Pete Caringi Previews The NCAA College Cup
UMBC Men's Soccer coach Pete Caringi joined the Scott Garceau Show with Jeremy Conn and Jason La Canfora to preview his team's first round match-up against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Retrievers head into the tournament after winning their third consecutive America East conference championship. Scott started things off by asking coach about their opponent in tonight's game, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. "It will be a challenge, but one we are up for that's for sure. Wake has a great reputation, an ACC power, and they won a National Championship back in 2007, so we expect a tough game... But our team has been here before; you know it's our third year in a row. And every time we got in the NCAA Tournament we got to the second round, and every time we didn't advance we didn't advance on PK's (Penalty Kicks) so that bodes well for us."
Jason, a UMBC and avid soccer fan, asked coach Caringi if the heartbreaks from the past help motivate himself and his team. "It does motivate us and we have had a little bit of a chip on our shoulder. Last year we were 5th in the RPI the whole year and at the end of the year they seeded us 16th, and no one still could explain that to me. You know when you're up there with Notre Dame and UCLA and all the big boys, you get moved down a little bit."
And finally Jeremy Pete if he believes the sport is growing, or if the sport may be dropping in popularity. "I actually think the sport is growing in leaps and bounds. And obviously I think the state of Maryland has great soccer and in the Baltimore area. We're constantly producing National Championship teams and players who are playing professionally."
