ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's soccer team visits St. John's for its 2021 road opener.
 
Game Info
Monday, August 30 at St. John's (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | ESPN3
 
Leading the Pack

• Monday is the first meeting between the two teams
• 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
• St. John's is 3-0 in its last three home openers
• Eight America East teams remain unbeaten
• 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 St. John's
St. John's fell in its 2021 season opener 1-0 at #6 Clemson, UAlbany's opponent from the 2016 Sweet 16.  St. John's returns three of its top four scorers, as well as each defender from the spring season who made at least one start, and welcomes graduate transfer and All-MVC First Team selection Lucas Bartlett from Drake University.  St. John's was picked sixth in the 2021 Preseason BIG EAST poll, after finishing the 2021 spring season 5-5-0.
 
Last Time Out
UAlbany hosted Fairfield in its 2021 season opener, defeating the Stags 1-0.  A tight first half led to a breakthrough on the offensive end in the 62nd minute for UAlbany when Haflidi Sigurdarson volleyed a serve into the back of the net to break the scoreless tie.  UAlbany's defense locked down after halftime, holding Fairfield to just one shot and leaving goalkeeper Carlos Tofern untested in the final 45 minutes.  UAlbany improves to 3-1-2 in home openers since the start of the 2016 season.
 
Around the America East
The America East went unbeaten on the opening day of 2021, compiling a record of 6-0-3.  Including UAlbany's victory over Fairfield, winners included Vermont, Stony Brook, New Hampshire, Binghamton, and NJIT, while UMass Lowell, UMBC, and Hartford each played their opponents to a draw.  Three teams, Vermont, New Hampshire, and UMBC, will be in action on Sunday, before a slate of six games on Monday.
 
Monday's America East Games

• Siena at UMass Lowell, 2:00 pm
• Hartford at Villanova, 4:00 pm
• Hofstra at Stony Brook, 6:00 pm
• UAlbany at St. John's, 7:00 pm
• St. Bonaventure at Binghamton, 7:00 pm
• Rider at NJIT, 7:00 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, incuding 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 visits Villanova on Friday, September 3.