UMBC Soccer To Play Wake Forest in 1st round of NCAAs

The UMBC Mascot gets the crowd fired up before the UMBC/Loyola soccer game at Retriever Soccer Park. (Author Photo)

UMBC soccer, the winner of the America East Conference, will play at Wake Forest on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament. The winner of the game will play at No. 4 seeded Maryland on Saturday in the second round.

Wake Forest is 10-7-1 this season and and went 5-3 in the ACC. They finished their conference tournament with a 1-1 draw versus Clemson.

UMBC is ranked by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll with a record of 12-5-3. UMBC and Maryland played to a scoreless draw back in September. Maryland went on to win both the regular season and Big Ten Tournament crowns.

Coach Pete Caringi is in his 24th season as head coach. He earned the 2013 NSCAA Senior College Men’s Northeast Regional Coach of the Year honor after leading the team to a 16-1-3 record.

Kay Banjo (8 goals), Geaton Caltabiano (4 goals), Michael Scott (3 assists), Stephen Ho (2 goals), Mamadou Kansaye (6 assists), Oumar Ballo (3 goals), Michael Dicesare (3 goals) and Jordan Becker (4 assists) have been some of the leaders for the Retrievers. Goalkeepers Phil Breno and Billy Heavner have combined for 65 saves.