UMBC

Erika Braerman posted a hat trick to lead the Retrievers against Towson.

BALTIMORE—The UMBC women’s lacrosse team (3-1) scored five straight second-half goals to rally from a halftime deficit and defeat 17th-ranked Towson (0-1) by a score of 10-9 Wednesday afternoon at UMBC Stadium. It was the Retrievers’ first win over their cross-town rival since 2002, snapping a streak of six straight losses to the Tigers.

Towson scored the first two goals of the game, but UMBC senior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and junior midfielder Alicia Krause (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron/Duquesne) found the back of the net just 31 seconds apart to tie the game, and junior attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) gave the Retrievers their first lead of the game, 3-2, with 18:05 to go in the half.

But Towson midfielder Ashley Waldron again knotted the score 30 seconds later, and the Tigers took a 4-3 lead on a goal by midfielder Kelly Custer with 6:19 remaining in the half.

Towson attack Jess Dunn extended the Tiger advantage to 5-3 just 1:56 into the second period, but UMBC senior midfielder Ashley Stodter (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) tallied a free-position goal at the 21:20 mark, sparking a 5-0 Retriever run that lasted more than 10 minutes and gave the hosts an 8-5 lead.

Dunn pulled the Tigers to within one with 5:14 to play with back-to-back goals, but Braerman and sophomore midfielder Lindsay Cox (High Bridge, N.J./Voorhees) again gave the Retrievers a three-goal advantage, 10-7, three minutes later.

Towson would not quit, however, scoring twice in a 10-second span to make it a one-goal game, 10-9, with 1:20 left. But UMBC senior midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) controlled the ensuing draw, and the Retrievers were able to run out the clock and hold on for the victory.

Braerman led all scorers with four points on three goals and an assist and was named America East Player of the Game. Krause, Stodter and Cox also scored twice apiece. Dunn led the Tigers with three goals, while Sarah Appelt tallied three assists.

Sophomore defender Jamie Fahey (Baldwin, Md./Loch Raven) recorded three ground balls, four draw controls and two caused turnovers, while Stodter added four ground balls and two caused turnovers.

UMBC senior goalie Natalie Rau (Forrest Hill, Md./Fallston) made seven saves, including six in the first half, while Towson keeper Mary Teeters stopped 20 shots.

The Retrievers outshot the Tigers, 35-16, including 20-6 in the second half. UMBC held a 17-10 advantage in ground balls and an 11-9 edge in draw controls.

The Retrievers return to action on Saturday, when they visit Duquesne.