Raleigh, N.C. - The UMBC men's soccer team stayed undefeated on the season with a win over N.C. State on Wednesday afternoon at SAS Soccer Park. The Retrievers jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first stanza and held off the Wolfpack in the second half to move to 3-0-1 on the year. With the loss the Wolfpack drop to 4-2.
The Retrievers capitalized on their first shot of the game in the fifth minute as Mike Pennacchia (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) crossed a ball into the box where teammate Marcus Gross (Barnstaple, England/Park School) headed the ball into the back of the twine to put the Retrievers ahead 1-0.
The assist was Pennacchia's, who was tabbed America East Co-Player of the Week last week, fifth point in the last two games after scoring two of the Retrievers' three goals, including the game winner, last Saturday at Mount St. Mary's.
Before the half expired the Retrievers added what proved to be the game-winner at the 36:29 mark as Powell Cucchiella (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) captured a through ball from freshman Matt Watson (Redditch, England/Bridley Moor) and drove down the right side of the field. Challenged by Wolfpack goaltender Jorge Gonzalez, Cucchiella slotted the ball into the lower corner.
After falling behind 2-0 at the half, the Wolfpack came out of the locker room firing with a 10-3 advantage in shots. NC State would score a goal in the 55th minute, but could not find the eventual equalizer and suffered its first home loss of the season.
Junior Aaron King scored the Pack's lone goal of the game at the 54:29 mark. After UMBC failed to clear the ball from its own penalty area, King corralled the ball and fired a shot to net his second goal of the season. It was not enough however, as the Retrievers held on for the 2-1 victory.
Andy Marchica (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) made four saves in the game for the Retrievers.
UMBC returns home to face another highly touted program as Old Dominion and the Retrievers will square off on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. at UMBC Soccer Stadium.
