UMBC

Gary Wohlstetter, Dr. Charles Brown, Pete Caringi, Tara Kolseski, Dr. Arthur Johnson, Jim Donlan and Phillip Cho cut the ceremonial ribbon to re-open UMBC Soccer Stadium

Baltimore, Md.—UMBC seniors Kevin Mezzadra (Loyola-Blakefield) and David Feazell (Fallston) scored two goals each as the Retrievers exploded for four late second half goals in a 5-1 win over St. Joseph’s in the nightcap of the adidas Kick Off Classic at refurbished UMBC Soccer Stadium. Junior forward Marcus Reed scored the game-winning goal and added two assists as 25^th-ranked Virginia Tech blanked Navy, 3-0, in the first game.

Although it is a classic format, the Retrievers will meet the Hokies at 2:30 on Sunday, immediately following the noon game between Navy and St. Joseph’s.

With the game tied at 1-1, Feazell was fouled trying to corral a ball inside the box and the senior forward converted the penalty kick at 68:58. Mezzadra added an insurance goal less than five minutes later at 73:49, as he settled Bryan Moffa’s serve, turned and scored from 12 yards out. Feazell added the fourth goal in the 82^nd minute, and sophomore Kevin Gnatiko capped the scoring with only 1:40 remaining.

Mezzadra, who led UMBC last season with six goals, opened the scoring at the 3:39 mark, as he outfought the Hawk defense for a loose ball and beat netminder Joe Bondar from eleven yards away. But the Hawks tied the score at 24:59, when senior Dean Niedosik headed in an Chris Powell’s indirect kick from seven yards away.

Mezzadra assisted on Feazell’s second goal and scored a career-high five points in the game. UMBC outshot St. Joseph’s, 11-5, and Retriever netminder Steve King made a pair of saves to earn the win. Bodnar made one save in the Hawks’ net.

Reed opened the scoring for Virginia Tech, by heading in Charles Campbell’s corner kick from seven yards away at the 8:39 mark. The Hokies held a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Reed found a wide open Ben Nason ten yards from the goal just 1:24 into the second half and the junior midfielder measured his shot and scored inside the right post.  Reed earned another dish at 64:10 ,when he took the center position on a three-on-two and found Eric Vickers on the right side and the senior midfielder scored from eight yards out.

Virginia Tech outshot the Midshipmen, 15-2 and attempted 13 corners to Navy’s one attempt. Hokie netmdiners Drew Czekanski and Brendan Dunn split the shutout as neither netminder recorded a save, while Navy junior Thomas Jenkins totaled seven saves for his side.

The games marked the re-opening of UMBC Soccer Stadium, which has been equipped with a Bermuda grass playing surface.