Emily Coady scored three points against Delaware.

NEWARK, Del.—After falling behind, 4-2, the UMBC women’s lacrosse team (6-3) scored seven of the final 10 goals of the game to defeat host Delaware (2-5) by a score of 9-7 Sunday afternoon. At 6-3, the Retrievers are off to their best nine-game start since 1994.

After Delaware midfielder Julianna Jeffers gave the Blue Hens their 4-2 lead with 3:37 to go in the first half, UMBC junior defender Meagan Linkous (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) sparked a 3-0 UMBC run that included back-to-back goals by sophomore attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) just four seconds apart with less than a minute left.

Delaware midfielder Stephanie Allen found the back of the net with 19 seconds remaining in the period to tie the score at 5-5 at halftime.

Blue Hen attack Morgan Marino put the hosts back on top, 6-5, less than three minutes into the second stanza, but the Retrievers tallied four of the final five goals of the game. After junior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) converted a feed from junior midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) to put UMBC on top, 7-6, Delaware midfielder Morgan Leonard knotted the game with 8:46 remaining.

But UMBC sophomore attack Alicia Krause (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron/Duquesne) scored the eventual game winner just 1:24 later, and junior midfielder Ashley Stodter (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) tallied an insurance goal with 2:07 to go to seal the 9-7 victory.

Senior goalie Kate Quick (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep) made 10 saves for the Retrievers, while Delaware keeper Makenzi Worthington stopped 13 shots between the pipes.

Coady led the Retrievers with three points on two goals and an assist. Krause also tallied twice, while Pappas recorded three points on a goal and two helpers. Jeffers was the only Blue Hen with multiple points, as she scored two goals.

UMBC outshot Delaware, 26-21, and held an 11-7 advantage on draw controls, but the Blue Hens won the ground ball battle, 18-10.

The Retrievers return to action on Saturday, March 27, when they open America East play at Stony Brook.