Live Stats
LEXINGTON, Va.- The 2010 VMI men's soccer team opens up its season Thurs., Sept. 2 in Baltimore, Md., as the squad will take on the UMBC Retrievers from UMBC Soccer Field at 4:30 p.m. The match is part of the 2010 UMBC/Navy Kick-Off Classic, with each school sharing hosting duties. Live stats will be available, courtesy of UMBC.
VMI seeks its first opening day victory since the 2005 season as the Keydets defeated Southern Virginia 4-0, while UMBC holds a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. The last between the two schools came during the 1997 season, which was another opening day match that the Retrievers won, 4-0.
VMI enters the match coming off of a 2-15-1 record last season, but return an experienced squad of 16 letterwinners along with nine starters. The program will also feature a new head coach in Richie Rose, who has served as assistant coach the past two seasons.
The Keydets will enter the match after an exhibition season that was short on wins, but big on smaller accomplishments. In the first mach of the preseason, the Keydets shut out 2009 National Champion, No. 2 ranked Virginia for 53 minutes before falling 4-0 to the Wahoos, who eventually proved too powerful for the Keydets.
In the second exhibition of the season, the Keydets hosted George Washington, and lead 1-0 heading into the half on the heels of a Zaher Shihata goal. After allowing a goal on a free-kick in the 63rd minute, the match looked to be headed into overtime, but a late GW strike found the back of the net, giving the Colonials the victory.
The Retrievers enter the 2010 season after compiling a record of 14-6 a year ago, which could be looked upon as a huge success for a team that was picked to finish last in the America East Preseason Poll, and lost in the conference championship game. The team returns all 11 starters from a season ago, six of whom were freshman, and lost only two letterwinners. In this seasons poll, the Retrievers were selected to finish third.
UMBC features two of the most dynamic players in the country on the attack in junior striker Andrew Bulls and 2009 NCAA scoring champion Levi Houapeu. The National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) named him to the Hermann Trophy Watch List, while College Soccer tabbed him a Preseason Second Team All-American. He is coming off a sophomore year where he scored 15 goals and added 11 assists for 41 points. Eight of his goals were game-winners, tying the school record.
Houapeu was named the 2009 ECAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and America East Midfielder of the Year en route to averaging a best in the nation 2.15 points per game.
Following Thursday's contest, VMI will take on Navy Sat., Sept 4 at 7 p.m. from Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, with live stats being made available prior to the match.
