Baltimore--Freshman forward Andrew Bulls (Millersville, Md./McDonogh) continued his torrid scoring and sophomore midfielder Dustin Dzwonkowski (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) added a key insurance marker as host UMBC (5-2-1) held off Mount St. Mary's (3-4-0), 2-1 at UMBC Soccer Stadium.
The Retrievers extended their unbeaten string vs. the Mountaineers to 11 straight, with ten wins and a tie in that span. UMBC is also 7-1-4 in its last 12 home games.
Bulls got UMBC on the board in the 15th minute, scoring for the third time in the last three outings. Sophomore forward Levi Houapeu (Germantown, Md./Watkins Mill) outworked the Mount defense to gather in a long, arching ball. Mountaineer goalkeeper Chris Davis came off his line and Houapeu slid the ball to Bulls, who calmly knocked it in from eight yards away.
It was Bulls’ fifth goal of the season and UMBC's last four goals had come from the freshman.
The Retrievers added a score in the 61st minute. Sophomore forward B.J. Quigley (Essex, Md./Archbishop Curley) had a long throw-in deep in Mount territory which Davis punched out of danger temporarily. But senior midfielder Dan Bulls (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) flicked the rebound to his left and Dzwonkowski it in from 16 yards out for his second goal of the season.
The Mount began to increase the offensive pressure and broke through in the 74th minute. Sophomore midfielder Eric Detzel hit a square pass from the left edge of the box to forward Chris Wheeler. The forward hit a shot from the 18 which was perfectly placed along the ground just inside of the left post.
The visitors continued to press, but could not muster a dangerous chance in the final minutes. They outshot UMBC, 14-13, recording seven of the game’s final eight shots. Davis recorded four saves for the Mountaineers, while Retriever senior netminder Steve King (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) posted five.
UMBC hosts Loyola on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., before opening America East Conference play the following Saturday at Maine.