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BALTIMORE – Senior Michael DiCesare netted a hat-trick on "Senior Day" to lead the UMBC Retrievers to a 5-1 victory over visiting Vermont in America East men's soccer action on Saturday night. The victory gives the Retrievers the conference regular season crown for the second consecutive season.
UMBC remains unbeaten in league play with a 5-0-1 mark and improves to 9-5-3 overall. Vermont falls to 2-3-1 in America East and 7-7-1 on the year.
"I thought UMBC beat us in every category tonight," said Vermont head coach
Jesse Cormier. "It was a very disappointing performance. We have to be a lot more competitive and take more pride in what we are doing. We need to use
Mike Clayton as an example, he scored a great goal for us tonight, fighting for the ball and never giving up on the opportunity. We have got to do a lot better on Wednesday when we face New Hampshire if we want to extend our season."
Michael Scott gave UMBC a 1-0 lead 17 minutes into the match. He cut inside the 18 yard box from the left wing and fired in a blast to the far post the went just under the cross bar. It was his first goal of the season.
DiCesare scored the first of his three consecutive goals in the 29th minute. Scott sent a through ball in behind the UVM defense and DiCesare was able to poke it past UVM goalkeeper
Conor Leland for his first of the night and first of the season.
DiCesare struck again in the 32nd minute, collecting another through ball to beat Leland from six yards out and push UMBC's lead to 3-0 at the half.
DiCesare finished his natural hat trick with a put back off a rebound on a corner kick opportunity for the Retrievers in the 70th minute.
Michael Burgos closed out the scoring for UMBC in the 74th minute, finishing off a pair of assists from Malcolm Harris and Gregg Hauck.
Mike Clayton ruined the shutout bid for UMBC goalkeeper Billy Havener in the closing minutes. Clayton scored on a header off a free kick in the 86th minute for his second tally of the season. Chris Brasille was credited with the assist.
Heavner finished the game with three saves for UMBC, while Leland made two stops through 73 minutes before being relieved by
Ryan Bailey for the final 16 minutes of the match. Bailey was credited with one stop.
Vermont closes out the regular season hosting New Hampshire on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at
UVMathletics.com or in person one hour before kickoff at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office. The game will be streamed online for free in HD via
CatamounTV.com.
