Practically every men's soccer team talks about pitching a shutout. At UMBC, that's not just lip service.
The Retrievers and No. 11 seed Providence are the only teams among the eight quarterfinalists that have yet to surrender a goal to this point of the NCAA tournament. That defensive tenacity will be tested Friday night when UMBC (14-5-4) tangles with No. 12 seed Creighton (16-3-2) at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
The UMBC defense blanked Wake Forest in the first round, No. 4 seed Maryland in the second, and No. 13 seed Louisville in the third. That's all according to the plan, sophomore goalkeeper Billy Heavner said.
"Before every game, we say, 'Look, we aren't giving up a goal, and we will not give up a goal today. If we don't give up a goal, we're not going to lose,'" Heavner said. "We take that very seriously. We take pride in not giving up goals. That starts from [senior forward] Kay [Banjo] to the whole way back. I think that's how we've been successful, the strong commitment and pride that we take in defending."
With three shutouts in the postseason, the Retrievers have already matched half of the shutouts they recorded in the regular season. The players said the defensive schemes haven't changed dramatically, but that they have done a better job of talking on the field.
"Overall, I feel like we are doing a lot better communicating and we're doing better reading off of each other," said senior back Oumar Ballo (Archbishop Curley). "Our communication is better, and everyone has accepted their role and what their responsibilities are, which has made it a lot easier for everyone else because you don't have to worry so much. You know your teammates have your back. … I just feel like everyone is on their responsibilities."
Senior back Jordan Becker said the forwards and midfielders are just as invested in limiting scoring opportunities for opponents.
"Defensively, we've been really, really solid, and everybody's been on the same page, especially from the defenders communicating to the midfield , trying to divvy up where the pressure is coming from," he said. "As the year has gone on, we've gotten better at that, and we're peaking at the right time."
Personnel-wise, the backline may be the most experienced unit for UMBC. Senior back Marquez Fernandez (McDonogh) has started all 23 games this season, and Becker (22 starts), senior Spencer Williams (22), and Ballo (21) are close behind.
Coach Pete Caringi Jr. said that foursome has returned to its defensive roots in the latter half of the season.
"I think the thing that they're doing more now is, they're staying home a little bit more. They're defending," he said. "We like to attack, and there were times when Jordan Becker or Spencer Williams would be going forward and get caught up in transition. Oumar and Marquez would maybe be out of position and would more in tune with making a mistake, and we'd give up a goal. Billy wasn't in the goal earlier in the year, and there might have been miscommunication with the other goalkeeper. So now it's just solid. It's solid back there and for you to score on us now, it's going to take a great goal."
Heavner replaced redshirt freshman Phil Breno (South Carroll), who had started the first nine games. Ballo said Heavner isn't shy about directing his teammates, which has helped fortify the back line.
"It's helped a lot coming from him," Ballo said. "He's always organizing us. Whether we're in front of big crowds and we can barely hear him, he's still doing his best to tell us to just stay awake, stay sharp, and keep our focus."
The Retrievers will face another tough team in Creighton, which has outscored its opponents 32-11 this season. But with a trip to next week's national semifinals on the line, Caringi said there's a palpable sense of urgency among his veterans.
"I just think when you're a senior and you've played together and you're in that lose-and-go-home situation, you really raise the level of your game, and that's where they are," he said. "They're playing at another level right now, and we're a tough team to score on."