Bulls, Louisignau Star as UMBC Wins Hard-Fought 1-0 Decision Over FDU

September 3, 2011

Baltimore- UMBC senior midfielder Andrew Bulls (Millersville, Md./McDonogh) scored the game’s lone goal and Retriever senior netminder Dan Louisignau (Wilmington, Del.) tied a career-high with nine saves as UMBC(2-0-1) edged Fairleigh Dickinson (2-1-0) , 1-0, in the Holiday Inn Express BWI Classic played at Retriever Soccer Park.

Bulls scored his 29^th career goal and 14^th career game-winning tally in the 13^th minute of play. He had a direct kick from 15 yards from the goal line, but on a sharp angle from the left side of the field. Bulls hooked his shot through some traffic and FDU goalkeeper Jacob Lissek got a piece of it, but the ball crept over the goal line inside the near post.

The preseason Hermann Award candidate now has 87 career points (29 goals, 29 assists) and his 87 points tie former teammate Levi Houapeu for fourth place on UMBC’s all-time scoring list.

UMBC took five of the game’s first five shots over nearly 31 minutes, but the Knights would outshoot the Retrievers, 14-2 over the final 59. Louisignau posted his third shutout of the season and has not allowed a goal in 430 minutes, dating back to the first half of the NCAA Tournament game at Princeton last season.

Louisignau also had nine saves last Oct. 2 in a 1-1 draw with Binghamton. He has eight shutouts in 16 career starts for UMBC.

The Knights’ best chance came in the 68^th minute, when sophomore midfielder Liam Cahill struck the post with a shot from 14 yards out. But FDU’s Tatenda Chimhanda picked up a red card in the 78^th minute for taking Bulls down on a potential breakway, and the short-handed Knights managed just two shots in the final 12 minutes of play.

The Retrievers snapped a nine-game winless streak vs. their former Northeast Conference rivals. UMBC won the first meeting in 1994, but were 0-6-3, including three overtime losses since the last victory.

UMBC has only started one other season with three consecutive shutouts when they also won a pair and tied one to open the 2003 campaign.

The Retrievers return home on Wednesday, Sept. 7 when they welcome local rival Towson to Retriever Soccer Park.