Norfolk, Va.- The UMBC men's soccer team advanced to the second
round of the NCAA College Cup as the Retrievers played Old Dominion
to a 0-0 double overtime draw, but advanced, 4-2, in penalty
kicks.
UMBC is now 11-4-6, while Old Dominion's season comes to an end
at 11-3-3.
UMBC junior goalkeeper Phil
Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) played the starring
role for the second consecutive game, stopping a pair of penalty
kicks.
After senior Milo Kapor (Toronto, Ont./Emily Carr)
converted the first kick, Saunders saved ODU goalkeeper Victor
Fracoz' attempt. UMBC's Mamadou
Kansaye's (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) and Monarchs' forward Chris
Harmon matched successful kicks, but UMBC senior
back Liam Paddock's (Worcestershire, England) attempt was
saved by Francoz.
But on ODU's tying attempt, Saunders again dove to his right and
stopped the effort of Jordan LeBlanc. Both UMBC's Kadeem
Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y.) and ODU's Ivan Militar converted,
setting up Retriever senior Dave Vaeth (Dundalk,
Md./Patapsco) for the game-winning opportunity. Vaeth buried his
attempt into the upper left corner of the goal, setting off a wild
celebration by the visitors.
UMBC will advance to the second round for the second time in
three years and will compete at defending national champion North
Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
UMBC junior forward Pete Caringi
III (Perry Hall, Md./Calvert Hall) was unable to start and
played only the final 26 seconds of regulation and final 20 seconds
of overtime after a free kick opportunities. Caringi suffered an
ankle injury early in the America East championship game vs. UNH
and did not return.
The first half was evenly-played, as both teams managed only
three shots each. The Monarchs' best opportunity was their first,
as Gideon Asante hit a shot wide right from eight yards out in the
18th minute. UMBC's best chance came late in the
half, as Dacres hit a rising shot from 17 yards out on the left
wing which went over just the crossbar.
In the second half, Kansaye's 50-yard free kick had to be
parried over bar, giving UMBC its first corner of the match in 58'
The Retrievers attempted four corners in the second stanza, but the
best chance, an Oumar
Ballo (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) header in the
59thminute went wide of the near post.
Old Dominion outshot UMBC, 10-6. Saunders and Francoz both made
three saves in 110 minutes of play. Saunders recorded his fourth
consecutive shuout.
