The UMBC men's soccer team (5-4-1, 0-2-0 America East) hosts UMass Lowell (2-5-3, 0-1-1) in the Retrievers' annual Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kick-off at Retriever Soccer Park is set for 7:00 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on The America East Digital Network.
 
The UMBC 1992 and 2002 teams will be honored in halftime ceremonies, along with 2022 UMBC Athletics Hall of Famer Levi Houapeu, '14.

Houapeu earned NSCAA and College Soccer News Third Team All-American honors in 2010. He earned the league's Midfielder of the Year award in 2009 and its Striker of the Year honor in 2010, becoming the only player in AE history to earn that feat. Moreover, he led the nation in scoring with 2.15 points per game as a junior and earned ECAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year honors. He maintains the No. 6 position on the all-time scoring list with 34 goals (fifth all-time) and 19 assists for 87 total points. Houapeu recorded third-most assists (13, tied with 2 others) in a single season (2009), then the sixth-most goals (15) in a campaign the following (2010) year. He spearheaded UMBC's first America East Championship team in 2010.    
 
RETRIEVER NOTES
 

• UMBC held defending America East regular season champion New Hampshire at bay for 60 minutes, but the host Wildcats scored twice in a span of 64 seconds early in the second half and went on to defeat the Retrievers, 2-0, at Wildcat Stadium, on Oct. 1.
• UMBC is 5-1-0 at Retriever Soccer Park this season and 0-3-1 on the road, all of which have been played on artificial surfaces. The Retrievers have dropped three in a row from Sept. 20-Oct. 1, matching a skid of three straight amassed at nearly the same time a season ago (Sept. 25-Oct. 2).
• After his 3-0 shutout win over St. Peter's on Sept. 17, senior goalkeeper Jones moved into a tie for sixth place on UMBC's all-time shutouts list with Robbie Mamula ('93) and Andy Marchica ('06). He earned his 24th career victory, tying him with Steve King ('09) for fifth place on the all-time wins' list.
• Senior midfielder Ryan Becher has hit the 15-goal and 40-point plateaus (17g, 13a, 47 pts.). He is attempting to become the first Retriever to reach the 20-goal mark since Pete Caringi III netted 37 from 2010-13. Becher leads the team with five goals and three assists, followed closely by sophomore forward Spencer Hanks (5-2-12) and junior striker Taylor Calheira (4-3-11).
• Calheira set a school record by scoring 10 seconds into the contest vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Sept. 2.
• The America East Conference tabbed Spencer Hanks as its Offensive Player of the Week on August 29. Hanks, who missed the entire 2021 season, rehabilitating from ACL surgery, returned to the field and scored three goals and added one assist in the Retrievers' 8-2 win over Fairfield on August 26. Hanks also earned a spot on College Soccer News' Team of the Week for games ending Sept. 4.
• Head Coach Pete Caringi, Jr. enters his 32nd season at the helm of the Retrievers. The 2014 NSCAA National Coach of the Year now has posted a record of 315-202-80 in his tenure on Hilltop Circle. He is assisted by Associate Head Coach Anthony Adams, UMBC, '97, who has spent 25 previous years on the sidelines with Coach Caringi, after four years (1992-95) competing under the Retriever mentors. Pete Caringi III enters year No. 9 on the staff and volunteer assistant coach Sam DeBone is beginning his 24th year in his role. 

 
A GLANCE AT THE RIVER HAWKS           

• UMass Lowell snapped an eight-game winless streak (0-5-3) with a 3-1 victory over former America East foe Hartford at Cushing Field on Wednesday. The River Hawks trailed, 1-0, at halftime, but scored three times in the final 30 minutes.
• Senior forward Borna Miklic and sophomore midfielder Viljar Byrkjeland each have four goals to lead the high-scoring River Hawks. UML averages 1.7 goals per game, but have allowed 2.4 scores per contest.
• The River Hawks are looking for their first road win of the season (0-3-2), but have earned draws at Rhode Island (2-2) and UMass (3-3).

 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES

• The series is knotted at 4-4 as the River Hawks make their first appearance in Baltimore since 2018.
• UML has won two straight, including last season's 2-1 win in Lowell. Ryan Becher scored a game-tying goal in the 38', but the hosts were awarded a penalty kick just before halftime and converted for the margin of victory in the contest.
• UMBC has won two of three meetings at Retriever Soccer Park, including a 3-1 decision in that 2018 contest. Quantrell Jones got the win in the nets and Jordan Ehart also played 90 minutes in the Retriever victory.  

UP NEXT

The Retrievers head to Newark, Del. to take on the Blue Hens on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The opening kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m.