UMBC Parent Preview

Burlington, Vt.- UMBC senior midfielder Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y./Mercer County CC) headed home the game-winning goal with 12 seconds to play in regulation time as the visiting Retrievers rallied for a dramatic 2-1 victory at Vermont’s Virtue Field.

The eighth-ranked Retrievers won in Burlington for the first time since 2004 and improved to 11-1-1 overall and 2-0-1 in America East play. Vermont (7-3-3, 1-2-0) lost for the first time at home (5-1-1) in 2013.

UMBC drew a foul 30 yards from the goal with 25 seconds remaining in the half. Junior midfielder Mamadou Kansaye (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) took the kick and sent a low drive deep into the box. Dacres just got in front of Vermont goalkeeper Conor Leland and skimmed it off his head and into the net.

The goal was Dacres’ sixth of the season, surpassing the five he put up a year ago, his first in a UMBC uniform.

The Retrievers improved to 4-0-0 on the road in 2013 and are now unbeaten in their last eight road contests (6-0-2), tying an all-time school record.

The victory was also UMBC’s third when allowing the game’s first goal. They defeated Navy, 3-2, in double overtime and Hartford, 2-1, before today’s rally.

“It’s the sign of the character and confidence of this group that they don’t get fazed when they get behind,” head coach Pete Caringi, Jr. said. “It’s a huge win for us against a very good team at a place that we have struggled historically.”

After a scoreless first half, Vermont struck less than three minutes into the second frame. A loose ball at midfield was played up to Charlie DeFeo, who broke in on a two-on-one with freshman striker Brian Wright. Wright didn’t get the initial shot off, but recovered and chipped a shot into an open net for his sixth score of the season.

But UMBC took over the play and knotted the score in the 59th minute. After a Retriever corner kick, the ball pinballed around in the box, until Retriever junior back Jordan Becker (Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke) put a volley into the net from seven yards out.

The goal was the second of the season for Becker and the fourth of his career.

UMBC outshot their hosts, 7-3, in the second half and 11-8 for the contest.

Each team had a pair of good chances in the first 45 minutes. The Retrievers’ opportunities occurred in the span of a minute at the midpoint of the half. Kansaye took a 25-yard free kick, which Leland dove to knock away from the near right post. Then, senior forward Pete Caringi III (Perry Hall, Md./Calvert Hall) had a shot from the top of the box, but the ball went wide of the same post.

Vermont countered moments later when Noah Johnson struck a drive from 20 yards out and UMBC goalkeeper Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) answered with an acrobatic diving stop at the near right post. The Retriever netminder also punched away a DeFeo short range header later in the half after one of Vermont’s five first half corners.

Saunders finished with two saves, but did not have to make any in the final 45 minutes. Leland finished with four saves for the Catamounts.

UMBC returns home on Saturday, Oct. 19 when they host first-place New Hampshire. Kick-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.

As students return to campus for the fall, many are sharing stories of a summer spent traveling with family, hanging out with friends and taking extra classes.

But for UMBC students who took advantage of the time off to engage in professional experiences, summer was also a chance to step outside the classroom and into the workplace. From managing corporate events for a top fashion designer to analyzing data at a Fortune 500 technology company, their internship, co-op and research positions have helped set them on a path to a successful career.

"I love being able to apply the skills I have learned in the classroom on real-world problems that need solving," says Alec Pulianas '14, Computer Engineering, who interned as a systems engineer for SAIC.

It's no secret that an increasing number of employers are looking for candidates with the practical skills necessary to hit the ground running. According to a 2012 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, more than 40 percent of new hires were expected to come from a company’s internship program. Additionally, NACE shared that nearly 60 percent of 2012 college graduates who completed a paid internship received at least one job offer.

"A good internship is important and priceless," says Donta Henson '14, Health Administration & Policy, who interned at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). "Take the time to choose a place that is right for your skillset or the skills you want to develop because that internship can blossom into so much more."

"Internship, research and co-op experiences play a critically important role in helping students find successful and meaningful careers," says Christine Routzahn, director of the Career Services Center. "We want our students to obtain the training and learn the skills necessary to not only find a job, but a career they are truly passionate about." She encourages students to meet with her staff to learn about the internship and job search resources available, such as UMBCWorks, a Web portal that serves as a hub for viewing job listings, organizing documents, and learning about upcoming career events.

This summer, nearly 800 students in the UMBC internship program applied their skills—and passions—to help non-profits advance their mission, support research integral to better understanding diseases like diabetes and cancer, and assist in developing real-world products and programs. Other students raised awareness of the benefits and impact of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), curated manuscript collections at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and worked in the packaging department of Baltimore’s Domino Sugar plant.

For students planning future internships, there's good news: according to a recent Internships.com survey, 53 percent of employers surveyed said they expect to hire more interns in 2013 than they did in 2012. But, before starting your search for the perfect internship, some of UMBC's recent summer interns would like to offer a little advice.

Want to get an in-depth look at what it means to be a Retriever? Our Retriever Day programs enable prospective students and their families to learn about admission, financial aid and scholarships, residential life, the Honors College, student activities and more. You will also have an opportunity to speak with representatives from various academic and service departments and students can sit in on a class of their choice. Student-guided walking tours are also provided.

Monday, November 11, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013

Register Online!

For a tentative schedule of events, click here.

A huge thank you to our faculty, staff, students and alumni for making Homecoming a big success! We’re already looking forward to next year. Be sure to keep checking our Flickr account for pics of all the fun!