Box Score Durham, N.H. – The UMBC men's soccer team was edged by the New Hampshire Wildcats, 2-1, in an America East Conference contest on Saturday evening at Wildcat Stadium.
The hosts only put three shots on goal but improved to 5-3-5 (2-1-1 AE) on the season. UMBC (4-6-4, 1-2-1 AE) sent nine shots on target but were unable to get on the board until the final seconds on a penalty kick.
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute as Ibrahim Conde scored on a controversial penalty kick. Conde got tangled up with UMBC graduate student defender
Giuseppe Indelicato after receiving a feed in the box from Michael Tsicoulias. The officials deliberated briefly and decided to award the hosts the PK. Conde then beat UMBC junior goalie
Emigdio Tormo Lopez with a winner to the lower left corner.
UMBC had several opportunities to get even in the first stanza, but Erik Lauta (8 saves) made several terrific stops to keep the visitors off the board.
Sophomore forward
Ryan Calheira made a tremendous individual play that originated at the midfield line as he raced down the left side and split two defenders to earn a one-on-one opportunity in the 21st minute. However, Lauta charged off his line and was able to deflect Calheira's shot over the end line for a corner kick.
Two minutes later, senior midfielder
Ismailcan Usta drilled a low shot just wide from the 15-yard line.
Lauta was up to the task again in the 24th minute as Calheira sent a cross from the right side of the box directly in front of the net. Indelicato settled the feed at the five-yard line, and Lauta made a sliding stop to deny the visitors again.
New Hampshire used a defensive miscommunication on UMBC's 30-yard line to extend their lead to 2-0 in the 55th minute. Matthew Goncalves intercepted an errant pass and sent a chip into the box for Terry Makedika. Madekia beat a Retriever defender and fired a shot to the lower left corner past Tormo Lopez, who made a diving attempt on the play.
The Retrievers had a solid scoring opportunity with 32 minutes remaining as freshman midfielder
Matteo Samori sent an excellent cross to graduate student defender
Hans Nesheim on the right side. Nesheim came in on a breakaway, but Lauta charged and deflected another shot away for a corner kick.
UMBC finally got on the board with 49 ticks left as fifth-year senior forward
Loc San was taken down in the box. Usta beat Lauta with a shot to the lower right corner to avoid the shutout.
The Retrievers will host Vermont next Saturday evening. Join us as we pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Northeast Conference Championship squad and the 10th anniversary of the 2014 squad that made it to the NCAA College Cup Semifinals. Both teams will be honored and celebrated at halftime.
