UMBC Sports Blog

What a difference a few weeks make. A few weeks ago UMBC played a terrible two games. Before that they lost 3-4 games including a 2-0 loss to New Hampshire which they could not get anything going. But these last two weeks when a loss ends their season they have been on fire, and playing well all over the field.

It was a completely different game than the last meeting the two had. This time UMBC came out on top with a 2-1 victory in Durham, New Hampshire.

Freshman midfielder Mark Lubetkin opened the scoring in each of the last two games with a goal, which are his only two this season.

Once again freshman Mark Lubetkin opened the scoring with a goal but this time it took just nine minutes to do. In the 9th minute ha received a pass from Levi Houapeu and blasted the ball to the lower right corner from 30 yards out.

Just 32 minutes later UMBC got on the board again to go up 2-0 when another freshman, Milo Kapor, recorded his second goal of the season when he knocked a corner kick by Andrew Bulls into the top left corner of the goal.

Freshman Milo Kapor recorded the game winner against New Hampshire. It was his second goal of the year.

With the 2-0 lead at the half UMBC could go into defensive mode. While they allowed one goal by first-team all-conference forward Chris Banks, they did not allow the Wildcats to get much going in the game, making them force bad shots and not being able to get the ball past freshman Phil Saunders, who recorded four saves in the game.

Basically, they are playing like they were in the beginning of the season. They are controlling the game. They are scoring goals. And they are playing great defense, largely in part to the addition of Chris Williams back into the starting lineup.

They are now just one game away from an NCAA tournament berth and will take on the winner of Hartford @ Stony Brook, which starts at 7:00 tonight.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (13-5-0, 3-4-0):
F- Andrew Bulls (15 goals, 10 assists, 41 SOG))
F- Levi Houapeu (15 goals, 12 assists, 32 SOG)
M- Dustin Dzwonkowski (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
M- John Paul Waraksa (0 goals, 3 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Mark Lubetkin (1 goal, 4 assists, 3 SOG)
M- Dave Vaeth (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 SOG)
B- Sean Rothe (18 Starts, 1 Goal)
B- Chris Williams (13 Starts, 1 Goal)
B- Liam Paddock (17 Starts)
B- Vince Savarese (18 Starts)
GK- Phil Saunders (61 Saves, 21 Goals Allowed, .744%)

Key Reserves:
M- Milo Kapor (1 goal, 3 assists, 11 SOG)
M- Andy Streilein (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 SOG)

New Hampshire (9-6-1, 6-0-1):
F- Chris Banks (6 goals, 4 assists, 58 shots)
F- Joe Annese (2 goals, 0 assists, 5 shots)
F- Dylan George (4 goals, 3 assists, 25 shots)
M- Brad Hilton (0 goals, 3 assists, 14 shots)
M- Josh Bronner (1 goal, 0 assists, 12 shots)
M- Sean Coleman (1 goal, 2 assists, 11 shots)
B- Robin Gerum (16 Starts, 1 goal)
B- Alex Russell (13 Starts, 1 goal)
B- Joe Corsello (15 Starts)
B- Alex Hussein (15 Starts)
GK- Colin O’Donnell (54 Saves, 10 Goals Allowed, .844 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Jordon Thomas (3 goals, 1 assist, 19 shots)
F- Charlie Rocher (2 goals, 0 assists, 5 shots)
B- Gustav Nilsson (10 games played)
B- Ryan McNabb (10 games played)

After a big road win in the opening round of the America East Conference tournament what is a better reward than getting to play a team that beat you in ever facet of the game at home during the regular season? It will be a big challenge. Chris Banks is one of the top players in the conference and his combination of size and speed is just a nightmare for opponents. UMBC just really doesn’t match-up well with New Hampshire. UMBC likes to play a technically sound game of soccer while New Hampshire plays a rough and physical style of play.

