Towson, Md.--A furious late-game rally fell just short, as the UMBC men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Towson at the Towson Center Soccer Complex.
UMBC saw its three-game unbeaten streak come to an end, and the Retrievers fell to 3-2-1. Towson (3-2-0) won its second straight and won for the first time in three home games.
Towson controlled play through the first 60 minutes, scoring a pair of goals and not allowing the visitors any dangerous chances. But the Retrievers began to show signs of coming to life, as sophomore defender Sean Rothe (Dundalk, Md./Archbishop Curley) forced TU netminder John Steele to make his first testing save of the match in the 63rd minute and freshman midfielder Andrew Bulls (Millersville, Md./McDonogh) hit a 16-yard shot just over the goal in the 71st minute.
After Towson's Cesar Cisneros bent a ball off the far left post in the 78th minute, UMBC quickly counter-attacked and sophomore forward B.J. Quigley (Essex, Md./Archbishop Curley) got a throw-in deep in Tiger territory. His effort could not be corralled by Steele or the Towson defense, and Bulls came out of the pack to nudge the ball just over the goal line.
Bulls' team-high third goal of the season cut the deficit to 2-1 with 11:15 remaining.
The Retrievers poured on the pressure in the final five minutes and had three good chances to knot the score. In the 85th minute, sophomore midfielder Dustin Dzwonkowski's drive from the 14-yard line hit a TU defender and went over the cage.
The next two chances occurred in the 87th minute, as sophomore midfielder John Paul Waraksa (Media, Pa.) got onto a corner kick by senior captain Dan Bulls (Millersville, Md./Old Mil) and his header from nine yards out went inches wide of the left post. UMBC re-captured the ball after the ensuing goal kick and Dan Bulls was left unmarked on the left side of the box. But he didn't get all of a 11-yard attempt and Steele made a routine stop.
UMBC had two corner kicks in the final minute, but got no shots on either attempt.
Towson threatened early in the contest, but did not score until they countered after a UMBC corner kick in the 15th minute. The UMBC defense got a foot on a centering pass, but Towson controlled the loose ball and junior forward Kevin Ruck banged in a 12-yard shot from the center of the pitch.
UMBC was outshot, 8-4 in the first half and also lost the services of junior forward Andrew Gillis (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) who left the game due to an injury midway through the first half and did not return.
After a UMBC surge early in the second half, the hosts regained the momentum and scored on its third good chance in a three-minute span. Liam Maloney settled a long serve and the unguarded freshman forward wheeled and fired a 15-yard bouncing shot past UMBC senior goalkeeper Steve King (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) in the 59th minute.
Towson outshot UMBC, 17-12 for the game, as the Retrievers rang up the majority of their shots in the late stages of play. King was credited with two saves, as he robbed Tommy Appel-Schumacher with a leaping save in the 58th minute. Steele recorded five saves for Towson.
The Retrievers return to action as they host La Salle at UMBC Soccer Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off time is set for 1:00 p.m.
