UMBC men’s soccer releases 2016 schedule
Baltimore, Md. (Via UMBC) — UMBC men’s soccer released their 2016 schedule, featuring ten games at Retriever Soccer Park, head coach Pete Caringi Jr. announced today.
The Retrievers will play six of their ten non-conference matches at RSP, including a four game home stand to kick off the campaign.
UMBC has won three of the last four America East Championships, including a run to the College Cup run in 2014, and will look to win their fourth America East title in five years as conference play kicks off against New Hampshire on September 30 in Durham. The Retrievers play just three road conference games, hosting the other four in Baltimore.
The season kicks off on Friday, August 26 with a home game against A-10 foe Fordham at 7 p.m. UMBC starts the month of September with a pair of games in the UMBC/Navy Tournament against Northern Illinois (Friday, September 2) and UNC Wilmington (Sunday, September 4) at home with both games starting at 7 p.m.
The Retrievers end their home stand with a meeting against Monmouth on September 10 at 7 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two since 2002, as UMBC has never lost against the Hawks.
UMBC will then head to the road for two of their next three against West Virginia (Sept. 14) and La Salle (Sept. 24), both at 7 p.m. The Black and Gold host George Washington in between those two on Sept. 17 on the university’s 50th anniversary ceremony at 3 p.m and Howard on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
The rest of the non-conference schedule features road games at Navy (Oct. 15) and Drexel (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m.
“We are very excited about our schedule, and have some great non-conference matches against schools we have not played before, or have not played in some time,” Caringi said of the non-conference slate. He continued, “Schools like West Virginia, UNC Wilmington and Northern Illinois will be a tremendous challenge for us.”
The America East portion of the schedule features four home games and three road games. The first conference game will be at New Hampshire on Oct. 30 before a two game stretch against UMass Lowell (Oct. 8) and Binghamton (Oct. 12) at RSP.
The Retrievers close the regular season with matches at Albany (Oct. 15) and Stony Brook (Nov. 2) with home games against Hartford (Oct. 22) and defending America East champion Vermont (Oct. 29, Senior Night).
“Last year proved that our conference has gotten better and better each year. It will be a dog fight each and every game to come out with a victory,” Caringi said about the state of the America East.
