ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's soccer team kicks off the 2021 season on Thursday at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium against Fairfield.
 
Game Info
Thursday, August 26 vs. Fairfield (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | AE.tv
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany returns its five leading scorers from the 2021 spring season, including top scorer Adam Aoumaich (4 goals, 1 assist) and 2019 America East Striker of the Year Austin DaSilva (2 goals, three assists)
• UAlbany's roster features 15 new players
• Fairfield returns its top three scorers from last season, including reigning MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year Thomas Drillien
• After utilizing a unique three-pod scheduling format during the spring 2021 season, the America East will return to its regular round-robin format for the fall

Scouting Fairfield
Fairfield went 4-3-1 overall in the spring 2021 season, including 3-2-1 in the MAAC, before falling to Quinnipiac in the MAAC semifinal round.  The Stags were picked second in the preseason MAAC poll, and feature preseason All-MAAC selection Cormac Pike on defense.  Fairfield played just two games at home during the spring.  UAlbany is 1-1-0 in two prior meetings against Fairfield.
 
Last Time against Fairfield
The second and most recent meeting between UAlbany and Fairfield came during the 2010 season, with the Great Danes avenging their defeat to the Stags from the year before by a final score of 2-0.  Bo Jelovac and David Hawksworth each scored for UAlbany, while goalkeeper Adrian Foncette recorded nine saves to claim the shutout victory.  Fairfield pressured the Great Danes' defense throughout the game, recording 15 shots to UAlbany's six, including holding a 10-2 shot advantage in the second half.  Fairfield also drew 10 corner kicks during the game to UAlbany's two, including a 6-0 advantage after halftime.
 
Last Time Out
The Great Danes closed the 2021 spring season with a victory in their regular-season finale at Hartford, 2-1.  UAlbany closed the season winning three of its last four games, outscoring its opponents 8-3.  Adam Aoumaich and Andrew Weiner each scored for UAlbany, while the Great Danes narrowly outshot Hartford 11-9 overall, but 10-5 in the second half.
 
Around the America East
All nine America East schools are scheduled to play their season openers on Thursday.  New Hampshire, two-time defending America East champions, was selected as the unanimous preseason favorite by the league's coaches.  The Wildcats rank 20th in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, after going 8-1-1 overall in the spring, including an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Thursday's America East Games

• New Hampshire at Boston University, 7:00 pm
• Vermont at Iona, 1:00 pm
• UMass Lowell at St. Francis Brooklyn, 3:00 pm
• LIU at Stony Brook, 6:00 pm
• Holy Cross at Hartford, 7:00 pm
• Fairfield at UAlbany, 7:00 pm
• Navy at UMBC, 7:00 pm
• Fairleigh Dickinson at NJIT, 7:30 pm
• Binghamton at Colgate, 7:30 pm

Picked Fourth
The Great Danes were picked fourth in the 2021 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.  Three-time defending champion New Hampshire was picked as the unanimous favorite, ahead of Vermont and NJIT.  UAlbany edged out a pack of four teams separated by a total of five points: UAlbany (33), UMass Lowell (31), UMBC (30), and Hartford (28).
 
Familiar Foes
Due to the America East's implementation of a unique three-pod scheduling format for the 2021 spring season, UAlbany played six conference games against a total of four conference opponents (Binghamton, Hartford, UMBC, and Vermont).  This season, the Great Danes will return to their full round-robin conference slate to once again play every other team in the America East, including three-time defending champion New Hampshire, as well as the first-ever game against NJIT as a conference opponent.
 
New Look
Despite returning its top five scorers from the 2021 spring season, the fall 2021 Great Danes feature 15 new players on the roster.  The new recruits hail from a total of seven countries, including the United States, adding to the diverse background that already exists within Coach Gorman's program.
 
Finishing Strong
After starting the 2021 spring season 0-4-1, the Great Danes rallied down the stretch to win three of their final four games of the season by a total score of 8-3.  UAlbany claimed victory over both of its pod opponents, Binghamton and postseason-bound Hartford during the stretch, avenging earlier-season losses to both squads.
 
Next: UAlbany plays its 2021 fall road opener at St. John's on Monday, August 30.