Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Maryland-Baltimore County
Short-footed Dragons Come From Behind To Beat UMBC, 2-1
9/12/2006 1:48:48 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia, Pa. – In the nightcap of the Drexel Invitational Tournament the Dragons came from behind to defeat the University of Maryland – Baltimore County, 2-1, while playing down a player for the final 28 minutes of the match. Freshman Anthony Bafile (West Chester, Pa./Parkland) scored the game-winning goal for Drexel (3-1) in the 84th minute of a set piece serve from fellow frosh Fabio Assumpção (Alves, Brazil/Colegio Batista Brasiliero).
The game took on a physical nature from the opening kick. UMBC (1-3-1) used its height at midfield to dominate all aerial challenges in the first 45 minutes. But Drexel battled throughout the match to get in position and win possession of the ball. The Dragons outshot the Retrievers 5-3 in the first stanza but neither team had a goal to show for their efforts by halftime.
In an attempt to curtail the rapidly escalating, emotionally charged physicality of the match, the referee handed out four cards in the second half. The second and third of the bookings went to Drexel senior Kwesi Klass (Mississauga, Ontario) whose soft red in the 63rd minute left the Dragons playing down a man for the majority of the second half.
UMBC capitalized on the advantage just a minute and a half later when Kevin Gnatiko carried the ball into the penalty box and blasted a curving shot through the Drexel defense and the hands of keeper Cory Robertson (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) for a 1-0 UMBC lead.
With Klass out of the game, the young Drexel team on the field was comprised of all underclassmen. But the squad showed its mettle by staying in the game and staying aggressive enough on offense to mount a comeback. Sophomore Mike Crosse (Yorkshire, England/Greenhead College) scored his second goal in as many games when he connected on a set piece served by Robertson from just beyond midfield at the sideline. Sophomore Greg Ermold (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) elevated to head the ball which UMBC keeper Steve King couldn't handle. As it rebounded off King's hands, Crosse leapt and kicked the ball behind King and into the net to square the match at 1-1 in the 72nd minute.
The game-winning goal was scored in a similar manner when Assumpção wove his way through traffic and drew a foul about 10 yards outside of the penalty box. The freshman midfielder lofted the ball toward the goal where Bryan Ruff (Enfield, Conn./Enrico Fermi) jumped to chest it across the face of the goal. Bafile scurried in from the right side and deposited the ball for the go-ahead tally in the 83rd minute.
The Dragons held off a flurry of UMBC serves into the goal area in the final seven minutes of the match. Pat McCaffery (Langhorne, Pa./La Salle College), who anchored the defense in Klass's stead, delivered the coup-de-grace when he cleared the ball the length of the field as the final 10 second ticked off the clock, signaling Drexel's improbably shorthanded win. The match was UMBC Head Coach Pete Caringi's 500th in a legendary coaching career.
Robertson made two saves for the Dragons in goal as did his counterpart King. Drexel will take on Howard in what will effectively be the championship game of the tournament on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3:00 p.m. The Bison defeated La Salle 2-1 in the opening game so the winner of this tilt will be declared the champion of the tournament. Prior to this match, La Salle will play UMBC at 12:00 p.m.
DU 0 2 - 2
UMBC 0 1 - 1
