BALTIMORE - The UMBC women's lacrosse team dropped an 18-14 decision against the Vermont Catamounts in the regular-season finale for both squads. Despite the setback, the Retrievers will be the No. 4 seed in the 2025 America East Conference Tournament and will take on top-seeded Bryant in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Friday afternoon.

Senior attackman Grace Bruce led UMBC with three goals, an assist, and seven draw controls. Senior midfielder Katana Nelson, junior midfielder Lauryn Warfield, freshman attacker Emily Knapp, and junior attacker Lizzie Bateman scored two goals. Graduate student Isabella Fontana made nine saves in 51:12 off the bench.

UMBC (11-4, 3-3 AE) opened the scoring as Warfield tallied off a feed from junior midfielder Libby Staples just fifty seconds into the contest.

Freshman attacker Annika Wray gave the hosts their final lead of the day, 2-1, with 12:43 left in the opening stanza after Bateman (two assists) found her in front of the net. 

Vermont (6-9, 2-4 AE) then went on a monster 10-1 run over the next 17 plus minutes to take an 11-3 advantage with 9:21 left in the second quarter.  

The Retrievers cut the deficit to 12-7 at intermission as Nelson and Bruce scored consecutive goals to end the second quarter.

The hosts were still within striking range, 15-11, with 13:19 left in the fourth quarter but Vermont received back-to-back goals from Maddie Erskine and Meghan O'Connor to widen their lead to 17-11 at the 10:52 mark. The Retrievers were unable to make a run the rest of the way.

O'Connor led the visitors with six goals and distributed three assists.  Karina Seth produced four goals, while Lydia Doraz contributed three tallies. Anna Rosenberger made eight saves in goal.