ALBANY, N.Y. – The 1-seed UAlbany women's soccer team will battle 2-seed Hartford in search of its second straight conference title, hosting its first ever America East title game on Sunday, November 6th at 6 p.m. at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium.
This game pits the league's two America East regular season co-champions against each other.
The game will be streamed on the Northeast Sports Network with Jonathan Versteeg and Shawn Meechi. Tickets for the game are #8 for adults, $5 for children and $2 for students attending America East institutions.
UAlbany defeated 4-seed New Hampshire 1-0 in the semifinal round to return to the America East title game, standing 10-7-1 overall and 6-1-1 in league play. Hartford won 1-0 over 6-seed Vermont for its third consecutive trip to the America East title game, entering with 13-4-1 overall and 6-1-1 America East records. UAlbany is unbeaten in its last eight games (7-0-1), Hartford in its last six (5-0-1).
The two met in West Hartford on October 9th, with the teams battling to a 2-2 draw. Hartford leads the all-time series 14-2-3, with UAlbany leading in AE Tournament games 2-1. This is the third straight year that UAlbany and Hartford have met in the America East Tournament.
This is a rematch of last year's title game, the first time to happen in an America East women's soccer championship game since 2001. In West Hartford last year, 2-seed UAlbany scored twice in the final nine minutes to defeat 1-seed Hartford 2-1.
UALBANY EARNS FIRST EVER LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON TITLE: UAlbany picked up a share of the America East regular season title with 19 points, going undefeated in its last seven league games to secure the 1-seed in the conference tournament.
It is the first time in program history that UAlbany has earned a league regular season title. UAlbany shares the regular season title with Hartford.
CAVANAUGH NAMED LEAGUE CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Meghan Cavanaugh was voted as the America East Co-Rookie of the Year with four goals and four assists this season, including three goals in conference play.
Cavanaugh is the second UAlbany player to earn conference rookie of the year honors in three years. Vivian Vega was the 2014 America East Rookie of the Year.
TWO PLAYERS TIED FOR SECOND ALL-TIME IN GOALS AT UALBANY: Alexa Schneider and Vivian Vega each stand with 19 goals in their career, tied for second all-time at UAlbany. Each are four goals away from tying for for first in goals with Shayla Bergeron at 23. Each have four goals this season, tied for 10th in the America East with that mark.
RUGAR - UALBANY ALL-TIME ASSISTS LEADER: With an assist vs. Vermont on October 16th, Kiana Rugar became UAlbany's all-time assists leader with 15 in her career. She has a pair of top-six single season assist records at UAlbany, including tied for #1 with seven in 2014.
Alexa Schneider is tied for second at 14 in her career while Caitlyn Paltsios is at fourth with 11.
SIX GREAT DANES EARN ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM HONORS: A program record six Great Danes earned a place on the 2016 America East All-Conference teams this season. Caitlyn Paltsios and Caroline Kopp were selected to the First Team while Meghan Cavanaugh, Kiana Rugar, Alexa Schneider and Vivian Vega all were placed on the Second Team.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK: UAlbany is second in the America East with 27 goals on the season, including six different multi-goal scorers through the end of the conference regular season. Kiana Rugar is tied for fourth in the league with five goals while Vivian Vega, Alexa Schneider and Meghan Cavanaugh each have four goals. Caroline Kopp has an America East-best six assists.
SCHNEIDER NAMED SENIOR CLASS NOMINEE: Alexa Schneider was one of 30 Division I women's soccer players to be nominated for the Senior CLASS Award. Those nominated are honored for their commitment to the four C's: classroom, character, community and competition.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Hartford is seeking its first America East Tournament title since 2006. At forward, sophomore Julia Carr earned First Team All-Conference honors, with six goals and four assists, as did senior midfielder Tori Tripp with five goals and four assists. Senior Jessica Jurg is on the First Team as well at goalkeeper with a 0.87 goals allowed average and a 76.5% save rate.
