The fifth-seeded UMBC men's soccer squad (8-7-3) continues their quest for a fifth America East Conference championship when they take on the top-seeded and seventh-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats (15-0-2) on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The match takes place at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H. and kicks off at 6:00 p.m. The broadcast airs on AE.tv and live stats will also be provided.
 
The victor advances to face the winner of the match between No. 2 and host Vermont and No. 6 NJIT in this weekend's championship contest.  
 
Fans can also follow along via the team's twitter site @UMBCMensSoccer. Stay up-to-date on the tournament by visiting Championship Central for streaming and live stats links as well as box scores, highlights and recaps following each round in addition to team information, tournament history and more. Follow @AmericaEast and @AEDigitalNet on Twitter to get the real-time championship updates. Use the #AEChamps and #AEMSOC hashtags to join the conversation.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE

• The Retrievers advanced to the semi-final round of the America East Championships, prevailing, 8-7, in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 double overtime draw at Stony Brook on Nov. 6.

 

• UMBC senior goalkeeper Quantrell Jones (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) played the starring role. In the shootout, he made a diving save on Bas Beckhoven's attempt in the eighth round. Then, Jones went to the spot himself and knocked the decider into the far left corner of the net.

 

• Conze scored his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 54', but SBU knotted the score on an own goal a minute later.

HONORED
 

• UMBC sophomore forward Taylor Calheira (Towson, Md./Calheira) earned America East Conference Men's Soccer First team honors in a vote by the league's coaches.

 

• Juniors Ryan Becher (Hummelstown, Pa.) and Julian Conze (Telgte, Germany) both earned Second Team honors and Conze also was selected to the league's All-Academic Team.

 
 
DAWG BYTES

• Conze posted his ninth assist of the season in the regular season finale at NJIT, the most by a Retriever since Milo Kapor recorded 13 in 2012. The Retrievers are 8-0-2 when the two-time team captain hits the scoreboard.
• Calheira's nine goals scored is the most by a Retriever since current UMBC assistant coach Pete Caringi III netted 13 in 2013. Calheira has scored five game-winning goals this season, including all three in the Retrievers' overtime victories.
• UMBC has gotten dynamic scoring at all three levels this season. Calheira (9-5-23), Becher (7-5-19) and Conze (5-9-19) have combined for 21 goals and 19 assists in 2021.
• Senior goalkeeper Quantrell Jones (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) recorded his 11th career shutout versus Binghamton and is now tied for ninth place on UMBC's all-time list.
• Freshman Hayden Lim (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) earned the league's final Rookie of the Week honor of the 2021 campaign. Lim scored the game-winning goal as UMBC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat NJIT in a must-win game on October 28.
• The Retrievers are undefeated in overtime (3-0-3) this season.
• UMBC is 5-2-2 when scoring first and 3-5-1 when conceding the first goal of the game. The Retrievers have not played in a scoreless tie this fall.
• UMBC scored at least one goal in the first 15 games of the season, the longest scoring streak to open a campaign since 2001, when the Retrievers also hit the scoreboard in the first 15 games.
• Head Coach Pete Caringi, Jr. entered his 31st campaign at UMBC and now has a record of 310-197-79. At the start of the season, he was ranked 20th amongst active NCAA I coaches with the 302 victories and the most recent mentor to reach the 300-win level (Feb. 23, 2021 vs. GW) and 36th with a winning percentage of 59.9.
• Associate Head Coach Anthony Adams, '97, began his 25th season, patrolling the sidelines with his former coach, while former Retriever All-American Pete Caringi III, entered his eighth.

 
A GLANCE AT THE WILDCATS    

• New Hampshire is currently ranked No. 7 in the nation after compiling an undefeated (15-0-2) regular season record.
• After draws versus Yale and Vermont, UNH completed the regular season with three straight shutout victories.
• Three Wildcats earned major America East awards. Graduate student Tola Showunmi (10 goals) earned Striker of the Year honors, sophomore Yannick Bright was named Midfielder of the Year, while graduate student Adam Savill led the best defensive unit in the nation (0.41 gaa, 10 shutouts) and earned the league's Defender of the Year honor.  

 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 

• This will be the 24th meeting between the two schools and UNH just took a narrow 9-8-6 lead in the wake of the 1-0 victory at UMBC on Oct. 23.
• New Hampshire has collected four straight victories in the series, dating back to UMBC's 1-0 home victory in 2017. UMBC has dropped three straight in Durham, as the last triumph took place in 2014.
• The Retrievers gave the Wildcats a tough battle before 2,112 fans at Retriever Soccer Park, but a Chris Pinkham goal in the 51' provided the guests with a 1-0 victory. It was the lone shutout that UMBC has suffered in 2021 to date. Jones made a season-high nine saves as UNH held a 15-0 shot advantage.

 
 
RETRIEVERS IN THE AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT    
 

• UMBC has competed in 11 tournaments in 19 conference seasons. The Retrievers have a record of 10-6-6 in 22 matches. 
• The Retrievers have won four titles – in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. They advanced over UNH in 2010 and 2012 and defeated Hartford in 2013 and 2014. All four championship games were played at Retriever Soccer Park.
• They also reached the 2009 and 2018 title games, losing at Stony Brook and UNH.
• The 2021 appearance by UMBC is the first since 2018.
• UMBC and UNH have met five previous times in America East Championship play, including three championship matches. The Retrievers have won twice, lost once and drawn twice. In both draws, which occurred in title matches, UMBC advanced in a penalty kick shootout.
  • 2009     UMBC 2, @UNH 1 (semi-finals)
  • 2010     @UMBC 0, UNH 0 (UMBC advances on PK's, championship)
  • 2012     @UMBC 0, UNH 0 (UMBC advances on PK's, championship)
  • 2015     @UMBC 1, UNH 0 (quarter-finals)
  • 2018     @UNH 5, UMBC 0 (championship)