For the third straight game, Bulls had two goals, while Houapeu added three assists in the Retrievers' 3-1 win over St. Francis (Pa.) that improved their record to 4-0-0, making them the first Division I men's team to win four games. Bulls, a sophomore, now has seven goals and four assists in four games. Houapeu, a junior, has four goals and six assists.
Their reputations as scoring threats extend beyond the college game. Bulls' goal for the Baltimore Bays was named the 2008 Goal of the Year in the first year of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Houapeu was named to the all-tournament representing D.C. United this summer at the Super-20 men's championships.
UMBC's 4-0-0 start is the program's best since the 1999 season. It will host Mount St. Mary's Saturday in the final game of the adidas Kick Off Classic.
* OFF TO EGYPT. Goalie Brian Perk and midfielder Michael Stephens played their last game for UCLA Thursday night before leading off to Cyprus, where the USA will begin preparations Sunday for the Under-20 World Cup beginning later this month in Egypt. Both played 79 minutes before coming out in the Bruins' 4-0 win over UC Davis.
The Bruins should make do without their seniors thanks to one of the deepest squads to grace Westwood in the program's long history. That was evident Thursday night as freshmen Chandler Hoffman and Evan Raynr combined for three goals off the bench. Brian Rowe, who did not have to make a save in his 20 minutes of action Thursday, will assume starting goalkeeper duties while Perk is away.
* U-20 COLLEGIANS:
Brian Perk (UCLA)
Aaron Maund (Notre Dame)
Ike Opara (Wake Forest)
Brian Ownby (Virginia)
Dillon Powers (Notre Dame)
Michael Stephens (UCLA)
Thursday's Scoreboard
* WEEKEND TOP 25 ACTION:
Friday, Sept. 11
No. 6 Dartmouth vs. No. 18 Connecticut (Nike Hypertherm Classic)
No. 21 Virginia vs. No. 20 Duke
Saturday, Sept. 12
No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 19 N.C. State
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