Baltimore--The visiting Boston University Terriers scored twice in the
first 12:25 of the game and went on to post a 3-0 win over UMBC before
815 disappointed and soaked fans at Homecoming, '08.
The Terriers extended their unbeaten streak to six and improved to 8-5-3
and 5-1-1 (first place) in America East play. UMBC, which finishes the
regular season with two road America East games, slipped to 6-7-2
overall and 1-4-1 in league competition.
Most of the first half was played in driving rain and strong, gusty
winds. The visitors took control from the start and scored the first
goal just 5:48 into the contest. BU midfielder Michael Bustamante sent a
ball into the left side of the box and Retriever netmdiner Steve King
(Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) attempted to track it down. But
Terrier forward Stephen Knox beat him to the ball and touched a short
pass to linemate Shaun Taylor. Taylor got enough of the ball to score
his eighth goal of the season from ten yards away as King was off
balance and could not get back to make a save.
The Terriers doubled their advantage at 12:25, when freshman back Ben
Berube dribbled from the right corner of the box and hit a left-footed
shot toward goal. King got a glove on the ball, but could not corral it
in the wet conditions and it ticked off the far left post and settled
into the net.
Outshot 7-1 in the first 45 minutes, UMBC played a much stronger second
half. In the 52nd minute, freshman forward Andrew Bulls (Millersville,
Md./McDonogh) sent junior Ime Umoh (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) in on a
semi-breakaway, but Umoha's shot against a charging netminder Hrafn
Davidsson went wide left of the goal.
The Terriers scored the third goal in the 69th minute as King went to
challenge Knox's cross from the right side of the box. But the pass was
right on target to Aaron O'Neal, whose shot from seven yards could not
be stopped by a Retriever defender in front.
Davidsson capped a frustrating day for the Retrievers as he saved
fullback Dan Bulls' (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) penalty kick attempt
with a diving save to his right in the 74th minute and midfielder Aaron
Velky's (Beltsville, Md./High Point) rebound attempt went wide left.
UMBC honored seniors Dan Bulls, King, Velky, midfielders Shondell Busby
(Toronto, Ont.) and Kevin Gnatiko (Montgomery Village, Md./Watkins
Mill), and defenders Jovan Petrovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and L.J.
Pijnenburg (Forest Lake, New Zealand) in pre-game ceremonies.
It was Boston University's first win at UMBC (1-1-1 all-time) and they
took a 3-2-1 series lead.
UMBC concludes the regular season at UNH on Wednesday and at Stony Brook on Sunday and face virtual must-win situations in each to keep their
post-season hopes alive.
