BALTIMORE – Senior
Ryan Becher scored 59 seconds into the match and UMBC men's soccer celebrated Senior Night with a 4-1 victory over NJIT in chilly conditions at Retriever Soccer Park.
The Retrievers extended their unbeaten streak to six and improved to 10-4-2 overall and 4-2-0 in America East play. The Highlanders fell to 4-7-4, 0-4-2.
Becher and junior forward
Taylor Calheira – the most productive scoring duo in the nation each scored twice and Becher added his 20th career assist.
With the win, UMBC is guaranteed to host a contest in the six-team league tournament that gets underway on November 5.
The victory is also the 500th in program history. UMBC is 500-363-121 in 55 seasons of varsity soccer.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UMBC drew an early foul deep in NJIT territory and Jago Lott's free kick from just outside the left corner of the box was flicked in by Becher, just inside the far right post.
- The Retrievers doubled the lead in the 20' on a sublime passing play. Jordan Ehart led Becher up the middle and a 3-on-2 developed. Becher fed Calheira on the right wing and the striker's shot from 14 yards away brushed the far left corner of the net.
- UMBC took a 2-0 lead into intermission and extended it in the 47'. Defender Hans Nesheim's chip from the right wing found Calheira deep in the box. He headed it past the diving goalkeeper's right to net his tenth goal of the season.
- The Highlanders responded with a goal from Hugo Tavares 21 seconds after the UMBC score.
- But Becher wrapped up the scoring with a brilliant goal in the 83'. Forward Alek Wroblewski chipped a ball to Becher, racing up the middle of the pitch. He juggled it twice in mid-air and volleyed his third touch into the right hand corner of the net.
- Senior goalkeeper Quantrell Jones went the distance and earned his 28th career victory.
- UMBC was able to get all five non-starting seniors (Michael Cole, Rhys Davies, Justin John-Langba, Mackie Sacarellos, Nick Steiner) into the contest in the second half.
NOTES
- Becher becomes the first Retriever to post double figures in goals (13) and assists (10) since a pair of Retrievers (Andrew Bulls, Levi Houapeu) did it in 2009.
- His 36 points is the most since Houapeu's 43 (15-13-43) in 2009.
- The 10-win season is UMBC's first since 2018.
- UMBC moved into third place in the conference race and finishes the regular season at Binghamton on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
