Score: UMass 1, UAlbany 0

Location: Rudd Field in Amherst, Mass.  
 
Records: UAlbany (0-1-0, 0-0-0 AE) | UMass (1-0-0, 0-0-0 A10)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany women's soccer team fought hard against UMass in the season opener, but eventually fell to the Minutewomen 1-0. Both teams came out heavy on offense to start the game before the defenses slowed things down in the second half. A penalty kick in the first half for UMass was the deciding factor in the loss.

Key Stat Lines

·       The Great Danes finished with 16 shots, seven of which were on goal. UMass finished with 14 shots, eight of which were on goal.

·       Sahara Zingano registered six total shots, one of which was on goal. Olivia Piraino followed with four shots, two of which were on goal.

·       The first half of the game saw both sides attacking on offense (21 total shots) before things slowed down in the second half (nine total shots).

·       A UMass penalty kick at the 33-minute mark was the deciding factor in the game.

·       UMass finished with the advantage on corners, having had six compared to UAlbany's five.

·       Both goalkeepers finished with seven saves.

·       UAlbany totaled 10 fouls, UMass totaled six.

·       Five Great Danes played all 90 minutes – Megan Hart (GK), Charlie Pawli (D), Marisa Tava (M), Tiffany Bernot (M), and Carly Binn (D).

Head Coach Sade Ayinde: "This was a tough result based on the way that we played, but there were a lot of positives today and plenty to grow from. UMass is a competitive team that is building off of a successful 2021 campaign and returned a lot of good players. This was a great first test for this group and luckily we get another chance to show who we are on Sunday at Monmouth."

How it Happened:

·       The Great Danes got off to a hot start on the offensive side of the ball, with Selma Elverum, Olivia Piraino, and Brooke Pickett all registering shots on goal within the first nine minutes.

·       Megan Hart made her first save of the year at the 17:27 mark, stopping UMass' Ella Curry. Hart made another save just three minutes later scooping up a lazy lob coming off of a corner kick.

·       UMass scored the lone goal of the game at the 33:05 mark. Curry buried a shot to the right side on a penalty kick following a foul from UAlbany's Charlie Pawli.

·       Keeper Megan Hart stood on her head shortly after, keeping her team down by just one, recording three saves in a matter of 15 seconds – two of which were from point-blank range.

·       UAlbany started the game by taking an 8-2 advantage in shots, but went into the half outshooting UMass just 11-10. UMass had the shots on goal advantage, 7-6.

·       Both teams went to the locker room with two corners each. UMass collected four fouls in the first frame, while UAlbany collected three.

·       The second half got off to a slower start than its predecessor, with only one shot (UMass) coming in the first 10 minutes of action.

·       UAlbany's Piraino rocketed a shot to the right side of the net, saved by the UMass keeper, at the 57-minute mark for the first shot on goal of the second half. It would be the only shot on goal in the second half for the Great Danes.

·       In the second half, UAlbany registered five total shots compared to four from UMass.

·       The Great Danes tallied seven fouls in the second frame, UMass two.

Next: The Great Danes return to action this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. when they take on the Monmouth Hawks in West Long Branch, N.J.