UAlbany WSOC Season Comes to a Close after 1-0 Defeat at Hartford in AE Semis
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The 4-seed UAlbany women's soccer team tried to come back against an early deficit and the wind, but fell 1-0 at 1-seed Hartford in the America East Semifinal Round.
UAlbany ends its season at 7-9-5, finishing in the conference semifinals after being selected to finish eighth in the preseason coaches poll.
“We did not put forth our best soccer today, and it showed in the result,” said UAlbany coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “Our growth has been tremendous and the team now understands what it will take in the future.”
Hartford (10-3-5), which will host New Hampshire in the America East title game on Saturday, November 8th, scored 40 seconds in on a Sidney Spremullo goal from Elise Galipo. UAlbany equaled Hartford in shots on goal with five, including three in the second half.
Alana Brennan protected the cage the rest of the way, saving four shots in the defeat. Jessica Jurg got the victory with four saves in the shutout.
With the wind fiercely moving left to right, UAlbany was tasked to defend the right side first against the elements.
In the first minute, Hartford used the wind and pushed down the far side. A cross from Galipo found Spremullo, who kicked inside the box inside the left post for the score to make it 1-0 Hartford.
Helped by the wind on crosses, Chanel Johnson got two chances in the early part of the first half. The first she kicked high and away, the second on the header outside the box was caught on the bounce by Brennan.
UAlbany got the ball down to its offensive third in the 18th minute. Leanne Miller attempted a cross to the middle, without finding a recipient.
Hartford got back down to offense in the 23rd minute and got a couple of shots off in succession. Kristen McAdams sent a shot to the near post from outside the box, with a diving Brennan stopping it.
Kiana Rugar got a chance in the 33rd minute as UAlbany used low kicks to push down the field. Rugar dribbled around the back line and kicked a ground ball towards the goal, with Jurg making the save. Rugar got another two minutes later off a cross from Kelsey Luke from the far side, against being saved by Jurg.
In the 39th minute, Johnson got a breakaway on a Hartford counterattack. Johnson got past the defenders and shot past Brennan, hitting the right post and going out of bounds. Johnson had two more in the following minutes, each flying high right. The two went into the locker room with Hartford up 1-0.
The two switched sides in the second half with UAlbany being with the wind from left to right.
Hartford had a couple of quick breakaways in the early part of the half, including Galipo getting the cross inside the box for the shot, missing well left and high.
First look of the second period for UAlbany came in the 56th minute. Vivian Vega sent a long cross into the box looking for a running Kelly Kempf, missing her target high.
In minute 66, Miller made moves in the midfield to get clear and attempt a long shot, with a standing Jurg saving it. A few minutes later, Vega had a similar look around three Hartford defenders, again being saved by Jurg.
Krista Fitzpatrick sent a corner into the box towards the left post in minute 73. Alexa Schneider put a header on it, with a Hartford defender kicking it away and stopping the threat.
UAlbany kept picking up chances on breakaways, with Luke getting a close shot on the right post but missing right.
Brennan protected against a couple of late attacks by Hartford, but UAlbany was not able to get off a shot in the final 10 minutes and fell 1-0.
