BALTIMORE - After Thursday's home opener was deemed a no contest after multiple weather delays, UMBC will officially open its season on Sunday evening as it plays host to the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds at RSP for the first time since 2014. The two programs officially meet for the first contest since a 1-0 win for Loyola in 2015. 

Sunday's match will mark the inaugural Blake Elliott Cup match, honoring the life of Blake Elliott, daughter of Rob & Belinda Elliott, who passed away tragically in a car accident last year. 
   
UMBC opens the 2026 season with a horde of new faces, welcoming 15 newcomers to Anthony Adams' program. Adams brings in seven first-year players and eight transfers to the 2026 squad, joining returners Shawn Shvartshtein, Adamo Pantaleo, and Gunder Miller, all of whom played over 1,200 minutes for the Retrievers in 2025. 

Pantaleo, a junior defender from Canada, will serve as one of the team's two captains alongside newcomer Tancredi Fadda. Pantaleo started 14 games a year ago, logging nearly 1,400 minutes in defense. Shvartshtein, another Canada native, started all 17 games as a freshman, earning a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team. Miller, a junior forward from Oregon, scored a goal and added an assist in 2025, starting 15 games for the Retrievers. 

Jonas Nistad, Trae Robeson, and Simon Vujinovic all played more than 250 minutes for the Retrievers a year ago. 

The Retrievers posted a record of 6-6-5 in 2025, earning the fifth spot in the America East playoffs, falling in penalty kicks to fourth-seeded New Hampshire after playing to a 0-0 draw. 

UMBC was voted fifth in the America East preseason poll.

THE GREYHOUNDS

Loyola opened its season on Thursday evening, falling 5-0 to St. John's at Ridley Athletic Complex. 

The Red Storm led 2-0 at the break before adding three more in the second half of the season opener. 

The Greyhounds return 14 players that played in at least eight games last season, led by Jack Endacott, Kayin Oladinni, and Tyler Flynn, who all ranked in the top five in minutes played last season. Connor O'Keefe returns in goal, after starting in 10 games last season, including two shutouts. Steve Nichols enters his 13th season at the helm for the Greyhounds, and has amassed a record of 79-78-43 (50-32-19) during his tenure. Over the past five seasons (excluding the 2020 season), the Greyhounds are 14-23-17 in non-conference play.