UMBC Presses Late, But Draws 0-0 Versus UA

October 12, 2013

BALTIMORE- Eighth-ranked UMBC shook off a tough opening half and outplayed visiting Albany over the final 65 minutes, but could not dent the net and the two teams battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw before a Homecoming Day crowd of 1,758 at UMBC Stadium.

The Retrievers are now 10-1-1 on the campaign and 1-0-1 in America East play, while Albany is 2-7-3, 0-1-1.

The game was played on the turf at UMBC Stadium due to the heavy rains in the area over the past 72 hours which drenched the Bermuda grass surface of Retriever Soccer Park.

UMBC senior goalkeeper Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) made four saves to post his second shutout of the season and the 19th of his career.

The visitors outshot UMBC, 6-2, in the opening frame and had the best scoring chance when a header by reserve Phil Denara went wide left of the cage in the 28th minute.

The Retrievers turned the tables in the second 45 minutes, outshooting UA, 6-2, but could not cash in on four good scoring opportunities. In the 51st minute, Great Dane starting netminder Tim Allen tipped a Geaton Caltabiano (Lothian, Md./Mount St. Joseph) cross away that was headed for an open Pete Caringi (Perry Hall, Md./Calvert Hall) on the far post. Twelve minutes later, Caringi found himself unattended ten yards away from goal, but his shot skimmed past the far left post.

With 17 minutes remaining, UMBC senior midfielder Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y./Mercer County CC) fired a shot from 23 yards that was deflected over the cage by Allen and Caringi’s header from close range with less than six minutes to play went just over the crossbar.

UMBC pressed in both extra sessions, but were denied on five shots in the 20 minutes. The best opportunity came in the 96th minute, after Allen collided with a Retriever forward on a free kick in the box. The ball rebounded to junior back Jordan Becker, (Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke) but his blast from 13 yards hit a well-positioned UA defender and bounded away from the goal.

UMBC outshot Albany, 13-10 and had 11 corners to just a single reply from the visitors. Allen made four saves in 100 minutes, but had to leave the game after the first overtime period. Freshman Michael Pizzuti preserved the shutout for the Danes.

Denara led all players with four shots in the game, while Dacres registered three for the hosts.

The series now stands at 5-4-2 in favor of UMBC and Albany has yet to win in Baltimore as the Retrievers are 4-0-2 vs. UA on their home fields.

UMBC travels to Burlington for a Wednesday match-up with Vermont. Kick-off time is 3:00 p.m.