Baltimore, Md.—The UMBC women's lacrosse team scored seven consecutive times in the first 9:13 and opened their 2007 season with a 23-7 win over Howard Univesity. The game was scheduled to be played at Howard, but field conditions necessitated the late change to UMBC Stadium.

Midfielders Kelly Fahey and Cara Dorr each scored twice in the opening surge. After Howard's Iram Abdullah got the Bison on the board 11:29 into the game, the Retrievers scored the next five goals to build a 12-1 advantage with 9:02 remaining in the first half. The Retrievers led 13-3 at intermission and cruised to the victory.

Eleven Retrievers posted multiple points, led by Ali Levendusky, who scored two goals and added four assists. Fahey added two goals and three assists, while three Retrievers, sophomore Abbey Swift and freshmen Amanda Gable and Natalie Cullers, led the goal scoring parade with three each.

Howard's Abdullah had game-high honors with five goals. Bison netminder Bianca Lamar faced 52 UMBC shots and repelled 19. UMBC sophomore netmidner Susie Sweeney played the first half and posted six saves, allowing three Howard scores. Freshman Kate Quick made two saves and allowed four goals in the second half.

The Retrievers host national power Maryland on Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Score by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
HOWARD..............  3  4 -  7
UMBC................ 13 10 - 23

HOWARD SCORING: GOALS: Abdullah, Iram 5; Holley, Sakita 1; Fitzgerald, Megan 1. ASSISTS: Morris, Shannon 1.

UMBC SCORING: GOALS: Gable, Amanda 3; Swift, Abbey 3; Cullers, Natalie 3; Levendusky, Ali 2; Fahey, Kelly 2; Dorr, Kara 2; Kasper, Jen 2; Keelan, Meghan 1; Spinnenweber, Lynnea 1; Burgoyne, Kelly 1; Licht, Heather 1; Cook, Megan 1; Pincus, Rachel 1.

ASSISTS: Levendusky, Ali 4; Fahey, Kelly 3; Chizmar, Maggie 2; Dorr, Kara 2; Burgoyne, Kelly 1; Kasper, Jen 1; Keelan, Meghan 1; Spinnenweber, Lynnea 1.

GOALIES - HOWARD: Lamar, Bianca (60:00 minutes, 42 shots-19 saves, 23 GA); UMBC Sweeney, Susie (30:00, 9-6, 3),Quick, Kate (30:00, 6-2, 4) SHOTS - HOWARD 20; UMBCW 52.

2007-02-17