Women's Soccer Defeats UMBC 4-0

Score: UAlbany 4, UMBC 0

Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.

Records: UAlbany (4-7-2, 1-3-2) | UMBC (3-11-2, 0-4-2)

Short Story: UAlbany's offense comes alive, led by Selma Elverum, with the team's best showing of the season to knock off UMBC 4-0.

Key Stats

Selma Elverum scored her fourth and fifth goals of the season and added one assist
Iola Cotter scored her second goal of the season
Brooke Pickett scored her first goal of the season
Olivia Piraino recorded two assists
Charlie Pawli recorded one assist
UAlbany outshot UMBC 16-11, including 12-5 in the first half
Elverum put five of her six shots on target

Head Coach Sade Ayinde: "It was good to be back home and to be able to get a win and a shutout. We were dangerous in the final third, which allowed for Selma, Brooke, and Iola to finish four of the chances we created. This win will hopefully guide us into finishing the regular season on a high note and with plenty more goals. I believe in our group's ability to find success over the next few weeks."

How it Happened

The University at Albany women's soccer team returned home briefly for a game against UMBC before heading out on a two-game road trip. The Great Danes recorded their first victory since September 10, erupting for four goals against the Retrievers in their highest output of the season.
UAlbany's first shot came in the fifth minute. Selma Elverum's attempt low towards goal forced the Retrievers' keeper Sara Gavagan, who was making her second start of the season, into a diving save. Less than a minute later, Olivia Piraino found an opening, but her shot missed wide left.
In the 11th minute, off a UAlbany goal kick, Great Danes keeper Gabriella Terranova found Selma Elverum at midfield. Elverum took a touch forward into a breakaway. As UMBC's defense closed in, Elverum took a low shot just outside the box, saved by Gavagan.
Elverum capitalized on another breakaway attempt, on a clear from Charlie Pawli. Elverum broke behind the Retrievers' defenders and beat Gavagan to the far post for the goal. Soon after, Brooke Pickett ripped a shot, high, saved by Gavagan over the crossbar for a corner kick, nearly giving UAlbany a second goal.
Over the course of four minutes, from the 28th to the 32nd, the Great Danes created three solid scoring chances. In the 28th, Piraino ripped a shot from close in, saved along the near post by Gavagan. In the 31st, Brooke Pickett served the ball from the right sideline towards the near post for a crashing Elverum, but the serve was just a hair too shallow and hit off Elverum's outside leg for a UMBC goal kick.
Elverum nearly scored her second goal in the 32nd minute, but later that same minute of play, Brooke Pickett positioned herself along the far post, in the perfect spot to collect a rebound off the crossbar from a shot by Madison Hnis. Pickett, with Gavagan out of position, pushed the ball into the empty net to put UAlbany up 2-0.
UMBC's best first-half scoring opportunity came in the 43rd minute. The Retrievers played their way into a one-on-one situation against Terranova high in the UAlbany box, but the shot from Payton Schenning was driven right into Terranova's legs and away from danger.
Elverum did collect her second goal, early in the second half. Piraino forced a turnover at midfield and pushed forward. She played the ball up to Elverum, who stepped right and beat UMBC's replacement keeper, Morgan McGruder, to put UAlbany up 3-0.
UMBC's Schenning, in the 62nd minute, took a deep shot, low and towards the far post, from the top-left side of UAlbany's box. The shot, out of the reach of Terranova, diving to her left, missed just past the far post.
Iola Cotter got in on the action in the 74th minute. Piraino, from the right side, served the ball into the middle of the field, short, to Elverum. Elverum stumbled and fell, but was still able to push the ball towards Cotter. Cotter's shot landed in the back of the net past McGruder for goal four of the night.
UAlbany won the game by the same score, 4-0. The four goals were their highest total of the season, and most since defeating Wagner 4-1 on September 11, 2022. With Pickett's goal, her first of the season, UAlbany has recorded goals from 10 players this year. And, with assists from Piraino and M. Hnis, UAlbany has seen 14 players score at least one point in 2023.