UAlbany WSOC Falls in Season Opener at Saint Mary's 2-0
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
MOREGA, Calif. – The UAlbany women's soccer team fell to Saint Mary's 2-0 in California to open the 2014 season.
UAlbany (0-1) was outshot in the game 18-10 by Saint Mary's (1-0). Despite six saves, Alana Brennan got the loss in goal for UAlbany, while Julia McDonald got the win for Saint Mary's with a shutout and one save.
Both sides tried to get established early, with neither getting off a shot in the opening 12-and-a-half minutes. UAlbany got the first opportunity with a Caitlyn Paltsios corner kick in the 11th minute, later leading to a Stephanie Nelle shot that went high above the net.
Saint Mary's went the other way, getting off three shots in a span of two-and-a-half minutes. The first went high, the second two were saved by Alana Brennan to hold a stalemate after 20 minutes.
In the following minutes, UAlbany saw shots from Krista Fitzpatrick and Vivian Vega, with neither connecting.
Saint Mary's struck in the 28th minute with a second chance shot from Vicki Shimkus from Jessica Castillo, scoring from 10 yards out to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
UAlbany held against a couple of following shots, getting its own opportunities in the 38th and 39th minute, but attempts from Nelle and Shelby Belak sailed high. The team protected against a Saint Mary's counter with a Brennan save and a wide shot from Samantha Dion. The teams went into the half with Saint Mary's leading 1-0.
After Schneider's early second half shot was blocked, UAlbany held against Saint's Mary's controlling possession for the next 15 minutes. A couple of Brennan saves and two offsides calls kept the home team from building its lead until the 61st minute, when a Heather Seybert header off a free kick from Jessica Imbrie pushed the advantage to 2-0 Saint Mary's.
The Great Danes had a couple of corner kicks in the later minutes. Schneider's header in the 75th minute was blocked, while a team attempt in the 80th minute led to an offsides call. UAlbany did not get another chance and fell to Saint Mary's 2-0.
The Great Danes return to the Capital District to get ready for their home opener, taking on Syracuse on Friday, August 29th at 7 p.m.
