Baltimore, MD - Freshman forward Kevin Gnatiko (Montgomery Village, Md./Watkins Mill) scored just 41 seconds into overtime as host UMBC (8-4-3, 5-1-0 America East) nipped Maine (2-9-2, 0-4-2), 1-0, before 660 soggy fans on Homecoming Day at UMBC.
The win assures that UMBC will be a part of the six-team America East Tournament, which will begin on November 5. The Retrievers currently sit atop the standings with 15 points with games remaining at Boston University(Oct. 29) and vs. Stony Brook (Nov. 2).
"I am excited that we have accomplished our main goal for this season, which was to get back to the league tournament," Head Coach Pete Caringi said. After earning the tournament's #1 seed in 2003, UMBC initial season in the America East, the Retrievers finished seventh a year ago.
UMBC controlled the play throughout most of the first 70 minutes, but the Black Bears picked up their play in the final stages of regulation. But the Retrievers struck quickly in overtime as sophomore midfielder Matt Watson (Redditch, England) sent a through ball which Gnatiko captured at full steam 25 yards from the goal. He came straight at charging Maine netminder Chad Mongeon, then deked him to the right, and tapped the ball into an unguarded net from four yards away.
Gnatiko, a reserve forward, scored his third goal of the year, but his first since September 9 (12 games) vs. Rider.
The Retriever defense posted its seventh shutout in the last eight games and all five America East wins have come by shutout. America East teams have scored just two goals in their last 11 trips to Baltimore. UMBC outshotMaine, 11-2, and UMBC freshman goalkeeper Steve King (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) did not make any saves to post his seventh shutout in eight collegiate starts.
Mongeon made four saves for the Black Bears, who fall to 1-5 in games decided by one goal this year. UMBC is now 2-0-3 in overtime in 2005.
With the win, UMBC also extended its home unbeaten streak to 28 (20-0-8) straight in the regular season, dating back to 2002.
