UMBC secured a berth in the post-season NEC Tournament with a convincing 4-0 win over Monmouth before a Homecoming Day crowd of 635 at UMBC Soccer Stadium. The Retrievers improved to 10-5-2 overall, 7-1-1 in the Northeast Conference, while Monmouth fell to 5-9, 3-3.
Senior netminder Brian Rowland set a pair of records in the match. He recorded his ninth shutout of the season, breaking his own single season mark of 8, set back in the 2000 season. The game also marked the 23rd career shutout for Rowland, a new school record. The Toronto, Ontario native now has three straight shutouts and has allowed just 2 goals in UMBC's last seven games.
Sophomore forward Derek McElligott was the offensive hero for the Retrievers. He opened the scoring, knocking home a losse ball in a goal mouth scramble at the 16:17 mark. Late in the half, at 42:21, his cross was volleyed home by Marco Angelini from ten yards out past a diving MU netminder Arthur Satterwhite. McElligott scored his eleventh goals of the season and fourth in UMBC's last three games, by converting an Alex Wilmot lead pass at the 75:24 mark.
Freshman Powell Cucchiella, who entered the game for McElligott late in the half, scored his first collegiate goal to wrap up the scoring at 80:38.
Rowland made a season high seven saves to preserve the shutout. Satterwhite made four saves for MU, as the Retrievers outshot the Hawks, 16-12.
UMBC can finish no lower than third in the NEC, as they have one remaining game at Mt. St. Mary's on November 3. The Retrievers have earned a spot in the four-team post-season tournament in all five years in the NEC.
