LOWELL, Mass–Junior Riley Lawhorn (Amherst, N.H.) posted a season-high three-point game, and freshman Johnny Soi (Kerhonkson, N.Y.) picked up a pair of points as the UMass Lowell lacrosse team (0-9, 0-4 AE) fell to the UMBC Retrievers (4-4, 3-1 AE), 21-5, on Saturday afternoon.
 
As Lawhorn and Soi extended their scoring streaks to two games and four games, respectively, the River Hawks also received output from sophomore Jackson Dean (Deer Park, Wash.) and freshman Jayden Consigli (Franklin, Mass.), as both chipped in with a goal. A goaltending tandem of sophomore Luke Renaud (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and freshman Carter O'Brien (Concord, Mass.) split time between the pipes, each making eight saves in what was O'Brien's collegiate debut.
 
The Retrievers opened the first period hot, scoring six straight goals in just over ten minutes for the early lead. UMass Lowell, however, didn't back down. Lawhorn took matters into his own hands, dodging to his left at 3:01 before lacing a shot to the right side of the net to get the River Hawks on the board. Dean made it 6-2 just 1:39 later, placing a step-down shot into the goal on a feed from Soi, with the sequence kickstarted by freshman Joe Girardi (Watertown, N.Y.) who forced a turnover to get UMass Lowell transitioning to offense. However, UMBC got the goal back 56 seconds later to head into the second quarter with a 7-2 lead.
 
Renaud started the second strong, making a handful of saves in the opening two minutes to keep the deficit at five. Moments later, the Retrievers increased their lead to 8-2 at 3:01 into the second frame, but UMass Lowell responded with a tally of their own, as Lawhorn found Consigli cutting to the crease, threading the needle to his teammate to slice the advantage to 8-3. Although UMBC went on a 3-0 run, UMass Lowell nearly responded with fireworks when Renaud hurled a full-length pass to freshman Colby Friggon (Providence, R.I.) on the opposing crease, who fired off the shot, but a save by the UMBC goalkeeper kept it an 11-3 game at the break.
 
UMass Lowell came out of the half with an impressive defensive effort, holding the visitors scoreless for well over five minutes of play. The Retrievers found their rhythm though, netting three goals in three minutes to make it 14-3 with 6:49 on the clock. Soi scored his eighth of the season to combat the run, dodging to his right on the top of the offensive zone before finding the top corner at to make it 14-4 with just under six to go. After UMBC found the back of the net at 5:23, O'Brien made a diving split save at 2:33 to keep the score at 15-4 with one quarter left on the docket.
 
UMBC extended its lead to 17-4 to start the final period before Lawhorn scored his second of the game on a feed from senior Garrett Murphy (Billerica, Mass.). Murphy controlled the ball behind the UMBC net, delivering a pass to a cutting Lawhorn for the catch-and-shoot. The Retrievers added four goals in the final 6:36 of play, sealing the 21-5 final score.
 
Next up, the River Hawks travel to Merrimack for a 5 p.m. start on Friday, April 12.