Score: UAlbany 2, UMass Lowell 0
 
Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
 
Records: UAlbany (5-7-1, 1-2-1) | UMass Lowell (2-8-2, 0-4-0)
 
Short Story: UAlbany men's soccer scores two goals in the first half to secure the 500th victory in program history by defeating rival UMass Lowell 2-0.
 
Key Stats

• Jeff Thielmann scored his third goal of the season
• Ander Castillo scored his fourth goal of the season
• Shafique Wilson recorded his 13th career shutout
• UAlbany outshot UMass Lowell 20-8, including 13-2 in the first half 

Head Coach Trevor Gorman: "It's great to get back to winning and to pick up three points at home.  I thought we started very well and carried that momentum throughout the game."
 
Gorman on UAlbany Men's Soccer's 500th Win: "It's amazing to think about a program reaching 500 victories.  That spans many years with so many players a part of that achievement.  Everyone who has ever put on a Great Dane jersey should feel proud of our history."
 
How it Happened

• In its 74th season of existence, starting in 1950, the University at Albany men's soccer team has won its 500th game in program history.  Saturday's win came in shutout fashion against one of the Great Danes' newest yet staunchest rivals, UMass Lowell. 

• Since the River Hawks reclassified to Division I and joined the America East in 2013, the teams have played 13 games, with UAlbany holding a narrow edge in the series, 7-5-1.  From 2017-19, the teams met in three-straight America East Tournaments, including the thrilling 2017 title game which saw UAlbany win 1-0 in Lowell in double-overtime.
• UAlbany gone on the board early, with Jeff Thielmann scoring in just the sixth minute.  Off a deep throw-in from George Pitsillides, Thielmann came up with the ball in the UMass Lowell box, touched to his left, turned, and fired his shot into the back of the net.
• Ander Castillo added a goal in the 27th minute.  At first, Castillo directed a header towards net, but the initial attempt was saved by River Hawks' goalkeeper Jacob Heihsel.  On the rebound, however, Castillo directed his shot left and in for a 2-0 lead.
• The Great Danes created additional chances in the first half.  In the 31st minute, Saad Faiz collected a rebound from a free kick punched away by Heihsel, but the shot was deflected and landed just wide of the far post for a UAlbany corner kick.  In the 33rd, Timo Jansen's attempt from the top corner of the 18 sailed just over the crossbar.  And in the 39th, Castillo nearly scored again, this time on a breakaway, but UMass Lowell's defender caught up and slid in front of Castillo to stifle his shot.
• UAlbany led by the same score, 2-0, at halftime.  The Great Danes had outshot the River Hawks 13-2 over the course of the first half, and had commanded 68% of possession.
• UMass Lowell's best chance to score came in the 61st minute, when Inaki Esnaola directed a header towards net, but UAlbany keeper Shafique Wilson made the save to keep the River Hawks off the board.
• UAlbany's advantage in shots taken shrunk in the second half, but the Great Danes still outshot the River Hawks 7-6 after halftime, for a total of 20-8 for the full game.  UAlbany's defense held for the duration of the second to secure the 2-0 victory, the 500th win in program history.
• Saturday was the 13th game between UAlbany and UMass Lowell since 2013.  It was just the fourth decided by more than one goal. 

Next: UAlbany visits Colgate on October 17.