Baltimore - The UMBC men's soccer team (10-3-0) surrendered a two-goal lead and fell, 3-2, in overtime to visiting Longwood (3-9-2) in miserable conditions at UMBC Soccer Stadium.
Longwood sophomore midfielder Chris Saul scored 3:27 into the first overtime period to give the visitors the victory. The game was played in historically cold conditions with a driving rain throughout most of the contest.
UMBC appeared to be in good shape as forwards Andrew Bulls (McDonogh) and Levi Houapeu (Watkins Mill) scored within a six-minute span midway through the first half. Bulls, the nation's leading scorer entering play this week, tallied his 15th of season season when freshman midfielder Mark Lubetkin's (Livingston, N.J.) drive from 14 yards out glanced off Bulls' chest and past Lancer netminder Joel Helmick in the 24th minute.
In the 29th minute, Lubetkin again started the goal-scoring play with a pass on the wing to Bulls. The sophomore's shot was stopped by Helmick, but Houapeu knocked in the rebound to give UMBC a 2-0 advantage.
The Retrievers were playing without both center backs, junior Chris Williams (injury) and freshman Liam Paddock (yellow card accumulation) and Longwood took advantage later in the half. In the 36th minute, UMBC failed to clear the ball and Lancer senior midfielder Brian Germain banged in an eight-yard shot into the far right corner. Less than two minutes later, UMBC failed to control a Lancer corner and junior forward Harvey Headley tapped in a loose ball just a yard away from the goal.
Houapeu had three golden opportunities to put UMBC ahead in the second half, but hit the post in the 68th minute, and misfired in the 71st and 76th minutes.
Longwood outshot UMBC, 18-12, and Saunders made three of UMBC's five saves, as two Longwood attempts were cleared away by Retriever defenders. Helmick made three saves for the visitors.
UMBC returns to America East action on Wednesday, when they visit Boston University at 7:00 p.m.