But one thing is for sure. UMBC is perfectly capable of winning this game. To be honest, New Hampshire may be 6-0-1 in the conference but they are not as good as their record. They have been getting by games this year. They are still good enough to have that record but my no means is this a game UMBC can’t win. If they come out like they did against Binghamton and just play great defense, eventually a goal will come, they just can’t let New Hampshire get easy ones like last time.

Levi Houapeu knocked in a game winner in the 72nd minute of the America East Quarterfinal match in a 2-1 win over Binghamton.

Levi Houapeu recorded his third game winning goal of the season.

Just a week removed from a 4-0 loss to the Bearcats in the season finale, UMBC came out and played much better all around. The defense that previously gave up four goals got Chris Williams back into the lineup after behind out for the final four games with a leg injury, and this time they only gave up two shots on goal, one went in and one was saved.

Chris Williams returned to action after suffering a leg injury against Longwood.

After a deadlocked first half ending at 0-0, freshman midfielder mark Lubetkin scored his first career goal off a pass from Houapeu just 28 seconds into the second period.

Freshman midfielder Mark Lubetkin times his first career goal perfectly, a go ahead goal in the conference tournament.

But Binghamton struck right back 70 seconds later when Jake Keegan scored his seventh goal of the year when he redirected a shot by Adam Whitebead into the back right corner of the goal, the only shot that would get by the defense and freshman goalkeeper Phil Saunders, who only had to make one save in the game.

In the 65th minute UMBC got a big break, which probably cost Binghamton the match. First-team all-conference defender Liam Carson recieved a red card, putting Binghamton down a man for the final 25 minutes of the game.

Seven minutes after that UMBC took advantage with a goal by Houapeu, who shot a ball headed by a defender into the top corner of the goal. With the goal Houapeu recorded the game winner and became the nations leading scorer with 43 points, surprasing teammate Andrew Bulls who has been the top man since week one.

With the second round now set, UMBC will have three days to get ready for a well rested New Hampshire team coming off a first round by. New Hampshire finished the regular season perfect in conference play (6-0-1) and in their last meeting they outplayed UMBC in every facet of the game in a 2-0 victory, but this is a new team, six games removed, ready to keep their season alive.

Projected Starters:

#5 UMBC (12-5-0, 3-4):
F- Andrew Bulls (15 goals, 10 assists, 40 SOG)
F- Levi Houapeu (14 goals, 11 assists, 30 SOG)
M- Dustin Dzwonkowski (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
M- Dave Vaeth (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 SOG)
M- John Paul Waraksa (0 goals, 3 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Milo Kapor (1 goal, 3 assists, 11 SOG)
B- Sean Rothe (17 Starts)
B- Chris Williams (12 Starts, 1 goal)
B- Liam Paddock (16 Starts)
B- Vince Savarese (17 Starts)
GK- Phil Saunders (60 Saves, 20 Goals against, .750 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Matt Knight (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
M- Andy Streilein (1 goal, 1 assists, 4 SOG)
M- Mark Lubetkin (0 goals, 4 assists, 2 SOG)
B- Joe Green (10 games played)

#4 Binghamton (9-8-1, 4-3-0):
F- Jake Keegan (6 goals, 3 assists, 42 Shots)
F- Andy Tiedt (2 goals, 0 assists, 27 Shots)
M- Greg Mathers (2 goals, 0 assists, 14 Shots)
M- Matt Robertson (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 Shot)
M- Scott Zobre (2 goals, 4 assists, 32 Shots)
M- Chris Terry (0 goals, 0 assists, 3 Shots)
B- Kyle Manscuk (18 Starts, 3 goals)
B- Liam Carson (18 Starts, 1 goal)
B- Kyle Kurcharski (18 Starts, 2 goals)
B- Austin Hughes (6 Starts)
GK- Jason Stenta (85 Saves, 19 Goals Allowed, .817 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Adam Whitehead (1 goal, 1 assist, 15 Shots)
M- Tyler Bailey (2 goals, 1 assist, 9 Shots)
M- Joel Collins (13 Games Played)
B- Yusuf Yusuf (13 Games Played, 1 goal)
B- Josh Sailar (13 Games Played, 1 goal)
B- Austin Hughes (12 Games Played)

Expect a little bit of change for the Retrievers for this game. The last two games the team has not played well at all and if they lose, there is no tomorrow. this is where they get their best players on the field to try and win and advance to the next round.

