UMBC

Lindsay Cox scored three second-half goals during UMBC's comeback.

ALBANY, N.Y.—The third-seeded UMBC women’s lacrosse team (11-6) scored six of the final game’s final seven goals, including the game-winner by junior attack Emily Coady (Westminster, Md./Westminster) just 20 seconds into overtime, to rally from a four-goal deficit and defeat defending America East champion and second-seeded Boston University (8-9) by a score of 12-11 Thursday afternoon in the America East semifinals.

The Retrievers advance to their second straight title game, where they will face top-seeded and eighth-ranked Albany (16-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Great Danes defeated UMBC, 12-11, on the same field just a week ago.

The Retrievers trailed, 10-6, with 14:20 left in regulation before senior attack Erika Braerman (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and sophomore midfielder Lindsay Cox (High Bridge, N.J./Voorhees) tallied back-to-back goals just 25 seconds apart. Senior midfielder Amanda Pappas (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) made it three straight for UMBC, pulling the Retrievers to within one goal, 10-9, with 11:01 to play.

BU attack Molly Swain interrupted UMBC’s run with a free-position goal at the 7:27 mark and appeared to give the Terriers some breathing room, but Cox completed her hat trick – her second in as many games – with 2:33 remaining, and Pappas followed with her fourth goal of the day on a free-position shot 38 seconds later to tie it up.

The Retrievers had the ball down the stretch, but senior midfielder Ashley Stodter’s (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) last-second shot was saved by BU goalie Christina Sheridan, sending the game into overtime.

The Terriers won the opening draw of the extra session, but UMBC freshman midfielder Kristen Bilney (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) caused a turnover and picked up the ground ball, setting up Coady’s only goal of the game 20 seconds into overtime. It was the Retrievers’ first and only lead of the game.

BU got off just one shot during the six-minute period, which UMBC senior goalie Natalie Rau (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) saved, and the Retrievers were able to run out the clock to hold on for the win.

Boston University took a 4-1 lead after the first 21 minutes of play, but the Retrievers scored three of the final four goals of the first half and trailed by just one, 5-4, at the break.

Cox found the back of the net just 48 seconds into the second stanza, but the Terriers responded with four in a row and five of the next six to take a 10-6 advantage midway through the period.

Pappas and Braerman each tallied a game-high five points, as Pappas scored four goals and added an assist, while Braerman scored twice and recorded three helpers. Cox also scored three goals, while Stodter tallied twice.

Swain and attack Danielle Etrasco, the America East Co-Player of the Year, led the Terriers with four goals apiece.

Rau made nine saves in the game, while Sheridan stopped 10 shots.

The Retrievers outshot the Terriers, 33-24, and held an 18-16 advantage on ground balls and a 14-13 edge in draw controls.

UMBC advances to the America East title match for the second year in a row. Last season, the Retrievers knocked off top-seeded Albany in the semifinals before falling to the Terriers in the championship game.

The win was the first for UMBC over Boston University since 2006, and this marks the first time since 1998 that the Terriers, who have won the last six America East Championships, will not appear in the finals.

Notes: Braerman moved into second place all-time at UMBC with 60 career assists, and she is the first Retriever ever to dish out at least 20 helpers in back-to-back seasons… Pappas took over 12th place on UMBC’s career scoring list with 112 goals.