UMBC

Ali Levendusky scored five points in the loss to New Hampshire.

Durham, N.H.-Sophomore attack Ali Levendusky (Baldwin, Md./John Carroll) scored four goals for the Retrievers, but New Hampshire tallied 10 unanswered to end the game, as the UMBC women’s lacrosse team (7-5, 2-1 AEC) had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 20-9 loss to the America East rival Wildcats (7-4, 3-0 AEC).

Senior midfielder Kelly Fiorani (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) put the Retrievers on the board first with an unassisted goal just 1:55 into the game. But the Wildcats scored the next four and eight of the next nine to take an 8-2 lead with 16:11 to play in the first half.

The Retrievers scored two of the final three goals of the period and went into halftime trailing, 9-4. Fiorani and Levendusky each scored twice in the first half to account for all four UMBC goals.

The Retrievers opened the second half with a 5-1 run to pull to within one goal at 10-9. Senior midfielder Ede Carpenter (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville/CCBC-Catonsville) scored on a free-position shot just 46 seconds into the period and Levendusky tallied her fourth goal of the game at the 40:15 mark to cap UMBC’s scoring run.

But that would be the last goal the Retrievers would get, as UNH scored the final 10 goals of the game, holding UMBC scoreless for the last 19:35 of play for the 20-9 victory.

With the win, New Hampshire moves into sole possession of first place in the America East, a game ahead of second-place UMBC.

Levendusky led the Retrievers with five points on four goals and one assist, while Fiorani scored four points on two goals and two assists. Carpenter, junior attack Jen Kasper (Eldersburg, Md./South Carroll) and junior midfielder Kelly Fahey (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) notched the other three goals for UMBC.

Kristin Blanchette (6g) and Katie Leland (4g, 2a) led the Wildcats with six points apiece. Blanchette tallied three times during UNH’s game-ending 10-0 run, while Leland scored twice and added two helpers in that stretch.

UMBC freshman goalie Susie Sweeney (Madison, N.J./Madison) allowed 13 goals and recorded eight saves in 45:51, while freshman Jen Venter (Crownsville, Md./Annapolis Area Christian) played the final 14:09 in net and allowed seven goals. New Hampshire goalie Ashley Milley allowed nine goals and made three saves in 60 minutes.

The Wildcats out-shot the Retrievers, 34-14, and held a 35-31 advantage on ground balls. UMBC won the draw controls battle, 35-31. Freshman midfielder Laura Wilkin (Winter Springs, Fla./Lake Howell/Valencia CC) picked up a game-high eight ground balls for UMBC, while Fahey won a game-best five draws.

The Retrievers return to action Wednesday, April 12, when the host local rival Johns Hopkins at 4 p.m. at UMBC Stadium.