UMBC

Neptune Beach, Fla.—The UMBC men’s lacrosse team opened the season by falling to Delaware (2-0), 15-7 in a benefit game for the Wounded Warrior Project at Fletcher Field.

Junior Ryan Smith led the way for the Retrievers with three goals in his debut, but three Blue Hen veterans were the difference makers in the game. UMBC outshot Delaware, 40-37, but UD senior netminder Tom Scherr made 15 saves, several against outstanding Retriever chances. Senior attackman Cam Howard had a seven-point game wiwth two goals and five assists, while sophomore Curtis Dickson tallied five goals and one assist.

UMBC was unable to take full advantage of 12 Blue Hen penalties, as they scored two of their four extra-man goals in the final period. After Delaware opened the scoring midway through the first half, UMBC freshman midfielder Jamie Kimbles scored his first collegiate goal, converting a Maxx Davis feed at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.

Delaware took the lead for good as Dickson scored at the 4:31 mark of the first quarter, closing the scoring for the first 15 minutes. Smith and senior midfielder Terry Kimener scored second quarter goals for UMBC, but the Blue Hens posted seven second period scores to forge a 9-3 halftime advantage. They scored nine times on just 19 shots, while UMBC posted three goals on 24 first half attempts.

Delaware built an 11-3 advantage with two goals in the first 2:03 of the third quarter before Smith got one back at the 11:22 mark. But UD freshman long-stick Tim Langmaid quelled any UMBC momentum by scoring just 12 seconds in the final quarter and the Blue Hens posted their third straight win over the Retrievers.

Kimener was the only other Retrievers with multiple points as he added two assists to his lone goal. UMBC freshman attackman David Scott also added his first collegiate goal to the UMBC ledger.

UMBC junior netminder Jeremy Blevins made nine saves in going the route for the Retrievers. Delaware sophomore midfielder Martin Cahill posted a four-point effort (3g, 1a) for the Blue Hens.

The Retrievers return to action next Saturday when they travel to Rutgers to face the Scarlet Knights.