Vestal, NY - The visiting UMBC men's soccer team opened the America East Conference season with a convincing 2-0 win against the Binghamton Bearcats on Saturday evening at rainy Bearcats Sports Complex. It was the Retriever's first road win of the season.
Junior Ricky Schissler and senior Karl Quist-Therson scored second half goals for their first career tallies. Both markers came just moments after free kicks into the box by senior defender Ty Stroud.
"Tonight was a total team effort against a well coached Binghamton team that has been on a roll," said UMBC head coach Anthony Adams. "Ricky and Karl scored two big goals but credit to Emi {Emigdio Tormo Lopez} in goal and the entire team for earning the shutout."
The Retrievers (4-3-2, 1-0-0 AE) created most of the scoring opportunities in the contest as they outshot the Bearcats by a 16-8 margin, including a 10-3 edge in shots on target. The Retrievers, who lead the circuit in corner kicks, added seven more to their ledger this evening. Binghamton (6-3-1, 0-1-0) entered the match with a five-game unbeaten streak.
UMBC had several outstanding chances in the opening half but could not put a shot past Binghamton graduate student goalkeeper Dylan McDermott, who made eight saves in 90 minutes of action.
Fifth-year senior striker Alek Wroblewski nearly put the Retrievers on the board with just under 15 minutes remaining in the stanza after junior midfielder Joseph Picotto sent a through ball to him on the left wing. Wroblewski raced past the back line and forced McDermott off his line but just slid the ball wide of the far post.
Wroblewski then had an open net with 12:30 remaining, but his 30-yard shot was deflected off a defender standing at the top of the box. The play originated after a low goal kick that Wroblewski managed to get his foot on at the 40-yard line. McDermott gambled and charged ten yards out of the box, but Wroblewski beat him to the ball and fired off a shot that nearly resulted in a goal.
The Retrievers finally hit pay dirt with 28:44 remaining in the contest after Stroud served a free kick towards the far post from just outside the left side of the box. After a loose ball, a Bearcats' defender headed the ball towards the top of the right corner of the box. Schissler controlled the ball and hit a missile into the upper right corner past McDermott for the game-winner.
UMBC scored a similar goal in the 81st minute to put the game out of reach. Stroud sent a free kick from the same spot, and the ball bounced to graduate student defender Hans Nesheim at the top of the box. Nesheim, who has a career-high seven assists, then found Quist-Therson in front of the net, and the midfielder tapped in a low shot from just a few yards out.
UMBC junior Emigdio Tormo Lopez was asked to make just three saves but made several outstanding decisions in goal.
