UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Sophomore attack Meghan Keelan (Randallstown, Md./Mount de Sales) scored four goals and added four assists to lead an offensive barrage as the UMBC women’s lacrosse team defeated Howard, 23-11 in the season opener for both squads. The game marked the debut of Courtney Connor as UMBC’s head coach.

After Howard’s Sakita Holly took the opening draw and scored 12 seconds into the contest, UMBC reeled off eight consecutive goals in a span of 15 minutes to take command of the game. Keelan scored the game-tying goal just 1:16 into the game and junior attack Jenny Kasper (Eldersburg, Md./South Carroll) gave the Retrievers the lead for good 6:30 into the game. Sophomore attack Ali Levendusky (Baldwin, Md./John Carroll) scored two goals in the 8-0 run.

Howard scored eight goals on 12 first half shots and trimmed the deficit to 13-8 at halftime. But Levendusky scored 1:34 into the second half, opening a 4-0 UMBC run which pushed the lead to 17-8 eight minutes into the half. Howard junior midfielder Iram Abdullah scored her fifth and final goal of the game to end that run, but UMBC would outscore the Bison, 6-2 in the final 17:46 to coast to the victory.

Kasper added three goals and four assists to the Retriever effort, while Levendusky scored three goals and added three helpers. Junior midfielder Kelly Fahey (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) tallied four goals and an assist, as nine Retrievers scored multiple points.

Senior midfielder Brittany Merritt scored two goals and added two assists for the visitors, while freshman Sakita Holley added a pair of goals. UMBC outshot Howard, 50-23 and controlled 25 of 36 draws.