BALTIMORE- The 11^th-ranked UMBC men’s soccer team tied a school record by extending its season-opening winning streak to nine straight as the Retrievers got an overtime goal from junior back Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) and edged visiting George Washington, 2-1, before 1,578 fans at Retriever Soccer Park.

With 7:29 to play in double overtime, Retriever junior midfielder Mamadou Kansaye (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) took a free kick from 20 yards out on the right wing. His effort towards the far post eluded GW goalkeeper J.P. van der Merwe and was chested in by Fernandez on the back post.  

“We have become the hunted, where we used to be the hunter,” head coach Pete Caringi, Jr. said.” That was a fired-up GW team that played one of their best games all year. [But] we found a way to do it. I am really proud of that.”   

After a scoreless first half, UMBC got on the board early in the second stanza as senior midfielder Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y.) recorded his fourth goal of the season. Junior midfielder Stephen Ho (North Potomac, Md./Wootton) beat his defender down the right wing and sent a low cross into the box. The ball glanced off a GW defender, and from the ground, Dacres, poked it past van der Merwe to give the hosts a 1-0 adfvantage.

But the Colonials would equalize on their lone shot of the second half. In the 61st minute, the Retriever defense attempted to clear the ball, but GW senior midfielder Bailey Hinners chested at the edge of the box. From the right post extended, Hinners hooked a perfect strike just inside the far left post to knot the score.

The game remained tied throughout regulation and into the second extra frame until Fernandez provided the hosts their second double overtime victory of the campaign.

UMBC enjoyed a 18-4 advantage in shots and a 13-2 edge in corner kicks. UMBC senior goalkeeper Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) made one save on the evening, a diving stop on a Philip McQuitty header in the 9th minute. Van der Merwe was credited with three saves for the Colonials.

The 2009 Retrievers also started the campaign at 9-0-0. UMBC is now undefeated in 18 consecutive gmaes (15-0-3) dating back to the 2012 season.

High-powered Delaware visits UMBC in the Retrievers’ next contest on Tuesday, Oct. 1.   

Notes: Fernandez’ goal was his second of the season and both have occurred in UMBC overtime victories… The nine-game streak is one of two in school history that trails only the 13-game run in the 1999 campaign… UMBC now leads the overall series, 8-4-3 and have won five straight.

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