UAlbany Sends Seniors Off with 2-0 Victory over UMass Lowell
Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany women’s soccer team sent its seniors off with a win on Sunday for the final game of the 2013 season, defeating UMass Lowell 2-0 at Bob Ford Field.
“This year has been an adverse year with all the injuries,” says head coach Caitlin Colver. “With that said, we started and ended the year with victories. We made a conscious effort not to give up all season, and these girls fought hard the whole way.”
In the pregame, seniors Dani Britt and Aubrey VanGorder were honored at midfield in a pregame ceremony.
“It feels awesome to finish with a win,” says VanGorder. “Time really flies, and I am going to miss this team.”
Erin Savoldy’s first goal of the season in the 31st minute was the game-winner, scoring off a cross from Allison Carhart.
It is the first home victory of the year for UAlbany and second shutout after defeating Florida Atlantic 2-0 to start the season.
At the start, UAlbany (2-14-1, 1-6-1 AE) got the first opportunity on a corner kick in the fifth minute. On a deflection, VanGorder kicked the ball high above the crossbar.
UMass Lowell (1-16-1, 1-7 AE) quickly countered, getting off three shots in just over a minute’s time. Alana Brennan saved the first one, while the second two went left.
Both sides went back and forth for the next 17 minutes without many opportunities. In minute 24, a UMass Lowell foul gave Stephanie Nelle a free kick about 20 yards out. Nelle’s kick was strong but saved on the right side by keeper Jane Hatzikonstantis.
UAlbany ended the stalemate in the 31st minute. On a breakaway, Carhart crossed the ball from far to near, pulling the goalie off on the kick. An open Savoldy pocketed the ball inside the right post for the goal, giving the Great Danes a 1-0 lead.
Savoldy nearly scored again three minutes later, getting pass on the near corner of the box. Her shot was punched into the crossbar by a jumping Hatzikonstantis.
The home team stopped a UMass Lowell opportunity around the 35th minute. A Brittany Russo turnaround kick was blocked, with a follow-up Sarah Stetler shot saved by Brennan. Leanne Miller looked to counter, getting off a pair of shots in the following minutes, but each were saved.
UAlbany had two more chances in the half, with a Krista Fitzpatrick header going just right, and a Caitlyn Paltsios long range shot being saved. UAlbany went into the locker room up 1-0.
Out of the gate in the second half, UAlbany pushed a got a corner kick. Alexa Schneider’s shot was saved by a defender on the left post, but on the rebound, Maggie Couett got a straight-away shot past the keeper for the score, putting UAlbany up 2-0.
Sarah Raye went the other way and got off a shot just outside the box for UML, which new keeper Jackie Ubert saved. UAlbany countered and earned a corner from Paltsios, which led to a VanGorder shot missing left.
The River Hawks took four shots from the 58th through the 60th minutes, with none connecting. Neither side earned another shot on goal until the 79th minute, when Samantha Balbierz’s shot was saved by Ubert.
A couple of late Emily Bracken shots from 18 yards out were stopped by Ubert in the closing minutes of the half as UAlbany sealed the 2-0 win.
Savoldy and Couett each earned their first goal in their collegiate career. Brennan got the win in the game with a pair of saves.
