ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's soccer team embarks on its 2023 season, opening on the road at former America East rival Boston University.
 
Game Info
August 24, 2023 at Boston University (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | ESPN+ | International Stream | Game Notes
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany went 3-6-2 on the road last season; Boston University went 4-1-5 at home
• The Great Danes return eight of 17 goals scored from 2022
• UAlbany is 2-2-3 in season openers since 2016
• The Great Danes' defense held opponents scoreless for a stretch of 525 minutes at the end of the 2022 season, a streak which ended in the first half of the America East title game

Scouting Boston University
The Terriers went 6-5-7 in 2022, including 4-2-3 against Patriot League opponents.  They averaged under one goal per game, but also allowed less than one goal per game.  Boston University shut out its opponents nine times in 2022 and boasted the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Francesco Montali and Defensive Player of the Year Griffin Roach, both of whom return in 2023.  The Terriers earned the two-seed in the 2022 Patriot League Tournament and advanced to the semifinals, and were picked second in the 2023 Preseason Patriot League Poll.  UAlbany is 3-11-3 in the Division I era against Boston University, including 1-1-1 since the Terriers moved to the Patriot League in 2013.
 
Last Time vs. Boston University
August 25, 2022 | UAlbany hosted its home and season opener against former America East opponent Boston University.  Pantelis Panteli put UAlbany on the board early with a successful penalty kick in the 23rd minute.  Boston University tied the game at one after halftime in the 60th minute, and the two teams opened their seasons on a 1-1 draw.
 
Last Time Out
UAlbany made its third appearance in the America East title game, having won each of its first two trips in 2016 and 2017.  Their opponent was top-seed New Hampshire, which hosted their fifth-straight championship.  The Wildcats scored twice in the first half, ending UAlbany's shutout streak at 525 consecutive minutes, and held on to win their fourth league title since 2018.
 
Around the America East
The conference saw two teams, Vermont and New Hampshire, ranked in the final United Soccer Coaches national poll in 2022.  The Catamounts were fourth after making a run to the Elite-Eight, and New Hampshire was 21st after advancing to the Second Round.  The two teams were each ranked in the preseason national poll, #12 and #23, respectively.  Seven of the eight America East teams open their seasons on Thursday, with UMass Lowell opening a day later.
 
Thursday's America East Games

• Binghamton at William & Mary, 5:00 pm
• Western Michigan at #12 Vermont, 6:00 pm
• UMBC at George Mason, 7:00 pm
• UAlbany at Boston University, 7:00 pm
• CCSU at Bryant, 7:00 pm
• NJIT at UIC, 7:00 pm
• #23 New Hampshire at VCU, 8:15 pm

Upcoming Milestones

• Trevor Gorman: 95 career wins
• Program: 495 wins

 Without Borders
Including the United States and Canada, the 2023 men's soccer roster features 29 players representing 13 different countries.  In total, 21 players have joined the team from outside the United States.
 
New Faces
The Great Danes' roster of 29 players features 13 new faces.  Three of the 13 are freshmen, while the remaining 10 have transferred into UAlbany from their previous institutions.  The transfers hail from such programs as Akron, South Florida, and defending national champion Syracuse, among others.
 
Picked Third
After a run to the America East title game in 2022, the Great Danes were picked to finish in a tie for third in the 2023 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.  They shared their point total of 34 with UMBC, and narrowly edging the Retrievers by garnering one first-place vote.
 
Schedule Strength
Including defending national champion and preseason #1 Syracuse, five of the Great Danes 17 opponents in 2023 hold preseason rankings in the United Soccer Coaches national poll.  Behind the Orange, the Great Danes will play games against #12 Vermont, #20 Cornell, #23 New Hampshire, and #25 Penn.
 
Phoenix Rising
Former UAlbany defender Daniel Krutzen '18 signed a deal in January with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship, the second-tier league in the United States.  Krutzen made the move after playing four years in the Canadian Premier League for Forge FC, winning three league titles.
 
Hall of Fame Semifinalist
The most prolific scorer in UAlbany men's soccer history, Lee Tschantret, was named a semifinalist to the National Soccer Hall of Fame's 2023 Veteran Ballot.  Tschantret played at UAlbany from 1987-90, scoring a program-record that still stands today 51 goals.  He earned All-America honors in 1988 and 1989, and after his collegiate season enjoyed a 20-year professional career.
 
U.S. Open Cup
Former UAlbany goalkeeper Danny Vitiello and his Sacramento Republic FC team advanced to the championship game of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup against Orlando City SC of the MLS.  Sacramento was the first team from outside the MLS to reach the title game since Charleston Battery played against D.C. United in 2008.  Vitiello and Sacramento defeated three MLS teams en route to the final, the San Jose Earthquakes, the L.A. Galaxy, and Sporting Kansas City.  In the latter game, the semifinal, Vitiello recorded the decisive save in the penalty kick shootout to advance Sacramento to the final.  Sacramento's magic run ended against Orlando City, falling 3-0.
 
Next: UAlbany hosts its 2023 home opener on August 27 against Villanova.