The forward position is set, Bulls and Houapeu are first team all-conference players for a reason, they are good. Both have had brilliant games this season and both have had bad games this year, but there is nobody on the team that puts the Retrievers in a better chance to win at forward.

The midfield is where you should see some shuffling. While Chris Williams is making his return at back Sean Rothe no longer has to be his replacement, but Jason McCarron is still suffering from his injury suffered mid way through the season and probably won’t see the field because of it, so Rothe will have to stay in the back as the fourth guy, but he won’t be afraid to take the ball up the field if he sees his chance.

Dustin Dzwonkowski has really shined lately. In the two losses to close out the season he was one of the better players on the field and has worked his way into the starting lineup. Mark Lubetkin and Andy Streilein however have worked their way out of it. Each have had great moments but in the last two games (heck I’ll even through in Albany) they did not have good games at all, but they should still see the field during the game. While Milo Kapor and John Paul Waraksa have been rocks in the midfield this year the fourth guy should be Dave Vaeth, who has been playing well in practice and may be ready to step up and take over a starting role for this post season.

The last time the two teams played Binghamton routed the Retrievers 4-0, so it will be tough for UMBC to come back from that since it was also their last game (and it is in the same place). Jake Keegan has come on strong lately and will be the Bearcat’s go-to-scorer. But what makes Binghamton so dangerous is their defense. Kyle Manscuk, Kyle Kucharski, and Liam Carson are three of the top defenders in the conference while Jason Stenta has been on of the top goalies in the conference four a while, but the three field players are all dangerous on the offensive end as well while their midfielders are perfectly capable of stepping back and defending well if one takes the ball up the field.

But it is a do or die situation for both teams and the last game doesn’t matter, they win and they go one, they lose and they go home.

There were only two players in the America East that were unanimous selections to the all-conference team, those two players were Andrew Bulls and Levi Houapeu, who were also named the AEC striker and midfielder of the year, respectively.

It does not come as a surprise at all that the two were named first team all-conference, they are one and two in the nation in goals and points, and two and three in assists, and have just dominated competition all season.

Andrew Bulls

After scoring 15 goals with 10 assists for 40 points, Bulls was named striker of the year, making him the first since UMBC joined the America East. Bulls has been the highest scoring player in the nation since the end of the first week of games, and his 15 goals is the sixth-most in school history, and most since Derek McElligott in 2003.

Levi Houapeu

Amazingly enough Houapeu has been just as dominate as Bulls this season. Getting one player with a double-double is great, but Houapeu has 14 goals and 11 assists for 39 points this year. Two times this year Houapeu has recorded a hat trick and his 11 assists is tied for fourth most in school history.

The last America East midfielder of the year for UMBC was Matt Watson, who took home the award in both the 2004 and 2005 seasons. This year also marks the first time UMBC has had two first-team all-conference players since Watson and defender Marcus Gross were named to it in 2005.

UMBC had two other players take home awards. Both Liam Paddock and Phil Saunders were named to the all-rookie team.

Liam Paddock

Paddock, an import from England, started all 16 games in which he played. He missed on game because of a yellow card violation. He played all 16 games at center back, and was a big reason for wins over Boston U and Albany when fellow center back Chris Williams was out with an injury.

Phil Saunders

Saunders started all 17 games in goal and became the first freshman to start the season opener since Soren Byskov did in 1997. He recorded 60 saved and a .750 save% with just a 1.20 goals against average.

