THE BASICS:
 
RESULT: UMBC 8, Hartford 3
RECORDS: Hartford (3-9, 0-5 AE); UMBC (657, 3-2 AE)
LOCATION: UMBC Stadium (Baltimore, Md.)
 
THE LEAD:
 
UMBC's defense clamped down to hold off the visiting University of Hartford men's lacrosse team and take an 8-3 decision over the Hawks at UMBC Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Steven Zichelli netted three goals to pace the Retrievers, who put up five goals during a 36-minute scoring drought for the Hawks to seal the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• A low-scoring start saw the Hawks and Retrievers exchange goals to the tune of a 2-2 score with 10:59 left to play until halftime. Senior Justin Huggins pulled Hartford out of an early one-goal deficit with 8:25 left in the first on a man-up tally before classmate Griffin Feiner leveled the score again early in the second.
• UMBC's defense clamped down, though, and held the Hawks scoreless for the remainder of the half. Jack Andrews and Billy Nolan each scored during that stretch to send the Retrievers into the halftime break with a 4-2 lead.
• Hartford's scoring woes continued after halftime. Held off the scoreboard for the entire third stanza, UMBC tacked on two more goals during that stretch, with Zichelli's last-second goal extending the Retrievers' lead to four (6-2) heading into the final stanza.
• The rally continued for UMBC, as Brett Baucia found the back of the net with 13:19 remaining before Zichelli extended the Retrievers' run to five goals and made it an 8-2 lead for his team with 10:13 left in the fourth.
• Senior Trevor O'Brien halted a 36-plus minute scoring drought and put an end to the Retrievers' run with 5:52 remaining, but it wasn't enough for the Hawks to muster up a comeback bid as UMBC took the eventual 8-3 win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE & NOTES:
 

• Despite the setback, senior Dylan Protesto had a solid outing at the faceoff X for the Hawks, going 11-of-14 with five ground balls.
• The Hawks turned the ball over 20 times to UMBC's 15 miscues.
• Billy O'Hara accounted for four of UMBC's 10 caused turnovers on the afternoon.
• UMBC outshot Hartford, 28-25, but the Hawks won the ground-ball battle by a 28-20 margin.

 
NEXT ON TAP:
The Hawks return home for their 2018 season finale next Saturday, when they play host to first-place UAlbany on Senior Day. Prior to the 1 p.m. opening faceoff from Al-Marzook Field, Hartford will honor its 11-member senior class.