By Aaron Cheris
Sports Editor
sports.asp@gmail.com
Photo from UAlbany Athletics
Vivian Vega had a goal and an assist to lead UAlbany to victory over UNH.
Last season, the University at Albany women’s soccer team won only one of their eight America East conference games. After just their second conference game this season, the Great Danes have equaled that total.
After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, UAlbany (5-7-2, 2-1-0 AE) held on to beat the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (4-7-0, 1-1-0 AE) 4-2 on Thursday night at Bob Ford Field.
“Something we worked on all week in practice was shooting, taking chances and pulling the trigger,” UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella said after the game. “They put some on the board early. I was really happy with the way that they attacked the goal tonight.”
After UNH missed their opportunities early in the game, UAlbany was able to make the most of their first opportunity. In the thirteenth minute, Alexa Schneider took a long range shot from about 20 yards out, near the top left corner of the box. Her shot sailed past UNH goalkeeper Mimi Borkan into the back of the net, giving the Great Danes a 1-0 lead. The goal was Schneider’s second of the season.
After a Wildcat shot hit the crossbar, the Great Danes made sure they didn’t miss their chance. In the 38th minute, Leanne Miller hit the right post with her shot. Before Borkan could regain the ball for UNH, Miller got her own rebound and slammed it into the goal. Her first goal of the year doubled the Great Danes advantage heading into halftime.
In the second half, the UAlbany onslaught continued. Less than two minutes into the half, Krista Fitzpatrick dribbled into the New Hampshire penalty area, and scored with a shot on her right foot to give UAlbany a three-goal advantage. Vivian Vega earned an assist on the goal for her pass to Fitzpatrick.
Abby Short got the Wildcats on the scoreboard shortly after, beating UAlbany goalkeeper Alana Brennan from about 10 yards away.
UAlbany made sure the UNH momentum didn’t last long. In the 52nd minute, Kiana Rugar got a chance to score after a Fitzpatrick corner. Rugar’s chance hit the post, but Vega was able to score in the ensuing scramble for the rebound. Vega’s team leading seventh goal of the season regained the three-goal lead for the Great Danes.
“They all did their job tonight,” Cucchiella said of her team. “Vega gets all those garbage goals, and we love having that from her. Rugar is blossoming up top right now. I’m glad to say that we have more than one goal scorer and that makes us dangerous.”
The Wildcats once again cut the UAlbany deficit to two when Brooke Murphy scored on a breakaway, but the visitors wouldn’t get any closer than that.
In the net for UAlbany, Brennan made eight saves to earn her fourth win of the season. “Brennan came up huge. I’d like to eliminate those two goals that we let them get in on us, but she plays bigger than she is and she comes up huge when we need her. I’m really happy with her performance tonight,” Cucchiella said of her goalkeeper.
Like her coach, Brennan is happy to win but knows changes need to be made in order to stay successful. “I think I did well but there are definitely some things I need to improve on,” Brennan said. “I’m glad that I got some nicks out in the game. Improvement is needed, but I’m happy right now.”
After missing the America East conference tournament last season, the Great Danes are going to need more nights like Thursday in order to avoid the same fate. “We’re really excited. We’re really confident in the fact that we have a lot of conference games left and we’re looking to get a couple more wins and get ourselves into playoff contention,” Cucchiella said.
Like her coach, Brennan is confident. “We have all the talent in the world to be successful this season, I really believe that,” Brennan said. “After tonight, we know that we can compete and we have a great chance at making the tournament and even winning the whole conference this year.”
On Sunday, the Great Danes got another win over a conference rival, beating the University of Vermont Catamounts 6-0 at Bob Ford Field.
Leanne Miller led the Great Danes with two goals. Brennan only had to make two saves in net to record the shutout. The six goal margin is UAlbany’s biggest margin of victory this season.
The Great Danes continue their America East conference schedule at UMass Lowell on Thursday night, Oct. 9.
Click here for highlights of UAlbany’s win over UNH.
Click here for highlights of UAlbany’s win over Vermont.
