UMBC midfielder Malcolm Harris said he knows last season was very special, but admits he still thinks about what might have been.The Retrievers men's soccer team had the greatest season of any sports team in the Catonsville school's Division I history when they advanced to the 2014 College Cup. UMBC came up just short in the national semifinals, losing 1-0 to eventual national champion Virginia."We had some great memories, and it was an amazing season, but it could have been even better," Harris, a McDonogh alum, said. "We were talented enough to win a national title."That loss has motivated the returning players on UMBC's roster who are out to prove last season was not a fluke. The Retrievers enter the season ranked 12th in the nation and begin the 2015 campaign by hosting Fairfield at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Hampton Inn BWI Kick-Off Classic.UMBC enters the season with 16 players returning from a team last year that became the first in NCAA tournament history to win four consecutive road games and to post shutouts in four consecutive games to reach the College Cup. However, of those returning letter winners, just three are starters."From the start of last season, our goal was to win a national championship," UMBC goalie Billy Heavner said. "Last year we learned a lot about what it took physically and mentally to reach that level. Now it's our chance to come out and try to do it again. This is a much different team. It's younger, but I believe we are as talented as anyone in the country."Longtime UMBC soccer coach Pete Caringi feels the same way. He said in previous years, the Retrievers didn't get respect nationally based on previous seedings in the NCAA Tournament.Caringi knows that will be different this year.UMBC enters the season with four America East titles in 12 years. Last season, the Retrievers became the second team in league history to win regular season and tournament titles in back-to-back years. Boston University achieved that feat in 1993-94."Last year was a fantastic feeling to see so much support from the school and the local soccer community as a whole," said Carinigi, who is 260-150-59 going into his 25th season at the helm and 430-177-67 in 32 years of coaching. "But that was in the past. We know that every team that will play us this year will come in knowing we advanced to the College Cup last year."Caringi said UMBC's postseason run in 2014 has changed the perception of his program to many. Many more local recruits are looking at the Retrievers instead of going out-of-state. UMBC is also now being targeted by many players looking to transfer, Caringi said.While there are just three starters returning, Caringi said his team is not necessarily short on experience. This includes redshirt sophomore Gregg Hauck (North County), who scored a game-tying goal in the America East semifinals against Vermont and the game-winner in the conference finals versus Hartford.Also back is senior midfielder Joseph Pratt, a Gaithersburg native, who appeared in 18 games. Pratt also played extensively in the NCAA Tournament, including 74 minutes in against Creighton. UMBC defeated Creighton to advance to the College Cup."We have talented players, but many of them just didn't get an opportunity to play last year," Caringi said. "Last year, we knew what everyone's role would be. That's not the case right now. The goal is to have everyone playing their best soccer by November."