The men’s soccer team couldn’t have taken a bigger step back after getting two big wins against Boston University and a rout of Albany. After those wins the team looked like a serious threat to get a bye in the America East Tournament but they struggled big time on the road in their last two games, losing to Hartford, 3-0 and Binghamton, 4-0.

While the team did play better than in their appearance against Hartford, the offense was shut down again, and a big reason for that was lock down defender Liam Carson, who did not give Andrew Bulls a good chance at a goal, and Jason Stenta, who saves everything that came his way.

Binghamton got on the board quick when Greg Mathers dribbled past two defenders and shot the ball to the far right post for a goal in the seventh minute.

The UMBC defense did not allow many chances for a while but Jake Keegan scored his sixth goal in the 63rd minute. Then in the final seven minutes Binghamton scored two insurance goals, one by Matt Kristek in the 84th minute, and one by Tyler Bailey just less than four minutes later.

The Retrievers are in the conference tournament though and will travel back up to Binghamton for the quarter final game on Saturday.

UMBC (12-4-0, 3-3-0):
F- Andrew Bulls (15 goals, 10 assists, 38 SOG)
F- Levi Houapeu (14 goals, 11 assists, 28 SOG)
M- Sean Rothe (1 goal, 1 assists, 4 SOG)
M- John Paul Waraksa (0 goals, 3 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Mark Lubetkin (0 goals, 4 assists, 1 SOG)
M- Andy Streilein (1 goal, 1 assists, 4 SOG)
B- Jason McCarron (11 Starts)
B- Chris Williams (12 Starts)
B- Liam Paddock (15 Starts)
B- Vince Savarese (16 Starts)
GK- Phil Saunders (58 Saves, 16 Goal Allowed, .784 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Matt Knight (3 goals, 2 assists, 7 SOG)
M- Dustin Dzwonkowski (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
M- Milo Kapor (1 goal, 3 assists, 11 SOG)
M- Dave Vaeth (0 goals, 2 assists, 0 SOG)
B- Joe Green (9 games played)

Binghamton (8-7-1, 3-3-0):
F- Jake Keegan (5 goals, 3 assists, 39 Shots)
F- Adam Whitehead (1 goal, 0 assists, 11 Shots)
F- Scott Zobre (2 goals, 0 assists, 27 Shots)
M- Chris Terry (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 Shot)
M- C.J. Scirto (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 Shots)
M- Kyle Kurcharski (2 goals, 6 assists, 15 Shots)
B- Kyle Manscuk (2 goals, 0 assists, 7 Shots)
B- Liam Carson (16 Starts)
B- Matt Robertson (10 Starts)
B- Austin Hughes (4 Starts)
GK- Jason Stenta (73 Saves, 17 Goals Allowed, .811 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Andy Tiedt (2 goals, 0 assists, 27 Shots)
M- Greg Mathers (1 goal, 0 assists, 13 Shots)
M- Tyler Bailey (1 goal, 0 assists, 8 Shots)
M- Yusuf Yusuf (1 goal, 0 assists, 6 Shots)
M- Josh Sailar (1 goal 0 assists, 6 Shots)
B- Joel Collins (11 games played)

The season finale, a win and UMBC earns the three seed in the America East Tournament and will host Boston University, a loss and they hit the road as the five seed and go to Stony Brook. It is a very difficult situation to be in. No matter what the standings are nobody wants to play Boston U in the first round, except maybe Binghamton (who would play them in Binghamton is they beat UMBC) because the Terriers never play well there. UMBC is almost better off with a loss. They would play Stony Brook (who they beat 2-0) and then most likely travel to New Hampshire to play a team that is undefeated in conference play but is not as good as the record. But under no circumstances do teams throw games. They want that win, they want to go into the tournament on a high mark, they want to play a home game, and most of all, they want to beat Binghamton who has been one of the top teams in America East soccer for a long time.

