University of Maryland, Baltimore County men?s soccer coach Pete Caringi is used to winning. In his previous 24 years of coaching, including the last 15 with the Retrievers, Caringi?s team has finished .500 or better in 23 of them. Currently, UMBC has had eight straight winning seasons after going 9-7-3 overall and finishing second (6-2) in the America East Conference.
However, Caringi, the reigning America East coach of the year, admits that this year will be more of a challenge as he fields a young team with just three seniors after losing eight seniors from last year?s team that lost, 4-1, to Binghamton in the conference semifinals.
“This may be the youngest team I have coached since I was at Essex Community College,” Caringi said.
Caringi said he is excited about a number of young players on the Retrievers? roster, but the biggest addition to the program may not be a top defender or offensive threat. When UMBC opens its season Friday in its annual Adidas Kick-Off Classic, it will do so on its new Bermuda field at its home soccer stadium. The Retrievers had played their 2005 home games at the neighboring UMBC Stadium.
“We are so happy to finally be playing on the field,” Caringi said. “The surface is amazing and is perfect for playing soccer on. It is going to help every aspect of our program from our play on the field to recruiting.”
A number of local soccer products are expected to play key roles for the Retrievers as they attempt to take the next step and win the America East tournament in 2006. Among those players are senior midfielder Kevin Mezzadra (Loyola), junior defender Bryan Moffa (Eastern Tech), senior forward David Feazell (Fallston) and sophomore goalie Steve King (Archbishop Curley).
Mezzadra led UMBC with six goals and 14 points while playing stellar defense last year. King took over the starting job at the beginning of conference play last year and did not allow a goal in his first 424 minutes guarding the net. He posted eight shutouts in 12 starts and earned America East All-Rookie Team honors.
Notes
» The Adidas Kick-Off Classic takes place Friday as UMBC plays St. Joseph?s at 3:30 p.m. before facingAtlantic Coast Conference power Virginia Tech at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Navy is also scheduled to play in the event.
» UMBC held all or part of first place in America East during regular season play in 2005 until falling to eventual league champion Stony Brook, 3-2, in overtime on the last game before the conference tournament.
