Baltimore – The UMBC men's soccer team saw a hard-fought lead slip away as they conceded two rapid-fire second-half goals in just over two minutes, ultimately falling 2-1 to the William & Mary Tribe on Saturday evening at Retriever Soccer Park.
UMBC (3-3-1) nearly broke the deadlock late in the first half, earning a penalty kick with just 1:13 remaining. Reserve midfielder
Jonas Nistad stepped up for a penalty kick, but William & Mary's goalkeeper Diego Garciarena sprang to his right, stretching out to make a save and keep the game scoreless.
With only eight seconds left on the clock, Nistad unleashed a powerful shot from the top of the box, the ball screaming toward the right corner. Garciarena, once again, delivered a highlight-reel save, leaping to punch the ball over the line for a corner kick. Acting quickly, defender
Adamo Pantaleo sprinted to the corner and whipped in a beautifully arcing cross into the crowded box, where junior
Logan Ehart soared above defenders to head the ball into the far corner of the net with just three ticks remaining in the half.
Early in the second half, the Retrievers came agonizingly close to doubling their lead. In the 50th minute, reserve forward
Tancredi Fadda found himself unmarked in the center of the box, perfectly positioned to finish off a low cross. However, Fadda's shot sailed just wide with the goal wide open.
William & Mary (3-3-1) found the equalizer in the 66
th minute in a chaotic sequence inside the box. Aiddan Gatchell's initial attempt ricocheted off a UMBC defender, the ball looping high into the air. Damen Burney outjumped the crowd to head it back down to Gatchell, who pounced from close range and smashed the ball into the net, tying the game at one apiece.
Barely two minutes later, the visitors struck again. Gabe Ruitenburg was brought down on the left side of the box following a dangerous delivery from Michael DiOrio. Ruitenburg calmly stepped to the spot and coolly slotted the penalty into the right corner, giving the Tribe a 2-1 lead.
UMBC pressed desperately for an equalizer in the dying moments. With just over two minutes left, freshman forward
Flynn Holdem rose to meet a cross but his header agonizingly floated inches above the crossbar. Seconds later, Pantaleo unleashed a shot moments after a throw-in, but Garciarena, capping off a stellar five-save performance, made a diving save to preserve the Tribe's narrow advantage.
Junior
Joe Pollard made seven saves for UMBC.
The Dawgs will host Navy on Tuesday evening.
