Melgar Penalty Kick Goal, Strong Defense Leads Men's Soccer to 1-1 Draw vs. UMBC
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ALBANY, N.Y. – With a Leo Melgar first half penalty kick goal, UAlbany led for most of the way against reigning league champion UMBC, picking up a point on a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.
Melgar earned his third goal of the year in the 35th minute off a penalty kick, marking his second game-in-a-row with a score. UAlbany (3-6-6, 1-2-1 AE) led until the 88th minute, when Kay Banjo scored for UMBC (6-4-3, 2-0-1 AE) from Geaton Caltabiano to tie the game. The UAlbany defense held the rest of the way to get the draw.
“Tonight is a difficult game to assess, we did very well in the first half to grab the lead and had chances in the second to put it away,” said UAlbany coach Trevor Gorman. “To give up another late equalizer is tough to accept, but we'll focus 100% on getting ready for Stony Brook in the next game.”
Tim Allen got the draw in goal for UAlbany, saving six shots, including four in the second half. UMBC's Billy Heavner saved four shots for the draw in goal.
Both offenses tried to establish a quick tempo early, leading to a combined five offsides penalties. Caltabiano got loose for a shot in the 13th minute, which was saved by Allen.
UAlbany earned its first chance in the 15th minute as Melgar got into the box for a kick off the cross, which was stopped by Heavner. UMBC countered as Malcolm Harris shot from long range, sailing the ball high.
In the 35th minute, a UMBC cross was blocked away, leading UAlbany to counter. A pass was made to a running Ivan Martinez, who was tackled in the box to draw the foul for the penalty kick. Melgar lined up and pocketed the ball inside the left post for the goal, putting UAlbany ahead 1-0.
Harris had another long range chance miss wide before the end of the half as UAlbany prevented any other UMBC shots to go into the locker room leading 1-0.
Early into the second half, twice Martinez got breakaways past the UMBC back line. First in the 50th minute, Martinez had a shot deflected by the keeper, then a second three minutes later missed a little high. Later in minute 57, Martin Gorrie found Brandon Wilson about 12 yards out for a shot off the corner, with the ball going wide.
UMBC countered with Caltabiano and Harris each shooting from outside the box, and Allen saving both attempts. The second saw Harris go for the corner, which was punched away by the jumping keeper.
The visitors had a breakaway in the 71st minute, with Caltabiano charging down the far side. Allen went towards the UMBC player and dove to deflect a shot. On the rebound, Kennedy O'Shea kicked a ground ball, which was knocked away by a UAlbany defender positioned in the center of the goal.
UAlbany nearly had a second score in 80th minute. With the ball going around the midfield, Philip Persson received the pass from 30 yards out. He kicked a hard ground ball shot that went wide of the right post by inches. The Great Danes had another opportunity in the following minute as Afonso Pinheiro kicked on the run, being stopped by Heavner.
The minutes ticked by as UAlbany defended against a trio of UMBC corner kicks. With 2:58 left in regulation, Caltabiano got into the near side of the penalty box and crossed to Banjo, who kicked the ball from 10 yards out inside the left post to tie the game at 1-1. The two sides went into overtime.
UAlbany got the first good look four minute into the first overtime period as Gorrie went for the shot, missing a little wide. UMBC drew a corner kick two minutes later, seeing Caltabiano get the pass for a shot, sailing the ball high. Neither side got off another shot as the teams went into the second overtime.
The home team protected against two shots in the last period, including the final shot with 24 seconds left as Mamadou Kansaye sent a ball wide. The clock expired with a 1-1 tie.
UAlbany will next play on Friday, October 24th, taking on in-state rival Stony Brook for Senior Day at 7 p.m. at Bob Ford Field.
