BALTIMORE, Md. – Senior goalkeeper Caleigh Forti made 14 saves for American University lacrosse in a 13-10 loss to UMBC on Saturday afternoon, helping keep AU in the game after falling behind early. The Eagles cut a five-goal deficit to just two in the fourth quarter behind goals from Reagan Murdoch, Annabelle Jackson, and Kellie Linehan, but the comeback effort fell short. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• UMBC led the entire game after taking its first lead 48 seconds in.
• Forti was excellent in goal, denying the Retrievers 14 times. She now has 48 saves on the season. 
• Murdoch led the offensive effort for AU, recording her third hat trick this season and adding an assist. Jackson, Linehan, and Alyssa Apuzzo both scored a pair. 
• Sophomore midfielder Elly Skeels had a productive day off the bench for the Eagles, scooping up a team-high three ground balls and causing three turnovers.
• Unforced turnovers hurt the Eagles, as they finished with 12 and UMBC only caused four of them. 
• AU won 10 draw controls to UMBC's 17. Maddy Spratt led the way with three, while Skeels, Linehan, and Deirdre Brown had two apiece. 
• The Eagles were outshot 28 to 23, and 27 to 17 in shots on goal. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Katana Nelson converted a free position opportunity 48 seconds into the game to give UMBC the early lead. After a scoreless six-and-a-half minutes that included two saves from Caleigh Forti, UMBC scored again at the 7:39 mark to go up 2-0.
• The home side put in one more goal before Kellie Linehan got AU on the board at the 5:07 mark to make the score 3-1. Apuzzo followed with a tally of her own about 90 seconds later, finishing off a well-executed free position chance that started with good ball movement from Jackson and Murdoch. Apuzzo fired a backhanded shot with her back to the goal to beat UMBC's Isabella Fontana.  
• The Retrievers matched AU with back-to-back goals to close out the quarter and lead it 6-2.
• Both teams had two goals apiece in the second quarter to keep it a four-goal lead for UMBC, with both of American's goals coming from Murdoch. Forti made 10 saves in the half, including a free position denial of Emily Knapp with just four seconds remaining. The score was 8-4 going into the break. 
• Appuzo got AU started with a goal just under a minute in to the third quarter. Jackson added her first goal of the game at the 8:13 mark to cut the deficit to three, but the Eagles couldn't keep UMBC off the board. The Retrievers scored three goals to extend their lead to five headed into the fourth. 
• AU's comeback charge started at the 9:17 mark, as Murdoch netted her third goal of the game for the hat trick. Two minutes later, Jackson spun past her defender and beat Fontana to the near post. After a caused turnover by Skeels, Linehan dashed to the cage and buried her shot to the bottom right corner to make the score 11-9 with 4:17 remaining. 
• After a failed clear attempt by AU, UMBC ran 1:21 off the clock and scored to bring the lead back up to three. The Retrievers won the following draw control and scored on an open net, as Forti was forced to chase out of her crease. 
• Becca Frank scored the last goal for AU with 12 seconds remaining, making the final score 13-10. 

NEXT UP

The Eagles will return home for the first time in two weeks, hosting a local matchup with George Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Jacobs Complex. First draw is set for 1:00 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

• For the latest on AU Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).