Men's Soccer Downed 2-1 on Late Double Overtime Goal at Stony Brook
BOX SCORE
STONY BROOK, N.Y.- Despite being just 26 seconds away from one point in America East play, University at Albany men's soccer (5-4-1, 0-1-0 AE) fell 2-1 at Stony Brook (4-4-2, 1-0-0 AE) on Saturday night. Afonso Pinheiro scored his eighth goal of the season in the loss.
UAlbany was fighting back from an early deficit from the beginning, as Stony Brook's Martin Giordano skirted down the field off the opening kick-off. The senior scored just 14 seconds into the game for a 1-0 Stony Brook lead.
The Danes responded with a series of corner kicks and blocked shots, but attempts by Bernardo Mattos and Afonso Pinheiro came up short.
In the 12th minute, Philip Persson took a penalty corner on the left end of the Stony Brook half. The senior's corner was deflected out to the 18-yard box, where Pinheiro was waiting to fire on net. The sophomore scored his eighth goal of the season on the game-tying effort.
The teams would go back and forth for much of the second half, with neither team maintaining possession for extensive periods. UAlbany's best look in the closing 10 minutes came on a corner in the 37th minute. Leo Melgar served up a ball to the six-yard box. Bernardo Mattos ran on to the corner, but headed hit shot straight to Stony Brook goalkeeper Jason Orban.
At the break, the Seawolves held a narrow 8-6 advantage in shots.
Stony Brook appeared to have the early advantage in the second half, as Alejandro Fritz fired three shots that came up empty. Despite UAlbany's attempts to move the ball forward, the Danes struggled to put quality looks on target.
With 10 minutes to go in the second half, Pinheiro entered the 18-yard box with two defenders on. The Sao Paolo native was forced into the left corner, but the sophomore forward sent a cross up to Carlos Clark. Clark headed a ball on goal, but Orban made the grab.
Proving they had the momentum in hand, UAlbany set up another quality opportunity with seven minutes left in regulation. Jake Barros and Clark connected on a throw-in deep in Stony Brook territory. Clark fed Pinheiro for a one-timer in the right corner 12 yards out, but Pinheiro fired wide.
On a free kick in the 87th minute, Stony Brook took a shot to the lower right corner. Eric Orologio punched the shot away to maintain the 1-1 tie.
The Purple & Gold wrapped up regulation time with a corner kick, but Melgar did not connect with a Dane on the other end of his feed.
Off a throw-in with three minutes left in the first overtime, Mattos had the ball fall at his feet 30 yards out. The defender shot low and wide of the net.
Early in the second overtime period, Pinheiro was called offsides short of a game-winning opportunity. Offsides calls continued to plague the Danes, as Barros was called back with less than five minutes left in the second overtime.
With less than 30 seconds to a one-point match, Stony Brook converted on a rebound at the six-yard box to take three points with a 2-1 victory.
UAlbany men's soccer (5-4-1, 0-1-0 AE) takes a break from America East play on Tuesday with a match at RV Syracuse (7-2-1, 2-1-1 ACC). The game will be broadcast locally on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and ESPN3.
