BALTIMORE – The UMBC men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the America East Tournament for the eighth consecutive year as the Retrievers blanked the visiting Binghamton Bearcats, 1-0, at Retriever Soccer Park.

Despite getting off 26 shots, UMBC’s lone goal came on a successful penalty kick by senior midfielder  Mamadou Kansaye (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) in the 33rd minute.

UMBC improved to 4-0-1 in America East play and 8-5-3 overall. Binghamton dropped its fourth straight and fell to 2-3-0 in the conference and 4-12-0 overall.

With two games left for all eight league squads, UMBC can finish no lower than third place in the standings.

Both sides threatened early as UMBC senior midfielder Stephen Ho (North Potomac, Md./Wootton) missed just wide left after a great set-up by senior forward Kay Banjo (Upper Marlboro, Md./Largo) in the 18th minute. Binghamton countered as senior forward Steve Celeste had opportunities in the 20’ and 26’ minutes, but missed the target on the first attempt and had a header corralled by Retriever red-shirt-sophomore Billy Heavner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) on the second effort.

The Retrievers struck when red-shirt sophomore midfielder Michael Burgos (Huntington, Md./Calverton School) drove down the left side and into the box and his shot attempt struck the hand of a Bearcat defender. Kansaye stepped up and converted the penalty kick for his fourth score of the season.

The two teams combined for 24 second half shots and Binghamton sophomore goalkeeper Robert Moewes was outstanding, turning away a pair of shots in a flurry in the 65’ and making a diving stop on a Banjo effort destined for the upper left corner in the 84’.

The Bearcats had two attempts in the final four minutes, but both attempts from distance were well off-target.

Heavner finished with three saves to post his second consecutive shutout and his third in seven starts. Moewes was credited with seven saves and the Bearcats had nine stops as a team.

UMBC completes the regular part of the home schedule when they host Vermont on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m.  A record ten Retriever seniors will be honored in pregame ceremonies.

Notes: UMBC is unbeaten in its last 17 America East regular season contests and is unbeaten versus league foes in 21 consecutive games… UMBC knotted the series with Binghamton at 6-6-3 and extended the unbeaten streak against the Bearcats to six (3-0-3)… Despite cranking off six shots and three on goal, Banjo was held off the scoreboard for the first time in five league games.     

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