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News Release

Men's Soccer to Face Delaware, St. Joseph's in Navy's Anders Soccer Classic

9/3/2009

The UMBC men's soccer team will compete in this weekend's Anders Soccer Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy. The Retrievers (1-0-0) take on Delaware (0-1-0) on Friday, Sept. 4 at 5:00 p.m. and then face St. Joseph's (0-0-0, pre-tournament) on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1:00 p.m. Both games are available on the Live Stats link.

 

Dawg Bytes

A young UMBC squad takes the field in 2009 for the 43rd season of Retriever soccer. There is just one senior, Andrew Gillis, on the ‘09 roster,  and a number of Coach Caringi’s 10 first-year players could see significant playing time early in the campaign.

 

With the 3-1 win over Virginia Tech on Sept. 1, UMBC has won its last three four openers and is 17-2 under Pete Caringi in lid-lifters. The win also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Hokies and was UMBC first win over Tech in five meetings in Baltimore.

 

Forwards Andrew Bulls and Levi Houapeu recorded a goal and an assist apiece as UMBC bested visiting Virginia Tech, 3-1, before an impressive 1,105 fans at UMBC Soccer Stadium. Junior midfielder Sean Rothe scored in the 17th minute, posting his first goal since Oct. 23, 2007 (a span of 22 games), converting a free kick feed from Bulls. Bulls would convert passes from freshman midfielder Milo Kapor and Houapeu to score nearly 10 minutes later and Houapeu’s 60-yard dash and goal from Andy Streilein in the 53rd minute gave the Retrievers a 3-0 advantage. 

 

Freshman Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) earned the start in goal for UMBC and performed well, making three saves and punching several crosses away from danger.

 

Young Pups

 

Four freshmen were in the starting lineup vs. Virginia Tech. Saunders started in goal, Kapor started at midfield, while British natives Joe Green and Liam Paddock started on the back line.

 

In the Nets

 

It is not unusual for Pete Caringi to use a freshman goalkeeper extensively in his first season. In fact, Robbie Mamula (1989), C.J. Norton (1993), Soren Byskov (1997), Tom Wunk (1998), Brian Rowland (1999), and Steve King (2005) were all the team’s primary netminders in their freshman campaigns. But Phil Saunders became the first since Byskov to earn the opening day start in his freshman campaign.

 

Bullish on UMBC Soccer

 

Andrew Bulls led UMBC with eight goals in his freshman campaign and he earned America East Conference All-Rookie team recognition. He scored his ninth career goal vs. Virginia Tech and has tied senior Andrew Gillis as UMBC’s active leader in goals scored. Bulls tied a career-best with a three-point game; he accomplished that in his collegiate debut a year ago in the 4-2 opening win over St. Mary’s (Calif.). He was also credited with his third GWG of his career in the win over the Hokies.

 

The Levi Was Not Dry

 

Levi Houapeu continued his torrid play from a hot summer with a career-high three-point game vs.Virginia Tech. Houapeu enjoyed a fantastic summer, as he was named to the First-Team All-Tournament in the United Soccer League's Super-20 Men’s Tournament. Houapeu scored four goals in the tournament.

A Familiar Foe

 

Sophomore Andy Streilein is no stranger to the Delaware squad, as he started 14 of 18 games as a freshman for the Blue Hens last season. He tied for the team lead with four goals in 2008 and posted an assist in his debut for UMBC on Tuesday.

 

Retrievers in Annapolis

 

This will be the fifth consecutive year that UMBC has participated in Navy’s Anders Soccer Classic. The Retrievers have a record of 3-4-1 and won the classic title in 2007 with wins over Air Force and Temple. Last season, UMBC opened the season in Annapolis, defeating St. Mary’s (Calif.), 4-2, in the opener, before falling, 2-1 in overtime to St. Francis (N.Y.).

 

This Weekend’s Foes

 

Delaware is 0-1-0, having dropped its opener at Marist, 1-0. St. Joseph’s has not played a regular season game entering the tournament.

 

Series Notes 

UMBC leads the series with Delaware, 13-7-3. The Retrievers are 4-0-2 in the last six matches with the Fightin’ Blue Hens, but the last two matches (2002, 2003) have ended in draws. The two schools played for 15 consecutive seasons, but the 1-1 overtime tie at UMBC Soccer Stadium in 2003 was the last meeting.

 

The Retrievers own a 6-4-0 series advantage over St. Joseph’s and have won five of the last six encounters. The last contest occurred in 2006, and UMBC defeated the Hawks, 5-1, in the season opener at UMBC Soccer Stadium.

 

Up Next

 

UMBC will host the seventh annual adidas Kick Off Classic on Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 10 and 12. The Retrievers host former Northeast Conference rivals St. Francis (Pa.) (9/10, 4:30 p.m.) and Mount St. Mary’s (9/12, 2:30 p.m.). Navy is the other team involved in that tournament.