UMBC

Kara Dorr scored two points, including the game-winning goal against Albany.

Baltimore, Md.-Freshman midfielder Kara Dorr’s (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) free-position goal with 18 seconds remaining lifted the UMBC women’s lacrosse team (5-4, 1-0 AEC) past Albany (5-3, 0-1 AEC), 9-8, in both team’s America East Conference opener.

Junior midfielder Kelly Fahey (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) scored right out of the gates, giving UMBC a 1-0 lead just 42 seconds into the game. But Albany scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead at the 8:51 mark.

The Retrievers tallied the next three to go back up 4-3 with 2:08 to play in the first half, but the Great Danes scored the final two goals of the period to take a 5-4 lead into halftime. Albany scored the first of the second half on a free-position shot by Brittany Scott at the 44:14 mark for the 6-4 lead, and the two teams traded two goals apiece over the next two minutes.

With Albany ahead, 8-6, the Retrievers tallied three unanswered goals, capped by Dorr’s game-winner with 18 seconds to play, for the 9-8 victory.

Fahey and junior attack Jen Kasper (Eldersburg, Md./South Carroll) each scored twice, while sophomore attack Meghan Keelan (Randallstown, Md./Mount de Sales) tallied a goal and added two assists for a team-high three points. Dorr and junior attack Heather Licht (Sparks, Md./Hereford) each posted a goal and an assist for two points. Dorr also picked up a game-high five ground balls.

Other scorers for the Retrievers included senior midfielder Kelly Fiorani (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty), who scored her team-leading 22nd goal, and freshman attack Abbey Swift (Baltimore, Md./Towson), who notched her fourth of the season.

Albany’s Krissy Rajczak led all scorers with three goals, two assists and five points. Nikki Donohue also tallied twice and added an assist for three points in the losing effort.

UMBC freshman goalie Susie Sweeney (Madison, N.J./Madison) stopped six shots while allowing eight goals, while Albany keeper Jen Daly registered 13 saves and allowed nine goals.

The Retrievers out-shot the Great Danes, 31-22, including 16-8 in the second half. UMBC also held a 30-25 advantage on ground balls and won the draw controls battle, 10-9.

UMBC concludes its four-game home stand Saturday, April 1, hosting defending America East champion Boston University at 1 p.m.