UAlbany Women's Soccer Beats URI 1-0 for Season's Fifth Pre-Conference Win, Most Since 2010
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Postgame Interviews - Celia Balf | Vivian Vega | Nick Bochette
KINGSTON, R.I. – Vivian Vega's 21st minute goal proved decisive as the UAlbany women's soccer team defeated Rhode Island 1-0 on Thursday night on the road to tie a program record fifth pre-America East victory in a season.
“We were satisfied with not only the victory tonight, but the manner in which we secured that victory,” said UAlbany acting head coach Nick Bochette. “To keep a clean sheet and to have 18 players make meaningful contributions throughout the game against a quality opponent on the road speaks to the depth and adaptability of our group.”
UAlbany (5-5) earns its first shutout road victory since the team's 2-0 win over Florida Atlantic on August 23rd, 2013. In addition, the team matches a mark set in 2010 with five victories before the start of America East play.
Alana Brennan and the UAlbany defense held off an aggressive URI (3-5-1) offense in the second half to secure the victory. Brennan finished with six saves in the shutout; she has three shutouts this season and 9.5 shutouts in her UAlbany career, just .5 away from the program record.
“It was a great team defensive effort, our forwards kept immediate pressure on the ball, and defensively we were just dropping and then countering beautifully,” said team captain Celia Balf.
Vega got the ball from Caitlyn Paltsios on a corner kick, scoring inside the left post for her fifth goal of the season in the 21st minute. Paltsios earned her third assist of the year, tying the team lead this year.
“The ball just happened to land in front of me from Caitlyn, and, all I knew was I had to get something on it,” said Vega.
For URI, Ari Stanton had the most shots with five, putting two on goal. Katie Nickles had five saves in her defeat in goal.
UAlbany looked to attack early down the near side, trying to cross from Leanne Miller to the middle of the box. Miller's cross in the 4th minute was intended for Vega, with a diving Nickles punching away the ball before a connection could be made.
URI attacked with counters, routinely trying for the goal before the UAlbany defense would get set. Minute 17 saw Ari Stanton try to hurry on a counter attack, trying from the right outside the box and missing left.
In the 20th minute, Krista Fitzpatrick took a free kick from outside the box, placing it to a charging Alexa Schneider for the header, with the keeper catching the attempt. Rhode Island countered with a shot from Stanton, who missed well left.
UAlbany drew a corner kick in the 22nd minute. Paltsios curled the ball towards the left post, with Vega kicking the ball into the net to execute the set piece and give the Great Danes a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later, UAlbany got a cross from the far side, with URI trying to knock it away. Fitzpatrick knocked down the ball up top the penalty box with her torso and kicked a looper towards the left post, with Nickles jumping and catching the ball.
Both sides went back and forth in the midfield for many minutes as neither was able to get off shots until the 40th minute when Amanda Nardella went for a header off a cross, with Brennan saving the soft attempt in the middle of the goal box. The sides went into halftime with UAlbany leading 1-0.
UAlbany nearly scored in the opening minute of the second half as Kelly Kempf crossed a spinning ball for Fitzpatrick, who tapped the ball past the jumping keeper, but a defender kicked the ball away.
The home team attacked in the 52nd minute as a blocked shot led to a corner kick. The cross went to Taylor Ross for the close range shot as Brennan deflected it. Ellie Bailes tried a close range second change, missing left as UAlbany defended.
In minute 71, Kiana Rugar took the ball down the sideline and to the middle, passing to Morgan Loder. Loder turned around and kicked with the left foot, missing wide left. URI went the over way with an arc shot from Ross, with Brennan catching the ball.
UAlbany continued to protect against the URI quick strikes, mainly keeping the ball away from the penalty box. URI did not get a good look in the final 20 minutes and held on for the 1-0 victory.
UAlbany begins conference play in three days as the Great Danes travel south to Baltimore to take on UMBC on Sunday, September 27th at 1 p.m.
