Towson, MD--It was a day of firsts for UMBC Men's Soccer.
The Retrievers (3-0-1) won their first Battle of Baltimore Soccer Tournament with a 2-1 victory over two-time defending champion Loyola before 749 fans at Towson Center Field. The triumph was UMBC's first-ever over the Greyhounds (2-1), who were 17-0-2 against their crosstown rivals entering the contest.
Tournament Offensive Most Valuable Player Derek McElligott gave the Retrievers a 1-0 lead at the 10:56 mark. Defender Mike Pennachia sent a ball through to the wing to midfielder Danny Mongello. Mongello crossed it, and McElligott scored his second goal of the tournament and fourth of the season by deflecting it in off his body.
The lead was short-lived as Loyola scored the first goal vs. UMBC in over 300 minutes this season at the 14:37 mark. Kevin Nash's 25-yard blast eluded Retriever netminder Andy Marchica and tied the contest. But the Retrievers to the game-winner just under six minutes later. McElligott head forward Marco Angelini's cross toward the goal, where midfielder Mike Joseph beat his defender and scored from in close.
UMBC held on despite playing a man down for eleven minutes and two men down for 17 seconds. Angelini received his second yellow carde of the game at the 78:29 mark and Marcus Gross, the tournament's Defensive MVP, picked up his second with 17 ticks left. UMBC only allowed a pair of second half shots, as they outshot the Greyhounds, 8-5.
