BALTIMORE- The UMBC men's soccer team was unable to defend its
America East title, as the fourth-seeded Retrievers fell, 1-0, to
visiting No. 5 Hartford in an America East quarterfinal match
played in chilly conditions at Retriever Soccer Park.
The Hawks (7-8-4) advance to play top-seeded Boston U. in the
league semifinals on the road on Nov. 9.
Hartford scored the game's lone goal in the
69thminute. Defender Atobra Ampadu won a battle for the
ball on the right wing and sprinted into the box. He hit a short
cross, where a streaking Anthony Santaga redirected it from six
yards away past a diving UMBC goalkeeper Dan
Louisignau (Wilmington, Del.) and into the near right
portion of the goal.
The Retrievers pressed fiercely after the Hartford strike, but
could not beat Hawk netminder Luke Citriniti. Senior
midfielder Andrew
Bulls(Millersville, Md./McDonogh) put four second half shots on
goal, including a direct kick attempt from 20 yards away in the
86th minute, but Citriniti made a diving save to
his left.
Bulls' last effort on a free kick with 40 seconds left was
blocked away by a Hawk wall and cleared to safety.
UMBC (7-8-3) outshot UH, 16-15. Citriniti made seven saves,
including the best stop of the first half, when he knocked away Pete
Caringi's (Perry Hall, Md./Calvert Hall) spinning volley from
12 yards way in the 34th minute.
Louisignau made five saves for the hosts, who played without
starting midfielder Andy
Streilein (Rockville, Md.) (concussion) and starting
defender Travis
Dennis (Bowie, Md.) (red card suspension).
