ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's soccer team returns to action for the first time since Nov. 9, 2019 when they host Syracuse at Afrim's Sports Dome in Latham, N.Y. on Friday.
 
Game Info
Friday, February 19 vs. Syracuse (1:30 p.m.)
Live Stats
 
Leading the Pack

• Austin DaSilva returns an America East-leading 12 goals and 25 points in 15 games from the 2019 season
• Bjarki Leósson enters his sophomore season after being named to the 2019 America East All-Rookie Team
• Haflidi Sigurdarson ranked second on the team in 2019 with three assists and fourth in points with seven  
• Goalkeeper Michael Kennedy had a 0.94 goals against average in his six 2019 appearances (five starts)
• UAlbany returns six players who started 10 or more games in 2019
• The Great Danes welcome nine new players, including seven freshman, to the 2020-21 roster

 
Scouting Syracuse
After their season was paused in the fall, Syracuse returned to action defeating Hofstra 2-1 Friday, Feb. 12. The return came after the Orange posted a 0-3-2 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference's abbreviated fall 2020 season. The victory against Hofstra marked the first of four-straight games they will play at Afrim's Sports Dome in Latham. The Orange attack is led by sophomore Noah Singelmann who has five points and freshman Deandre Kerr who has two goals.
 
All-Time vs. Syracuse
UAlbany comes into Friday's matchup with a 2-6-1 all-time record against Syracuse. The Orange outscored the Great Danes 13-6 in the nine contests. UAlbany won the last matchup of the series 2-1 in 2016. The losing team was shut out in five of the nine all-time matchups between the programs.
 
Last Time Out
The Great Danes last game action was on Nov. 9, 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that postponed the fall 2020 season. The 2019 season concluded with fourth-ranked UAlbany losing 1-0 to fifth-ranked UMass Lowell in the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament. UAlbany lost the quarterfinal matchup despite dominated UMass Lowell in shots, 23-7, and 9-4 in shots on goal.

Around the America East
The America East added the New Jersey Institute of Technology, who become the ninth soccer program in the conference. The Highlanders kicked of all America East teams on Wednesday with a 3-3 draw against Seton Hall. Only NJIT, UAlbany and UMass Lowell play before Feb. 26.

Upcoming Milestone
After exploding for 12 goals in his first season, junior Austin DaSilva is three goals shy of becoming the sixth player in UAlbany's Division I history (1999-present) to score 15 or more career goals.

DaSilva Named to MAC Hermann Watch List
Forward Austin DaSilva was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List. The watch list consisted of 35 players and DaSilva was the only America East representative. The MAC Hermann Trophy is awarded to the nation's most outstanding male and female players of the year.

Picked Third
UAlbany was selected to finish third in the America East Coaches' Poll. The Great Danes earned 48 points and two first-place votes. New Hampshire, 2019 America East tournament and regular season champion, was picked first with 63 points and seven first-place votes.  Vermont was second, narrowly ahead of UAlbany with 52 points.

Returning 2019 Award Winners
Two UAlbany players, Austin DaSilva and Bjarki Leósson, return this season after earning America East All-Conference Honors. DaSilva earned First Team All-Conference and America East Striker of the Year after his 12-goal output. He also earned First Team All-Northeast Region Honors. Leósson earned an All-Rookie Team selection after starting all-17 games on defense for the Great Danes.

America East Announces Soccer Scheduling Format
Each America East team will begin a six-game conference schedule from Feb. 26 to April 9, followed by a four-team, single-site America East Championship scheduled to start on April 15.
 
Next: UAlbany is set to visit Binghamton in its first conference game on Feb. 26.