Baltimore, MD - For the second time in two career meetings, UMBC (1-0-1) and Lafayette (1-0-1) battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie, but by virtue of goal differential, the Retrievers earned the adidas Kick Off Classic title.
UMBC defeated Colgate, 4-0, in their opener, and finished with a goal differential of +4, while Lafayette was +1, with their 2-1 victory over Robert Morris.
In the only other meeting between the schools, the teams played 150 minutes of scoreless soccer in the 1999 NCAA Play-In game in Easton, PA. UMBC went on to the NCAA Tournament by prevailing in penalty kicks.
The Retrievers controlled play throughout most of the contest, outshooting their guests, 10-4, and having nearly all of the quality scoring chances. But Leopard netminder Mike Tortora turned away both UMBC shots on goal and the Retrievers misfired on several other occasions. UMBC sophomore goalkeeper Andy Marchica (Paint Branch HS/Silver Spring, MD) also made a pair of saves, and has not been scored upon in 200 minutes this season. He has three shutouts in three career starts.
UMBC junior forward Derek McElligott (Greater Grace Christian Acad./Baltimore, MD) was named Tournament MVP with his two-goal effort vs. Colgate. McElligott, Marchica, defenders Justin Nall (Midlothian, VA) and Matt McGowan (Nottingham, England) and midfielder Danny Mongello (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) earned All Tournament Team honors for UMBC, while Leopard forward Jamie Mullarkey, midfielder Nick Caiella, and defender Tom Wajda were selected from Lafayette.
