There are some losses that just sting and stay with players long after they have stepped off the field, and that is exactly what UMBC men's soccer head coach Pete Caringi and his team have had to deal with for the past nine months.
It was a great accomplishment for last year's Retrievers team to make it to the America East championship game. They had traveled almost nonstop for about two weeks, grabbing a double-overtime tie to close out the regular season and a shootout victory to kick off their postseason run. They eventually ended the season by battling for the conference crown against New Hampshire.
The magic UMBC had found in its two playoff wins ran out against the Wildcats, though, as the constant travel finally caught up to the Retrievers, who fell, 5-0. But that loss is going to be the springboard into this year, and it looks like the team has the tools it needs to make a splash.
