UMBC

Baltimore, Md.-Fourth-seeded New Hampshire (11-6) scored seven of eight first-half goals and held on for a 12-5 victory over top-seeded UMBC (10-8) in the first America East Championships semifinal game at UMBC Stadium Friday morning.

The Wildcats dominated the Retrievers in the first half, scoring the first four goals of the game. Junior attack Jen Kasper scored UMBC’s first goal on an assist from sophomore attack Ali Levendusky at the 14:39 mark, but New Hampshire tallied the final three of the half and took a 7-1 lead into the break.

Kristin Blanchette led the first-half attack for UNH, scoring twice and adding two assists.

Junior midfielder Kelly Fahey tallied the first goal of the second half on an assist from senior midfielder Kelly Fiorani at the 5:11 mark, but the Wildcats scored five of the next six in an 8:50 span to jump out to a 12-3 advantage. Fiorani scored the Retrievers’ lone goal in that time.

Senior defender Julie Libertini and Levendusky each scored in the final minutes for UMBC, but it was not enough, as New Hampshire held on for the 12-5 victory to earn a berth in the finals Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats will face the winner of Friday afternoon’s contest between No. 2 Boston University and No. 3 Stony Brook.

Kasper, Levendusky and Fiorani each tallied two points on a goal and an assist apiece.

Fiorani’s two points give her sole possession of third place on UMBC’s all-time points list with 189.

Blanchette scored a game-high five points on three goals and two assists, while UNH’s Katie Leland led all scorers with four goals.

UMBC freshman goalie Susie Sweeney recorded five saves in the loss, while New Hampshire’s Ashley Milley stopped three shots.

The Wildcats out-shot the Retrievers, 30-12 and held a 14-11 advantage on ground balls and an 11-8 advantage on draw controls.