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News Release

Men's Soccer Travels to Philadelphia for Match vs. Drexel on Saturday

9/12/2008

The UMBC men’s soccer team plays its first true road game of the season this Saturday, Sept. 13 as they take on Drexel at Vidas Field in Philadelphia.

The Retrievers enter the game on a two-game winning streak with a mark of 3-1, while Drexel (2-1-1) is winless in its last two outings. The Dragons dropped a 2-0 decision at neighboring La Salle on Wednesday.

UMBC has had no luck in the past with the Dragons, as Drexel has won all four meetings between the two schools. Most recently, DU won a 2-1 decision in Philadelphia in 2006. Current senior Kevin Gnatiko (Montgomery Village, Md./Watkins Mill) put the Retrievers ahead in that game, but the Dragons scored a pair of second-half goals to pull out the victory.

In Review: UMBC won both game of the adidas Kick Off Classic, edging Lipscomb, 1-0 on Sept. 5 and Adelphi, 3-2, in double overtime on Sept. 7. However, Navy won the classic with two wins and the Midshipmen won the tie-breaker by outscoring UMBC, five goals to four.  In the opener, sophomore midfielder Dustin Dzwonkowski (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) scored his first collegiate goal, in the 73^rd minute. On the play, he calmly volleyed a short cross from 22 yards away over the hands of goalkeeper Patrick Walsh and into the left corner of the net.

Sunday’s game vs. Adelphi appeared to be headed for a 2-2 draw, but Dzwonkowski hustled down a loose ball in the far corner and his cross found a streaking Andrew Bulls (Millersville, Md./McDonogh), who scored the game-winning goal with 1:14 to play. The younger Bulls brother leads the Retrievers with two goals and two assists through four games… Older brother Dan Bulls (Millersville, Md./Old Mill) scored his second goal of the season, converting a late first half penalty kick to give UMBC a 2-1 lead.  Sophomore John Paul Waraksa (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) also tallied his second goal of the year to give UMBC a 1-0 advantage in the sixth minute of play vs. Adelphi.

In 12 years of the tournament, UMBC has a record of 16-4-4, but the Retrievers have not won a title since 2005.  Dzwonkowski, Andrew Bulls and sophomore defender Chris Williams (Parkville, Md./Calvert Hall) earned All-Tournament team honors for UMBC. Senior goalkeeper Steve King (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) recorded his 18^th career shutout vs. Lipscomb—he stands third in school history with that mark.

Repeat Winner: For the second consecutive week, freshman midfielder Andrew Bulls was named America East Conference Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Week. The conference’s Player of the Week is Boston University goalkeeper Hrafn Davidsson.

Up Next: UMBC travels across the beltway to take on local rival Towson on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 4:00 p.m.