BALTIMORE- UMBC senior forward Kadeem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y./Mercer County CC) scored with4:48 remaining in the second overtime period and the top-seeded Retrievers nipped Albany, 2-1, in the America East Conference semifinals.
The Retrievers, ranked No. 6 nationally, advance to their third title game in the last four years. UMBC (15-1-2) will host third-seeded Hartford (14-3-3), which advanced in penalty kicks past host New Hampshire.
Fifth-seeded Albany, which had routed No. 4 Vermont, 5-1, in the quarterfinals, finished the season at 6-11-4.
The Great Danes did not go quietly, as UMBC was 21 seconds away from winning a 1-0 decision. But Great Dane defender Dominic McGarr redirected a pass from Luke Palmateer from five yards out in a scramble in front of the Retriever goal.
But the Retrievers had all four shots in overtime and got the game-winner on a great effort by the America East Midfielder of the Year. He was fouled in the box, but UMBC was awarded an indirect kick about 13 yards from the goal. Junior Mamadou Kansaye (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) struck a shot, but the ball hit an Albany defender and rebounded out to Dacres. His first attempt was also blocked, but came back to him, and his follow-up from seven yards out on the left side went under the roof of the goal.
UMBC sophomore midfielder Malcolm Harris (Damascus, Md./McDonogh) scored the game’s first goal with exactly 31 minutes remaining.
UMBC outshot Albany, 22-7 and both netminders, Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall), and Michael Pizzuti of Albany, were credited with three saves.
The Retrievers had a streak of 501 scoreless minutes snapped in the final moments of regulation.
UMBC defeated Hartford, 2-1, in West Hartford on October 5.
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