Score: UMBC 2, UAlbany 1
 
Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
 
Records: UAlbany (4-5-0, 0-1-0) | UMBC (5-2-1, 1-0-0)
 
Short Story: UAlbany men's soccer opens its 2023 America East slate with a defeat at home against UMBC, 2-1.
 
Key Stats

• Mamadi Jiana scored his third goal of the season
• Timo Jansen recorded his second assist
• UMBC outshot UAlbany 9-8, including 5-3 in the first half
• UMBC committed 18 fouls to UAlbany's 10

Head Coach Trevor Gorman: "Obviously it's disappointing to lose the conference opener.  Games can hinge on one or two moments.  We had one of our best performances of the season but it didn't translate into the result.  Credit to UMBC for opportunistically taking their moments.  Some great opportunities are ahead and we'll get to work this week for New Hampshire on Friday."
 
How it Happened

• The University at Albany men's soccer team played a second-straight game at home, after dispatching Lafayette 3-0 earlier in the week.  On Saturday, the team opened its 2023 America East scheduled, and welcomed UMBC to Casey Stadium.
• The Great Danes' first scoring chance came in the 21st minute.  Ander Castillo took advantage of a loose ball in the UMBC defensive third, but his shot was blocked by Retrievers' goalkeeper Emigdio Tormo Lopez.  Mamadi Jiana collected the rebound and caught Lopez out of position but his shot missed wide on the near post.
• UMBC struck first, scoring to go up 1-0 in the 28th minute.  Alek Wroblewski pushed the ball into the corner, drawing UAlbany goalkeeper Daniel Shannon off his line.  Wroblewski passed to Tyler Harry who took advantage of the open net.
• Shannon found himself one-on-one with the Retrievers' Ismailcan Usta, and made a kick save in the 31st minute to keep UMBC's lead at one.  Shortly after, Saad Faiz ripped a shot from close in, saved by Lopez for a Great Danes' corner kick.
• Early in the second half, Castillo initiated a breakaway in the middle of the field, but his shot with the Retrievers' defenders closing in soared high over the crossbar.
• UMBC put a second goal on the board in the 71st minute.  A serve off one of the Retriever's four corner kicks found the head of Loc San.  The header was deflected to Lasse Kelp, who's own header found the back of the net out of Shannon's reach.
• UAlbany got on the board in the final 70 seconds of play.  Timo Jansen, in the top corner of UMBC's box, cut to his right and served the ball towards goal, where Jiana connected on a header and into the net, cutting UMBC's lead in half.  The Retrievers, however, held on for the final minute to claim the victory.

Next: UAlbany visits #18 New Hampshire on September 29 in a rematch of the 2022 America East title game.