UMBC, Bucknell Battle to Scoreless Draw

October 4, 2011

BALTIMORE- The UMBC men’s soccer team played its first scoreless draw of the 2011 campaign, as they drew 0-0 in two overtimes with visiting Bucknell in a non-conference played at Retriever Soccer Park.

The Retrievers have a modest two-game unbeaten streak and are 4-3-3 on the campaign, while Bucknell is winless in three straight and stay at the .500 mark with a 5-5-1 record.

UMBC posted its first shutout since a 1-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sept. 3. Senior goalkeeper Dan Louisignau (Wilmington, Del.) made three saves to record his ninth career shutout.

Bucknell outshot UMBC, 13-11 and Bison senior goalkeeper Tommy Caso earned the shutout with a five-save effort.

The 0-0 result was UMBC’s first since the 2010 America East title game vs. New Hampshire on Nov. 13.

The Retrievers’ best first half chance occurred in the 37^th minute, when Caso made a sliding save of sophomore midfielder Stephen Ho’s (North Potomac, Md./Wootton) short range attempt.

Neither team could mount consistent pressure in the second half, but Bucknell nearly won it in the first minute of overtime when Luke Joyner’s header from close range went wide of the right post. UMBC responded with three shots in the in the final three minutes of the first ten-minute extra session, and freshman Michael DiCesare (Westerville, Ohio) tested Caso with a 16-yard shot from the right wing, but the Bison netminder deflected the shot over the end line.

Bucknell had two corners and the lone shot of the second extra period, but could not come away with the road victory.

UMBC had won the first-ever meeting between the two schools, 2-1, in Lewisburg, Pa. in 2010.

The Retrievers get back to America East Conference play when they travel to Boston U. to take on the Terriers in a Saturday matineé.