Fairfax, Va. – Senior forward Taylor Calheira netted his second career hat trick as UMBC opened the 2023 campaign with a 4-3 wild victory over host George Mason.

The victory was the first for Head Coach Anthony Adams, '97, who spent the previous 26 years as the Retrievers' assistant/associate head coach.

"Our guys really battled tonight," said Adams. "George Mason is going to be really good this year. Anytime you can win a game on the road, it's really important. I couldn't be prouder."

UMBC raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first 22 minutes of play, but the Patriots produced a furious rally, knotting the score in the 62'. But Calheira converted on a penalty kick in the 63' and the Retrievers held off Mason in a lengthy second half.    

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the tenth minute, Alek Wroblewski broke inside the box, but his shot from 12 yards out was stopped by goalkeeper Jaume Salvado. The Retrievers would earn two subsequent corners, but could not convert.
• Wroblewski would not be denied in the 19', as he was rewarded with a strong run to the far right post. He headed home Spencer Hanks cross' from the left side from close range as Jago Lott drew a second assist.
• Just 3:03 later, the Calheira show began. William Forby's free kick from the right side slid through some major traffic, and the 2022 America East Striker of the Year volleyed it home from nine yards out.
• Calheira would strike again 25 seconds later, as he captured the ball on the far left wing, raced to goal and his strike clanked off the near post. But he gathered in the rebound and one-touched it into the net to give the Retrievers an early 3-0 lead.
• Mason would respond with a goal on their first shot of the contest, creeping within 3-1 in the 27'.
• Jordan Travers' shot in the 43' minute just missed the far right post.    
• Moments after Spencer Hanks' long-range effort glanced off the outside of the left post, Mason's Abdul Kamara hooked in a shot from inside the right corner of the box, trimming UMBC's lead to 3-2 in the 61'.
• Just 1:33 after the second Mason goal, the Patriots struck again, tying the score at 3-3.
• But 1:24 after the GMU score, Spencer Hanks drew a foul in the left corner of the box. Calheira stepped to the spot and his low liner of a penalty kick found the left side of the net.

NOTES

• The multi-goal game is the fifth of Calheira's career and he now has 25 career goals.
• After four setbacks since 1989, the win was UMBC's first at Mason at the NCAA Division I level.

UMBC welcomes back its students on Monday, August 28 when Old Dominion visits Retriever Soccer Park. The match will get underway at 7:30 p.m.