Men's Soccer Faces First Road Test at Fordham

Both sides bring multi-game winning/unbeaten streaks into action on Friday evening

The Retriever men's soccer team (4-0-0) faces its first road test of the season on Friday, Sept. 9 when they travel to the Bronx, N.Y. to take on an outstanding Fordham (2-1-1) side.

The contest gets underway on Jack Coffey Field at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast ESPN+.

NOTABLE

The Retrievers are now 4-0-0 for the first time since 2013, when they opened the campaign at 9-0-0. They have outscored their foes, 16-4.
UMBC received 22 votes (27th overall) in the Sept. 6 United Soccer Coaches poll. The Retrievers are the No. 1 team in the Northeast Region, one place ahead of America East rival Vermont.
UMBC is tied for second goal differential (+12) and total goals scored (16), tied for third in goals per game (4.00) and tied for sixth in points per game (11.0),
Sophomore forward Spencer Hanks is tied for the nation's lead in goals scored (5), is tied for third with 1.25 goals per game and tied for fourth with 2.75 points per contest. Hanks earned a spot on College Soccer News' Team of the Week for games ending Sept. 4.
Junior forward Taylor Calheira is tied for 13th nationally with 2.25 points per game (3g, 3a) and Calheira and senior midfielder Ryan Becher are tied for 16th with 0.75 assists per contest.
Senior goalkeeper Quantrell Jones moved into sixth place on UMBC's all-time victories list with his 23rd career win versus FDU.
Calheira, who set a school record by scoring 10 seconds into the contest vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Sept. 2, tallied twice and added an assist on classmate Tyler Harry's first career goal in Friday's 4-1 victory over the Terriers.
The America East Conference tabbed UMBC sophomore forward 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.

Becher has hit the 40-point plateau (14g, 13a, 41 pts.) in his career.
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 314-198-79 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 RAMS

Fordham is off to a solid 2-1-1 start and has a three-game unbeaten streak alive, heading into the game versus the Retrievers.
After a 2-1 loss to No. 17 Hofstra, Fordham drew with No. 16 Providence, 0-0, and defeated 2021 NCAA squad LIU, 2-1. Most recently, the Rams scored a pair of second half goals in short order to defeat Manhattan, 3-1.
Freshman forward Nathan Simes leads the way with three goals and seven points through four games.
Graduate student goalkeeper Demetri Skombakis has made 15 saves and allowed four goals in all 360 minutes to date.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES

This will be only the third meeting between UMBC and Fordham. UMBC won, 4-3, in the Bronx in 1990, then the two teams played to a 1-1 double overtime draw at Retriever Soccer Park in 2016.

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