Hartford, Ct.–Needing to win both of their remaining games to clinch a first round bye in the America East Conference Tournament, the UMBC soccer team did not come out and play a good game of soccer. On a rainy and windy senior day against the Hartford Hawks, UMBC was out played in every facet of the game and are out of contention for the second seed in the six team tournament.

Hartford got things going early with a goal in the 15th minute when Patrick Boucher took a very sharp shot that his the far right post and bounced in past Saunders.

Twenty-five minutes later the Hawks struck again when Vernon Perinchief blasted in a shot from outside the box off a corner kick.

After being down 2-0 at the half UMBC Pete Caringi made a lineup change to the lineup, switching from the 3-4-3 in hopes to get more offense, but it did not help. UMBC managed just three shots in the game (none on goal) and gave up a third goal in the 72nd minute when Ivan Guarin took a quick shot on a free kick to put Hartford up 3-0 with very little time left.

With the loss UMBC can still host a tournament game but will have to beat Binghamton on the road on Saturday.

Probable Starters:

UMBC (12-3-0, 3-2-0):
F- Andrew Bulls (15 goals, 10 assists, 38 SOG)
F- Levi Houapeu (14 goals, 11 assists, 28 SOG)
M- Mark Lubetkin (0 goals, 4 assists, 1 SOG)
M- John Paul Waraksa (0 goals, 3 assists, 0 SOG)
M- Milo Kapor (1 goal, 3 assists, 11 SOG)
M- Andy Streilein (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 SOG)
B- Sean Rothe (15 Starts)
B- Vince Savarese (15 Starts)
B- Liam Paddock (14 Starts)
B- Jason McCarron (10 Starts)
GK- Phil Saunders (52 Saves, 13 Goals Allowed, .800 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Matt Knight (3 goals, 2 assists, 7 SOG)
M- Dustin Dzwonkowski (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
M- Dave Vaeth (0 goals, 2 assists, 0 SOG)
B- Joe Green (9 games played)

Hartford (6-6-2, 3-1-1):
F- Carlos Villa (8 goals, 1 assist, 25 SOG)
F- Patrick Boucher (2 goals, 2 assists, 5 SOG)
F- Howard Wong (0 goals, 1 assist, 5 SOG)
M- Jamie Thomas (0 goals, 0 assist, 5 SOG)
M- Ivan Guarin (3 goals, 2 assists, 18 SOG)
M- James Stamopoulos (0 goals, 4 assists, 5 SOG)
M- Sam Groves (0 goals, 0 assists, 4 SOG)
B- Bojan Delibasic (13 Starts)
B- Cedomir Tomcic (14 Starts)
B- Jorge Rodriguez (13 Starts)
GK- Nenad Cudic (45 saves, 15 goals allowed, .750 save%)

Key Reserves:
F- Vernon Perinchief (2 goals, 0 assists, 5 SOG)
F- Andreas Blamo (0 goals, 0 assists, 8 SOG)
M- Kevin Hall (1 goal, 0 assists, 3 SOG)
M- Kevin Lewis (0 goals, 0 assists, 1 SOG)
B- Anthony Buehler (10 games played)

It’s no secret what Hartford does to win games. They use their midfield to set up Carlos Villa to score while on offense. By not using the midfielders to attack, they are rarely ever out of position on defense and they prevent the other team from getting into any rhythm at all. The game plan has been very successful for the Hawks in recent years as they have proven to be one of the top teams time and time again. It will be a very interesting game. UMBC is playing great soccer right now and have one of the most explosive offenses in the country with three scorers with the emergence of Dustin Dzwonkowski last week. The problem will be the defense. Villa is without a doubt on of the top players in the conference and is a threat to score every time he has the ball. With Chris Williams not even traveling with the team because of his leg injury the unit will once again be shuffled around. While they have played great team defense the last two games you always have to worry when going against an offense like Hartford’s. But if UMBC can continue their streak and get past Hartford they could be a win (or tie) away from the number two seed.