LOUISVILLE, N.C. - America East's fall success continued on Sunday as UMBC advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship with a 1-0 win over 13th-seeded Louisville on Mamadou Kansaye's penalty kick goal in the 23rd minute. UMBC is the third America East men's soccer team to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals, joining Hartford (1996) and Vermont (1989).
UMBC, which beat Wake Forest and Maryland previously in the tournament, joins Albany field hockey as America East teams to reach the quarterfinal round of their respective NCAA tournament. The two teams are 4-0-1 against ACC and Big Ten programs in the postseason.
The Retrievers (14-5-4) will next play at 12th-seeded Creighton in the Elite Eight on Friday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. EST with a trip to the Final Four on the line. No America East program has ever accomplished that feat.
UMBC, which is unbeaten in its last nine contests (8-0-1), has not allowed a goal versus Wake Forest, Maryland and Louisville in 290 minutes of action in the tournament. The Retrievers have not conceded a score on the road in NCAA Tournament play in six consecutive games (678 minutes).
"This is a group of players that have won national [youth or club] championships, and, for the last three years, have been very successful [here]", said head coach Pete Caringi. "These guys are used to winning. I am not surprised. We are very confident team and don't feel like we're done."
UMBC started brightly and nearly shocked the partisan UL crowd in the 13th minute, when Michael Scott broke in on goal after receiving a long pass, but the play was ruled offsides. But the Retrievers would strike first in the 23rd minute, as senior Kay Banjo received the ball in the center of the field, drove in and attempted a shot from just outside the box. The ball struck a Cardinal defender, positioned just inside the box and the Retrievers were awarded the penalty kick.
Senior midfielder and team captain Mamadou Kansaye took the attempt the netted his fifth goal of the season, beating UL netminder Joachim Ball with a shot to the upper left hand corner. Kansaye improved to a perfect 3-for-3 on penalties during the run of play on the season.
The Retrievers went to halftime with a 1-0, but the hosts really turned up the heat in the second half. However, UMBC red-shirt sophomore netminder Billy Heavner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) was equal to the task.
Louisville's Will Vitalis and Ricardo Velazco each had good opportunities, but both missed wide of the far right in the 72nd and 74th minutes. Heavner's best effort occurred in the 80th minute, when he swatted away a header from in close and his defense managed to clear the rebound.
The Cardinals' last, best chance occurred in the 82 nd minute, when Tim Kubel, missed wide left from 11 yards out.
Heavner was credited with four saves, as UL outshot UMBC, 13-8, including 9-4 in the final 45 minutes. He improved to 11-1-2 on the season and posted his seventh shutout and third in three tournament games.
The winner of Friday's contest will advance to the College Cup, which takes place in Cary, N.C. Dec. 12-14.