Newark, N.J. – In what could have been viewed as a developmental spring season for the UMBC men's soccer team, the young Retrievers proved time and time again that they could compete against teams with vastly more experience.

That doesn't make Friday's 1-0 setback at NJIT any easier to swallow. Nor any less frustrating when reviewing the season in total.

The loss eliminated UMBC (3-4-1, 2-3-1 America East) from the four-team America East Tournament. The Retrievers needed a win over the Highlanders to advance and it looked like they would get the chance to get to overtime when a late goal was disallowed.

After a scoreless first half, NJIT took advantage of a rare counter-attacking opportunity and Alejandro Rabell scored in the 71', his shot from deep on the right wing grazing the fingertips of UMBC goalkeeper Quantrell Jones before setting in the far left corner of the net.

But UMBC appeared to answer with 5:57 remaining in regulation. Freshman William Forby's hard shot from 20 yards out came off the hands of NJIT netminder Samuel Reisgys and classmate Taylor Calheira pounced on the rebound and put the ball behind Reisgys. But the assistant referee ruled that Calheira was offsides and UMBC continued to trail, 1-0.   

Junior forward Jackson Becher had the best late chance for UMBC, but his header a minute later missed on the near left side of the net.

Earlier in the season, freshman forward Spencer Hanks had a second half, go-ahead goal disallowed on a similar offsides ruling. That game finished in a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Stony Brook.

Against the Highlanders, Hanks and Calheira had outstanding chances in the 14' and 17' respectively, but Hanks' attempt missed the target and Reisgys made a solid save of Calheira's shot on goal.

NJIT held a narrow 18-16 edge in shots and Jones was credited with eight saves for the visitors.

Calheira put four of his team high five shots on goal.

The good news – the seven freshmen that started versus NJIT will maintain their first-year player status when the Retrievers kick off the actual 2021 season in four months from now.