Two Vega Goals Starts Comeback Attempt, UAlbany Falls to Iona 4-2
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ALBANY, N.Y. – Despite a valiant comeback attempt by UAlbany, sparked by two Vivian Vega second half goals, the Great Danes women's soccer team fell to Iona 4-2 to wrap up its three-game homestand on Friday.
“With a young team, we will have growing pains and ups and downs,” said UAlbany coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “That said, they know that was not their potential, and Sunday is another day.”
Down 4-0 in the second half after 55 minutes of play, Vega scored twice in a span of four minutes to pull UAlbany within two with 26 minutes left, but the Great Danes did not score again in the game.
Vega earned a career-high two goals in the second half, now leading the team with three. Shelby Belak assisted each goal, with Krista Fitzpatrick earning an assist on the second goal. Alana Brennan had a pair of saves in the loss.
For Iona, Melissa Frederick scored twice in the game, once in each half. Julia Campagna had a goal and an assist, while Erike Flowers had the other goal for the Gaels. Lauren Ferris claimed the victory, finishing with three saves.
Neither side connected in the opening 14 minutes, with just one shot combined being taken.
At the 14:10 mark, a Gabriella Fuduli cross found Campagna in the box for the shot and goal, putting Iona up. 38 seconds later, Frederick took the ball from near the edge of the goal box, turned around with the shot and scored, making it 2-0 Iona.
Iona continued to pressure, with a shot from Chelsea Cabarcas going wide and another from Alexa Wagoner being saved by Brennan in the 27th minute.
UAlbany got its first chance in the 33rd minute, with Leanne Miller getting off a shot in the goal box. The ball was left of the keeper, but an Iona defender knocked the ball away. Kelsey Luke got a look later, but her shot went high. UAlbany went into the half down 2-0.
Four minutes into the second half, Iona got a 3-on-1 breakaway against UAlbany. Christine Rebus and Campagna set up a running Flowers across the goal box for the score, making it 3-0 Iona.
In the 53rd minute, a Caitlyn Paltsios shot was deflected out by the keeper. UAlbany got a chance with a corner but did not get off a shot, later seeing Miller get off a shot, but Ferris made another save.
The Gaels countered and got a corner kick in the 55th minute. Safi Ayinde's corner was punched right. The ball went to Frederick, who kicked it into the left post for a 4-0 Iona lead.
UAlbany made a number a substitutions in the 59th minute and went to play very aggressively. Belak fired at the shot the same minute, with Ferris making a save. The following minute, a pass from Belak was deflected by a defender to Vega, who scored inside the right post to pull the team within three.
After Iona had a shot blocked and another saved by Brennan, UAlbany countered in transition, with Fitzpatrick passing to Belak on the far side. Belak's cross got past the keeper to an open Vega for the score, putting UAlbany within two 4-2.
The Great Danes saw their best chances near the 80th minute, with UAlbany earning four corner kicks in a span of four minutes. A couple of shots from UAlbany went high in that time. UAlbany had a last gasp on a free kick in the final seconds, with Fitzpatrick's attempt going above the cage.
UAlbany will hit the road for its next two games, taking on Holy Cross on Sunday, September 7th at 2 p.m. in Worcester.
