Smithfield, RI – In a tightly contested America East Conference matchup at Beirne Stadium on Friday evening, the UMBC men's soccer team fell 1-0 to the No. 25-ranked Bryant Bulldogs.
Despite creating several dangerous attacking opportunities and pressing high up the field, the Retrievers couldn't capitalize on their chances. UMBC, now 3-5-1 (0-2 AE), finished with a narrow 8-7 advantage in total shots and attempted two corner kicks, compared to Bryant's (6-2-2-, 1-1 AE) single corner.
Bryant's Fermin Rodriguez scored the decisive, and only goal of the night in the 29
th minute. After a chaotic sequence, Rodriguez pounced on a loose ball at the 30-yard line and unleashed a powerful strike that soared past UMBC junior goalkeeper
Jackson Boonmast into the upper left corner. Remarkably, it was Bryant's first shot on target, and they managed just one more for the rest of the match.
UMBC nearly found the equalizer with 7:30 remaining in the first half. Off a well-placed free kick into the heart of the box, freshman forward
Flynn Holdem rose above the defenders and directed a header toward the open goal. Bryant goalkeeper Ramon Camejo was caught off his line, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
Freshman forward
Langston Fabiyi created another dangerous moment for UMBC in the 43rd minute, darting into the penalty area from the left flank. His shot from a sharp angle found only the side netting, denying the Retrievers an equalizer before halftime.
The Retrievers dictated play throughout the second half, generating a flurry of scoring opportunities. Just two minutes after the restart, junior forward
Abdul Kamara whipped in a dangerous cross to junior forward
Lance Talley, whose well-placed header was tipped onto the crossbar, keeping Bryant in front.
With 17:25 left, graduate midfielder
Alberto Galicia launched a curling free kick from the sideline to the back post, where freshman defender
Nico Banks met it with a strong header. However, Camejo reacted quickly, making a crucial chest save to preserve Bryant's slim lead.
In the closing moments, UMBC kept the pressure on. With just under five minutes to play, junior forward
Gunder Miller rose for a close-range header after another threatening free kick, only to see his effort fly just over the bar. Minutes later, in the 88th, Holdem connected on another header that skimmed past the far post, bringing the Retrievers agonizingly close to leveling the score.
The Retrievers will host No. 23 Vermont next Saturday evening at Retriever Soccer Park.
