BALTIMORE, Md.- The Keydets scored three goals in a match for the first time since Sept. 26 of last season, but could not contain one of the nation's top offenses Thursday afternoon, as VMI suffered a 5-3 setback to the UMBC Retrievers at UMBC Soccer Stadium in the opening round of the UMBC/Navy Kickoff Classic.
VMI (0-1) began the match by outshooting the Retrievers (1-0) in the opening 18 minutes, as Stewart Wilkinson, Matt Seinfeld and Kurt Zimmerman all created chances in the early going. However, it was UMBC that got on the board first, as Dan Shannon took the first Retriever shot of the day and found the back of the net to give UMBC the early 1-0 advantage in the 19th minute.
Nearly 10 minutes later, Shannon earned the assist on a Levi Houapeu goal of a 1-2 combination that found the lower left corner of the net past a sprawling Brian Sowell. The goal gave UMBC a 2-0 lead in the 29th minute. UMBC would go on to add its third goal of the opening half in the 37th minute, as Pete Caringi took an assist from Kingsley Onwuka.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the second half, the Keydets got on the board shortly after the stanza began in the 50th minute. Zaher Shihata assisted on an Amir Shihata goal, sending a through ball down the left side that the younger Shihata capitalized on for the first VMI goal of the season, snapping a six-match shutout streak that dates back to Oct. 23 of last season.
Following a 58th minute goal by UMBC's Nirav Kadam to stretch the Retriever lead to 4-1, the Keydets cut the deficit in half as Seinfeld scored the first goal of his collegiate career, as the sophomore ripped a left-footed shot from 20 yards out to bring the tally to 4-2 in the 80th minute. The goal triggered a scoring flurry that resulted in three minutes.
Less than two minutes later, the powerful Retriever offense would add to its lead, as Caringi added his second goal of the day on an assist from Herman Trophy nominee Andrew Bulls on a rebound to bring the score, for the moment, to 5-2 in favor of UMBC.
The Keydets would answer right back a minute later, as last seasons leading scorer, Brian Harding, found the head of freshman Aaron White to score the first goal of his career in his first collegiate contest to bring the offensively charged match to the eventual final of 5-3 UMBC. White becomes the second freshman in as many seasons to score a goal in his freshman campaign, as Kip Zechman accomplished the feat last season.
The last time VMI scored at least three goals was in a 4-2 victory over Longwood on Sept. 26 of last season. Prior to that, the last time was against Big South foe Gardner-Webb on Sept. 5, 2007.
VMI keeper Brian Sowell made four saves in the loss, while UMBC's Phil Saunders made one save in the victory. UMBC outshot the Keydets 17-9.
Five VMI freshman made their collegiate debut, as defender Stephen Mallon cracked the starting 11.
VMI will next be in action on Sat., Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. in the squads second game of the Kickoff Classic, taking on the Navy Midshipmen. Live stats will be available prior to kickoff.
