Vestal, N.Y.- Junior midfielder Levi Houapeu scored in the 72nd minute to break a 1-1 tie and give visiting UMBC (13-5-0) a 2-1 win over Binghamton (9-9-1) in the America East quarterfinals. The fifth-seeded Retrievers advance to the league semifinals, where they will take on regular season champion and top-seeded New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
UMBC fell, 4-0, to the Bearcats just a week earlier at the same venue, but did not allow Binghamton shot attempt in the first 45 minutes.
Houapeu assisted on freshman midfielder Mark Lubetkin's first career goal in the first minute of the second half to give UMBC a 1-0 lead, but Binghamton's Jake Keegan tied the game a minute later.
Binghamton defender Liam Carson put his team down a man when he took a red card in the 65th minute. UMBC capitalized minutes later as a Bearcat defender headed a ball into the center of the box, where Houapeu drilled the game-winner into the upper corner of the net.
It was Houapeu's 15th goal of the season, tying him with Andrew Bulls for the team lead.
The Retrievers handed Binghamton their first home loss (6-1-1) of the season.
UMBC outshot Binghamton, 8-7, and Retriever freshman netminder Phil Saunders made one save in the win. The stop occurred in the 85th minute against Binghamton's Ryan Walter.
The Retrievers dropped a 2-0 decision to New Hampshire at UMBC Soccer Stadium on Oct. 10.
