BURLINGTON, Vt. - Ryan Demato recorded a first-half hat trick and finished with his second four-goal game of the season in Saturday's 10-5 loss to Vermont in UMBC's America East Conference opener. The Retrievers drop to 1-5 on the season, while Vermont improves to 3-3. 

Demato pushed the Retrievers ahead on two different occasions in the second quarter, giving UMBC a 3-2 lead at the 11:28 mark and a 4-3 lead at the 6:22 mark. Demato also scored the first goal of the game for the Retrievers at the 10:21 mark of the opening quarter, tying the game at 1-1. Connor Chick joined Demato on the score sheet in the first half, sneaking one past Ryan Daly to tie the game at 2-2 in the first quarter. 

Vermont took a 5-4 lead into the break after a Zack Toll goal with 30 seconds remaining in the opening half. The Catamounts would score the first four goals of the second half to build a 9-4 lead before Demato added one to the total for UMBC with 1:13 left to play.

Jake Kucinski and Zack Johnson handed out assists for the Retrievers in the contest. 

UMBC had the advantage at the face-off X, as Alex Steers won 10-of-16 face-offs for UMBC. Steers had a game-high seven ground balls. Jameson Coffman caused three turnovers and picked up two ground balls for UMBC, while Dylan Hendrix added four ground balls and a caused turnover. Connor McMahon made eight saves in the losing effort for UMBC.

The Retrievers will host UAlbany on Saturday, March 21 as they continue America East play.