Baltimore, MD - For the third time in four games, the UMBC men's soccer team (4-1-4, 0-0-2) played 120 minutes to a draw, as visiting Albany (3-4-2, 0-0-1) scored in the 76th minute to deadlock the America East Conference game.
UMBC's four draws ties the most they have in 18 years of Division I competition. The Retrievers were 8-9-4 in 1988.
The Albany rally put a damper on another outstanding performance by junior forward Derek McElligott. The Baltimore native scored both Retriever goals, giving him 9 in 9 games this season and 33 in his 46-game career. He is fourth on UMBC's all-time goals list and has the second-most goals of any Retriever Division I player.
McElligott, 13th in the nation in goals entering play today, got the Retrievers on the board at 20:06. Forward David Feazell knocked the ball down the line to a racing Danny Mongello. The junior midfielder penetrated deep into the right side of the box, and his centering pass was knocked into the right corner of the net by McElligott. But Albany struck back in the 31st minute, as Mongello committed a foul just outside the box, and Great Dane midfielder Savvis Theofilouâs' resulting direct kick rocketed off UMBC netminder Andy Marchica's outstretched hand and into the far left corner of the goal.
UMBC took a 2-1 lead at the 57:43 mark, as defender Marcus Gross flicked Mike Joseph's corner kick away from Albany netminder Bouna Coundoul and McElligott floated the ball just under the crossbar from close range. Both teams had numerous chances to score again, until Albany's Ousmane Toure had some good fortune at the 76:09 mark. Theofilou played the ball back to Toure at the 18-yard line, and his shot deflected off a Retriever defender, hit the right post and went across the goal line.
UMBC amassed 20 shots in the game to Albany's 17, and McElligott tested Coundoul six times, and dazzling Great Dane forward Yan Gbolo put seven shots at Marchica. Coundoul, the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year and current national saves leader with 8.25 per game, recorded 11 saves in the contest, while Marchica repelled five Albany shots on goal.
