DURHAM, N.H. - The UMBC women's lacrosse fought a hard battle against the New Hampshire Wildcats but ultimately fell, 15-10, on Saturday morning. 

STRAIGHT FACTS

The Retrievers got out to a hot start as Payton Van Kirk (Ocean City, Md./Stephen Decatur) and Catherine Sims (Elkridge, Md./Howard) each scored in the first 36 seconds of the game.

Van Kirk gave the Retrievers an early 3-0 lead after she netted her second of the day with 26:47 to go in the first half.

The Wildcats used a five-goal run to take the lead, 5-3 before Sims cut into with a free position goal at the 11:40 mark.

UNH went on another four-goal scoring stretch to take a 9-4 lead before Zoë Pekins (Columbia, Md./Hammond) scored the final goal of the first half.

The Retrievers came out firing in the second half as Lauren McDonald (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) kicked off a five-goal run just 47 seconds into the period.

Sims and Grayson Corbett (Ellicott City, Md./Wilde Lake) scored to cut into UNH's lead, 9-8, with 22:46 to go, before Olivia Docal (Glenwood, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) tied the game up at 9-all ten seconds later.

Lily Kennedy (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) put the Retrievers ahead, 10-9 with 21:40 on the clock before the Wildcats tied it up five minutes later.

After the Wildcats scored two straight to take a 12-10 lead with 12:51 on the clock, the Retrievers saw shots from Corbett and Van Kirk, but New Hampshire was able to keep the Retrievers out of the net to preserve their lead.

A free position shot by Docal at the 5:10 mark was saved by the Wildcats, keeping the Retrievers out of the net.

The Wildcats closed out the last 1:41 of the game on a three-goal scoring run for the 15-10 victory.

FOR THE RECORD

New Hampshire moves to 9-5 overall and 4-1 in America East contests. UMBC falls to 5-10 on the season and 3-2 in conference play.

BY THE NUMBERS

17 - The Retrievers owned the draw control battle against the Wildcats, 17-10. Brittany Levine (Middletown, Md./Middletown) controlled a team-high eight draws on the day.

8 - Carly Tolino (Middletown, Md./Middletown) made eight saves in goal.

5 - Levine was also the team leader in ground balls, picking up on the day. She and Jenna Baverman (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country School) led the team with three caused turnovers.

3 - Sims (3g), Van Kirk (2g, 1a), and Kennedy (1g, 2a) led the team with three points.

UP NEXT

The Retrievers will return home on Saturday, April 20 for the regular season finale against UMass Lowell at 3 p.m. The game will serve as a doubleheader with the men's team, who will also host the River Hawks at 12 p.m.