Albany, N.Y. ?  Sophomore Shaun Kane's first career hat trick gave the University at Albany men's soccer team a 3-0 victory over the Siena College Saints in the team's home opener at Varsity Field on Sunday, Sept. 21. Kane became the first Great Dane to record a hat trick since Greg Chevalier accomplished the feat in a 7-1 win at Marist back on Sept. 1, 2002, and it was also the first hat trick by a Great Dane at Varsity Field in the program's Division I era which began in 1999.

            Kane put UAlbany (5-2) on the scoreboard in the 17th minute. Ian Peach had the ball just past midfield and sent it down to Gaby Seguin-Gauthier. The senior then found Kane who took a shot from 12 yards out that beat goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny to the far post.

            The sophomore doubled the UAlbany lead in the 38th minute. After Peach's diving header hit the post, the ball bounced back to Claudio Dantas. The two-time junior college All-American took a shot that was blocked, and Kane pounded in the rebound to give the Great Danes a 2-0 advantage that they would have at halftime. Dantas and Peach were credited with assists on the play.

            Kane completed the third hat trick by a Great Dane in the program's Division I era to give the squad some more insurance early in the second half. Luuk Collou, who was about 10 yards past the midfield line, let the ball fly down to the edge of the 18-yard box. After making his way past a Saint defender, Kane beat a charging Skonieczny to the ball and fired it home to the back of the net in the 54th minute. In addition to Chevalier's three goals against Marist in 2002, the only other hat trick completed by a Great Dane player over the past 10 seasons was when Jarvin Skeete did it in a 6-0 win at Stony Brook back on Oct. 2, 2001.

            Siena (1-4-1) had its best chance to get on the scoreboard in the 87th minute of action. However, Matt Turcio's shot attempt hit the post and the Great Dane defense was able to successfully clear the ball. The Great Dane defense, led by starters Milos Jankovic, Konner McNamara, Erik DiLorenzo and Hilco Beeks also broke up several of the Saints' free kicks taken from just outside the 18-yard box to help the team post its fourth shutout of the fall.

            UAlbany senior goalkeeper Steward Ceus made four saves and recorded his second shutout of the season and 14th of his career. Ceus and freshman goalkeeper Adrian Foncette have combined to surrender only one goal in the team's five victories this season. Siena's Skonieczny saved 11 of the barrage of 35 shots taken by the Great Danes in the match.

            UAlbany, which leads the America East Conference with 2.14 goals per game, will look to get on a three-game winning streak for the second time this season when the team visits Marist College next Sunday at 5 p.m. The America East opener will be played on the road against Boston University on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

-agate-

Siena (1-4-1)                              0          0          -           0

UAlbany (5-2)                            2          1          -           3

Siena: Scoring ? None. Goalkeeping ?  Steve Skonieczny (90:00, 3 GA, 11 saves).

UAlbany: Scoring ? Shaun Kane (3-0), Ian Peach (0-2), Gaby Seguin-Gauthier (0-1), Claudio Dantas (0-1), Luuk Collou (0-1). Goalkeeping: Steward Ceus (90:00, 0 GA, 4 saves).