on a free position shot from junior attack Shannon Harkey (Purcellville, Va./Loudon Valley). Followed by Cox's second goal of the contest to knot up the game at six apiece.

AU's Kimberly Collins gave American the one goal advantage with 29 seconds to go in the first. Cox tried to retaliate after a won draw control from Wilson, but goalkeeper Teal Harrison made the stop. Harrison recorded all six of her saves in the first stanza.  

The Retrievers opened the second with a pair of goals 31 seconds apart. Sophomroe attack Jordan Lyons (Peterborough, Ontario/St. Peter's Secondary) notched her first collegiate goal at the 28:10 mark, coming on a pass from Wilson. Senior defender Jamie Fahey (Baldwin, MD./Loch Raven) set up Bilney for her second score of 2013 to put UMBC on top 8-7.

Emily Maher tied the contest for the Eagles with her first of two goals on the afternoon with 26:46 remaining. Semones took advantage of UMBC being a man up and punched home her second goal of the contest to give the Retrievers the lead for good. The black and gold added to their advantage, scoring four of the next five goals in the contest, including the game-winner from Bilney, a free position shot with a man advantage.  

UMBC held a 25-19 shot advantage in the contest. UMBC senior netminder Kendall Mason (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) earned the start for the Retrievers and made five stops in the game.

The Retrievers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when they host California at 5 p.m. at the UMBC Stadium.