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On the schedule, Wednesday’s game against Hartford may look like another conference game, but for the University of Maine men’s soccer team, it means one thing: playoffs or bust.
After defeating the University of Maryland Baltimore-County last season in a game that solidified their spot in the playoffs, the Retrievers were able to get revenge by beating UMaine 4-1 Saturday.
Saturday’s loss to the Golden Retrievers may spell the end of a return to the playoffs for the team, as they suffered their second conference loss in the past three games.
Even though they have an overall record of 3-5-3, UMaine’s record in the conference is now 0-3-2 putting them in last place in the conference with Hartford. The team departed late Tuesday afternoon for Hartford in what could be a pivotal point in the season for either team.
“One thing we wanted to do at practice is train hard and just get refocused,” said freshman defender Kyle Nicholson. “We also got refocused when it came back to making the conference playoffs.”
“We all feel that we still have a chance.”
Last season, after the Black Bears capped a five-game winning streak with a win against University of Maryland Baltimore County, the team took on Hartford in their America East playoff match only to lose to the Hawks 1-0.
During Saturday’s game, the Retrievers were able to set the tone early, scoring two goals within a three-minute span in the first half. UMBC’s first goal came when junior Powell Cuchella scored one of his two goals when a shot from ten yards out beat UMaine keeper Chad Mongeon for a 1-0 lead.
More than three minutes later, the Retrievers were able to work their way down the field with Baltimore native Derek McElligott making an eight-yard pass to his unmarked teammate Matt Watson, who scored on an wide-open net for a 2-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Black Bears, the early portion of the second half was similar to the first half as the Retrievers struck again in the 55th minute. Once Watson was able to create space, he played a backwards pass to George Bakoulas, who was able to slice his way through the heart of the UMaine defense to hammer home his shot for a 3-0 lead.
Then, three minutes late,r Cuchella scored his second goal, heading a shot past Mongeon off a throw-in.
A minute later, the Black Bears’ lone goal came when senior forward Justin Stockford placed his shot in the lower left-hand corner of the net to beat UMBC keeper Andy Marchica.
Despite being outshot 13-10, one category UMaine had the advantage in was corner kicks as they had seven, whereas UMBC had two.
The Black Bears will return to Alumni Field on Oct. 24 to take on Binghamton for Homecoming. After their noon match with Binghamton, UMaine will play Holy Cross in Falmouth on Oct. 26. Five days later, the Black Bears will travel to Stony Brook.
Bangor Daily News