Annapolis, Md.--Junior Andrew Gillis (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) and freshman Andrew Bulls (Millersville, Md./McDonogh) each scored a goal and added two assists as the UMBC men's soccer team overwhelmed Saint Mary's (Cal.), 4-2 in the opening game of the Anders Soccer Classic.

The Retrievers built a 3-0 lead and managed to hold off the hard-charging Gaels. Sophomore John Paul Waraksa (Media, Pa.) scored the first goal of the season and the first of his career to put UMBC ahead for good in the 21st minute. Bulls entered the ball to Gillis, who redirected it toward an onrushing Waraska in the center of the field. Waraksa blasted the shot past the Saint Mary's keeper Jason Badger's right side.

UMBC increased the margin as Bulls and Gillis worked a similar play in the 35th minute. On this occasion, Gillis' pass found Levi Houapeu (Germantown, Md./Watkins Mill) and the sophomore lobbed a shot over Badger and into the upper right corner of the goal Gillis, who led UMBC with five goals last season, made a tremendous individual effort to give the Retrievers a 3-0 advantage. He beat the netminder to his right, scoring with his left foot at the 68th minute of play.

Saint Mary's Yousef Sami converted on a penalty kick in the 71st minute and drew to within a goal on a score by Scott Eberhardt in the 79th minute. The Gaels nearly tied the game, but Houapeu cleared a ball off the line moments later and Bulls gave UMBC the insurance goal with a left-footed bullet into the upper right corner with 47 seconds left in the game.

UMBC has now won three straight games in the classic, after winning the first-place trophy with wins over Air Force (2-1) and Temple (2-0) last season. The Retrievers take on Saint Francis (N.Y.) on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Notes: Gillis matched his career total with the two helpers, UMBC played without injured regular starters Kevin Gnatiko, Shondell Busby and B.J. Quigley.