Smithfield, R.I. – Host Bryant took a 9-4 halftime lead and held off hard-charging UMBC, 17-13, at Beirne Stadium in the America East opener for both squads.

Junior attackman Mateo Brown posted his second five-goal game of the season and added two assists to pace the Retrievers. Graduate student linemate Brett Baucia contributed a pair of goals and three assists.

Both teams are now 5-2 overall. The game was Bryant's first in men's lacrosse as a member of the America East Conference.

UMBC trailed, 15-8, with 11:42 remaining, but scored four times in a span of 3:03 to cut the gap to 15-12. Brown started and ended the run with goals and Baucia assisted on three of the four tallies. Junior face-off specialist Zach Dudley won the ensuing draw and after three UMBC off-target shots, the Retrievers drew a one-minute penalty. The visitors took four shots on the man-up, but three of four were off the mark. UMBC had two additional possessions to cut the gap to a pair, but Bulldog goalkeeper Teagan Alexander made a pair of saves.

The Bulldogs broke through with 70 seconds remaining to restore a four-goal lead, but Dudley won the next face-off and worked a give and go with Brown to score and cut the deficit back to 16-13 just nine seconds later. But Bryant won the next draw and sealed the win with a score at the 14:13 mark.

Bohanan added two goals, Dudley contributed a goal and an assist and sophomore midfielder Jordan Galloway contributed two assists.

Junior goalkeeper Jayson Tingue was credited with 11 saves as Bryant pumped 49 shots toward the Retriever goal. UMBC was a perfect 19-for-19 on clearing attempts.

UMBC scored the game's first goal as senior Taylor Bohanan got on the board 3:02 into the game. Bryant would counter with a pair, but Dudley won the next face-off and fed Brown for his first goal of the game at the 9:50 mark of the period to knot the score at 2-2.

The Bulldogs closed the quarter with a goal, opening up a critical 7-1 run to put the hosts in front, 9-3, with 1:50 to play in the first half. Brown would end the drought with an unassisted tally at the 14:01 mark.

Bryant led, 13-7, after three quarters.

UMBC returns home and faces Merrimack on Saturday, March 25 at noon. The Warriors are new associate members of America East in men's lacrosse.