Men’s Soccer: Catamounts Top UMBC 3-0

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, UMBC 0
CATONSVILLE, Md. – The Catamounts used a two-goal effort in the first half and picked up their first conference win of the season with a 3-0 shutout at UMBC on Saturday night. UVM improves to 7-3 overall and 1-1-0 in America East play. UMBC falls to 4-4-1 on the year and drops to 0-2 in the league standings.

COACH’S QUOTE
“The win was a testament to a great week of training,” head coach Rob Dow said. “The attack and defense were on-point and we will need be sharp again against Dartmouth on Tuesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UVM’s defense made a big time save in the 14th minute to preserve a scoreless tie. UMBC worked a 3-on-2 when Jackson Becher tried to finish a feed in the penalty area, but Mikel Kabala hustled to the ball and blocked the shot with a slide tackle.
The Retrievers came within inches of getting on the scoreboard in the 19th minute. From the right flank, Colin Weyant drove a free kick off the crossbar.
The Catamounts broke the scoreless tie in the 25th minute. Justin Freitas marched into the box and forced Ciaran O’Loughin (4 saves) to make a diving save. On the rebound, Jon Arnar Barðdal buried a line drive into the left side of the net.
Geo Alves doubled Vermont’s lead in the 32nd minute as the senior forward fired a line drive into the top left corner on a free kick from 20 yards out.
Barðdal missed giving UVM a 3-0 lead by inches in the 85th minute. After the Catamounts worked a 3-on-1 in the box, Alves centered a pass to Barðdal on the left side, who hooked a shot past relief goalie Quantrell Jones (2 saves) but the ball bounced too wide of the far post.
Freitas added the third goal of the night in the 89th minute. The solo act was set up from the left corner of the box and he bounced his right-footed shot off the far post, then the ball bounced back into the left corner.
NOTES
The Catamounts earned their fifth straight win over the Retrievers.
Clay Thomas (6 saves) picked up his fourth clean sheet of the season.
With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate another $100 to the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington, bringing this year’s total to 72 wins and $7,200.
WHO’S NEXT
Vermont returns to non-conference play and hosts regional rival Dartmouth on Tuesday (Oct. 2). The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Free live video will also be available in HD at AmericaEast.TV.