Pinheiro Scores Twice as Men's Soccer Draws 2-2 with Central Connecticut State
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ALBANY, N.Y. – Fighting back from an early deficit, University at Albany men's soccer (3-2-1) held Central Connecticut State (2-3-1) to a 2-2 tie at Bob Ford Field on Saturday night. Sophomore Afonso Pinheiro scored both goals for the Great Danes.
“These were two teams who were really looking to get ready for conference play,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. “Being one-third of the way through the season, teams are going to know what we do well. Central Connecticut State certainly jumped on us early, and we have to stop conceding quick goals. I'm proud of our guys for fighting back from a deficit twice, but now we need to really execute to win with games coming up on the road.”
UAlbany found itself on the receiving end of a bit of bad luck in the opening moments. CCSU's Ryan Taylor streaked down the right sideline, and fired on-target just three minutes in. Taylor was the beneficiary of a deflection at the six-yard box, but nonetheless the Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead.
With Pinheiro and Pedro Espindola connecting well through the midfield, the Brazilian tandem responded quickly with the equalizer. Espindola found Pinheiro deep in the CCSU end for an easy goal with 10 minutes gone in the first half.
Espindola would have a shot sail wide shortly after, but CCSU countered downfield five minutes later. With a Blue Devil taken down in the box, Zach Zurita buried a penalty kick in the 17th minute to regain the lead.
As Pinheiro and Nico Solabarrieta continued to push forward, the pair traded offsides calls mid-way through the period. Fouls against the Blue Devils brought free kick opportunities late, but Moosah Khanat and Carlos Clark couldn't find the handle for the tying goal in the first half.
With 30 minutes expired, the teams had just one corner kick between them, and UAlbany held a 7-4 edge in shots.
Leo Melgar started the Purple & Gold off on the right foot, serving up five corners in 10 minutes. The junior leader in team scoring would put a look of his own on net in the 62nd minute, but Nick Velleca made the corresponding save.
After Melgar and Khanat set the UAlbany momentum in motion, Pinheiro went near sideline and near post for the game-tying goal in the 78th minute. The sophomore slid past his defender on the endline, and drilled a shot past Velleca at the six-yard box.
Gorman & co., held a 9-0 advantage in shots and a 7-0 lead in corner kicks for the second period, but set pieces and drives downfield came up empty in regulation.
Martin Gorrie's shot down the middle in the second overtime proved the best opportunity for the game-winner. The senior co-captain fired on the bounce, but the contest would end in a 2-2 draw.
The Great Danes concluded the game leading shots 21-5 and corners 8-1. Gorman's corner and shot marks against the Blue Devils are season-highs through six games.
UAlbany (3-2-1) hits the road for Lafayette (3-1-3) and St. Francis Brooklyn (4-0-2) next week.
