This post was written by Hatchet reporter Cam Wiggenner.
Entering with a perfect 8-0 record, the University of Maryland–Baltimore County was expecting an easy win Saturday night as they took on the men’s soccer team.
Tight defense, anchored by junior co-captain Andri Alexandersson, dashed the UMBC hopes of a quick GW defeat, and at halftime the scoreboard read 0-0.
Sophomore goaltender Jean-Pierre Van der Merwe turned in a solid effort, credited with three saves on the night, much to the approval of head coach Craig Jones
“He made the saves when he needed to, and he kept us in the game” Jones said.
Despite an early second-half goal by UMBC midfielder Kadeem Dacres off a free kick, the Colonials answered right back, as senior Bailey Hinners’ first goal of the season knotted the score at one.
Hinners’ goal was one for the highlight reel, as he intercepted a cross-field pass, sidestepped a UMBC defender and drilled a shot into the back left corner of the net.
“That showed some character, we were a goal behind and we could have caved in under the pressure” Jones said.
The potential upset would get even more nailbiting, as neither team would give up a goal for the rest of regulation.
The scales would finally tip back into balance, though, in favor of UMBC, after a Marquez Fernandez double overtime free kick found its way past the lunging Van der Merwe. The hopes of a remarkable upset quickly fizzled away, and GW was forced to find positives within the losing effort.
One of those bright spots came from the defense, which looked to end September on a high note. Despite the two set play goals by UMBC, Alexandersson and the rest of the back unit held the offensively-minded Retrievers to only 2 goals in 102 minutes, less than UMBC’s 2.7 goals per game average.
“The back eight defenders played pretty tight together. This shows us that we can compete with anybody,” said Hinners, who added that the team never felt like they were the underdog.
