The bar was set pretty darn high. And the audience will be a lot larger in UMBC men's soccer's version of Monday Night Futbol.
 
Fresh of an exhilarating 8-2 victory over Fairfield in Friday's season opener, the Retriever men's soccer team returns to Retriever Soccer Park on Monday, Aug. 29 when they host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. With returning and new UMBC students and the Lot 17 supporters' group in full throat at the park, a special opening kick-off time is set for 7:30 p.m. The contest will also be broadcast on the America East Digital Network. 
 
NOTABLE

• UMBC's offensive explosion versus Fairfield marks the first eight-goal effort in the program's NCAA Division I history and the sixth-most scores since 1986. The last seven-goal effort occurred versus Hartford in 2012.  

UMBC Most Goals in a Game (Division I, 1986-)

1. 16, vs. Marymount, 1988
2. 13, at Tennessee Tech, 1989
3. (tied) 10, vs. NJIT, 2004; 10, vs. The Citadel, 1999
5. 9, vs. UMES, 1991
6. 8, vs. Fairfield, 2022
7. 7, on 8 occasions

• Hanks' hat trick was the first of his career the Retrievers' first since Taylor Calheira potted three at Lehigh in September, 2021. His seven-point effort is the most since Pete Caringi III scored four goals versus Hartford in October, 2012.
• Calheira matched his effort versus Hartford in 2011 with a 1-goal, 2-assist effort. He now has 31 career points (12-7-31) in 28 games played.
• Ryan Becher (1g, 1a vs. Fairfield) stayed one goal ahead of Calheira by notching his 13 th career tally versus the Stags. He has 37 (13g, 11a) career points.
• Sophomore Ismailcan Usta missed the final 13 matches of the 2021 season with a lower body injury and marked his return to the pitch by scoring a pair of spectacular goals late in the game versus Fairfield. The scores were the first two of his UMBC career.
• In addition to Hanks and Usta returning from injury to compete in the season opener, senior defender Jordan Ehart earned the start versus Fairfield. Ehart missed the entire 2021 season, recovering from his second knee surgery while in the black and gold.   
• 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 311-198-79 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 MOUNTAIN HAWKS      

• Lehigh opened the campaign with a tough 1-0 loss at Temple on August 25. The Mountain Hawks outshot the Owls, 13-5, but could not dent the net after allowing a goal in the 7'.
• Lehigh posted a mark of 5-11-2 a season ago, but all of their wins (5-4-0) occurred in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks were picked to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll. Senior forward Jack Sarkos earned a nod on the preseason All-League squad.
• Sarkos scored six of his eight goals in 2021 in the final four games of the campaign.            

 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
 

• UMBC took a 3-2-0 series lead by virtue of a 3-0 victory in Bethlehem, Pa. last September.
• The two teams have split two matches in Baltimore, falling 1-0 in the latest meeting in 2005.
• Calheira registered a first half hat trick in last year's match-up. He scored in the 4', 10' and 26' and Jailon Gillespie made a career high eight saves to post the clean sheet.

UMBC continues the four-game homestand by welcoming St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m.