BALTIMORE - The UMBC men's soccer team surrendered three goals in the first 19:29 of the contest and fell to the UAlbany Great Danes by a 3-2 count, in an America East Conference contest Saturday evening at Retriever Soccer Park.

UMBC (4-5-4, 1-1-1 AE) nearly recovered from its slow start, holding most of the possession the rest of the way. The Retrievers scored two quick goals in the second half but could not find the equalizer despite dominating play over the final 45 minutes.

The visitors took advantage of a misplay in the back to open the scoring in the 13th minute. Senior defender Sean Thompson's pass intended for UMBC junior goalkeeper Emigdio Tormo Lopez was intercepted by Ander Castillo, who then beat Tormo Lopez after the Retrievers' netminder charged off his line. 

The Great Danes (3-9-1, 1-2-0 AE) struck again just four minutes later on a rocket to the right corner of the goal by Ivar Orri Gissurarson. A UMBC defender headed an attempted cross straight to Orri Gissurarson, who was all alone at the top of the left side of the box.

Timo Janson scored UAlbany's final goal of the night in the 20th minute after receiving a through ball from Castillo.

The Retrievers scored just 2:47 into the second half on senior forward Alek Wroblewski's second marker of the season. Senior midfielder Ismailcan Usta found graduate student defender Hans Nesheim on the right side, and the defender sent a cross to Wroblewski, who flicked in a winner from point-blank range. It was Nesheim's team-leading eighth helper of the season.

UMBC trimmed the margin to 3-2 under two minutes later, just moments after a corner kick by senior midfielder Ty Stroud. UAlbany goalie Kodai Tsuzuki (four saves) batted the curling corner straight toward the center of the box, and freshman forward Matteo Samori hit a one-timer into the upper right corner for his second tally of the campaign.

UMBC had a few terrific chances down the stretch but could not get another one past Tsuzuki, who was making his first career start. The junior made a tremendous sliding stop to deny midfielder Joseph Picotto on the doorstep with just under 28 minutes left.

Samori had a great look from the top of the center of the box with 18:30 remaining, but his blast sailed just wide of the right post.

Nesheim had UMBC's final opportunity but his chip from the right corner of the box skimmed the crossbar with 3:30 remaining.

UMBC outshot the visitors by a 23-7 margin and attempted all nine corner kicks.

The Retrievers will travel to New Hampshire next Saturday evening.