UMBC

Baltimore, Md.—Freshman fullback Chris Williams (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) scored his first career goal in the 22^nd minute and the Retriever defense throttled a dangerous Albany squad as UMBC blanked the Great Danes, 2-0 before a Homecoming Day crowd of 1,152 at UMBC Soccer Stadium.

UMBC will maintain its first-place position in the America East race through the weekend as they improved to 7-4-3 overall and 3-1-1 in league play. The Retrievers are now 4-1-1 in their last six games and improved to 4-1-2 at home in 2007. Albany (2-8-3, 1-1-2) saw its three-game unbeaten streak come to an end as they were the last team to suffer a defeat in league play this season.

“It was a great win in front of a big homecoming crowd,” head coach Pete Caringi said. “I am very proud of the way the team played against a tough league opponent. We’re looking to build on this effort and gather more momentum as we enter the stretch run.”

Williams has been very steady as a freshman defender, but he added a critical score midway through the first half. Senior midfielder Bryan Moffa (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) directed his corner kick toward the near right post, where the 6-foot-3 Williams skimmed his header beyond Albany netminder Steward Ceus and inside the far left post.

The Retriever kept Ceus busy for most of the afternoon, as the 6-foot-8 Great Dane goalkeeper had to make eight saves. On the other end, UMBC junior netminder Steve King (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) did not have to make any saves in the first half and had just a pair for the entire 90 minutes.

UMBC scored the insurance goal with some trickery off a corner kick in the 62^nd minute. Junior midfielder Kevin Gnatiko went to take the corner, subtly rolled the ball over and the Moffa followed and raced the ball from the spot into the Albany box. He served the ball deep into the box, where a Great Dane player attempted to clear, but the ball glanced off his boot and into his own goal.

The Retrievers continued to press, as Ceus had to make tough saves on a pair of Gnatiko shots in the final 15 minutes. Albany’s best chance occurred in the 85^th minute, but King knocked aside Brian Gordon’s direct kick around a UMBC wall.

UMBC plays its final non-conference game of the season when they visit Howard on Tuesday evening. That begins a three-game road swing as the Retrievers meet Boston University in Boston, Mass. next Saturday.

Notes: UMBC outshot their guests, 16-8 and tied the all-time series with the Great Danes at 2-2-1… The Retrievers posted their ninth shutout of the season and have allowed only one goal in the past six games…UMBC has not allowed a first half goal in the last eight games.       

UMBC 2, Albany 0

Scoring: UM-Chris Williams (Bryan Moffa) 22’; UM-own goal 62’. Saves: A-Stewart Ceus 8 (2ga, 90 min.), UM-Steve King 2 (0ga, 90 min.) Shots: A-8, UM-16. Corners: A-7, UM-5. Fouls: A-13, UM-12. Offsides: A-3, UM-4. Att: 1,152