Burlington, Vermont – The No. 3 seeded UMBC men's soccer team came up just short in their bid to host the America East Conference finals as they fell to the No. 2 Vermont Catamounts, 2-1, in double overtime on Wednesday evening at Virtue Field. No. 4 seeded Bryant upset No. 1 New Hampshire in penalty kicks in the other semifinal.

UMBC (8-7-4) goalkeeper Emigdio Tormo Lopez was sensational, making several diving saves to keep the Retrievers in the game. The junior finished with a career-high ten stops on the evening. Tormo Lopez was under siege the entire night as the hosts recorded 23 shots compared to just six by the Retrievers. Vermont also took all 12 corner kicks in the match. 

Senior forward Yaniv Bazini scored the game-winning goal, his second of the night, with just 4:05 left in the second overtime period for the No. 17 ranked Catamounts. Junior forward David Ismail sent a feed into the box, and the ball squirted to Bazini, who beat Tormo Lopez with a low shot into the left corner from five yards out.

The Retrievers stunned the hosts with a goal in the 43rd minute to grab a 1-0 advantage just before halftime. Senior midfielder Ty Stroud raced down the center of the pitch and found fifth-year senior Loc San just inside the left side of the box. Vermont freshman goalkeeper Niklas Herceg charged out on San, but the forward slid the ball into the center of the net from seven yards out.

The Catamounts (10-2-5) got the equalizer with 13:27 left in regulation, as Bazini chipped in a shot after a header by Max Murray. Zach Barrett initiated the play and was also credited with an assist. Tormo Lopez raced off his line to try to make a play on the ball, but Bazini flicked the attempt over his shoulder, and the ball bounced into the middle of the net.

UMBC had not allowed a goal in 471 minutes until Vermont's late second-half tally.