BALTIMORE – The UMBC women's lacrosse team is 4-0 for the first time in 25 years after polishing off American, 13-10, on Saturday afternoon at UMBC Stadium.
Senior midfielder Katana Nelson scored a game-high five goals, including a big goal with just over two minutes remaining to give the hosts some breathing room. Freshman attacker Emily Knapp recorded her fourth straight hat trick, while senior linemate Grace Bruce added a pair of markers. Junior attacker Lizzie Bateman distributed a game-high three assists while graduate goalie Isabella Fontana stopped seven shots in the cage.
The Retrievers went a perfect 17-of-17 on clears and won 17-of-27 draws, including a game-high eight by junior Lauryn Warfield.
UMBC jumped out to a 3-0 advantage over the first 9:12 of the contest. Nelson opened the scoring with a free position tally, and freshman Tess Curtis and Bruce (from Knapp) completed the stretch.
American (2-4) trimmed the deficit to 4-2 with 3:29 left in the opening frame, but Nelson and Knapp (from Staples) answered.
The Dawgs settled for an 8-4 advantage at the break as Knapp scored twice in the quarter.
The Retrievers extended their lead to 11-6 with 5:02 left in the third quarter after Nelson's unassisted goal.
The Eagles made a push, converting three straight times to inch closer, 11-9, with 4:52 remaining in the contest.
Nelson, however, scored an unassisted goal to stop the bleeding, and then Libby Staples (three ground balls, two caused turnovers) delivered a knock-out blow to make it 13-9 with just 1:33 left.
Reagan Murdoch led the Eagles with three goals, and Alyssa Apuzzo and three others scored a pair. Caleigh Forti made 14 saves in goal.
UMBC travels to William & Mary on Wednesday afternoon.
