Martinez and Mattos Score to Lead Men’s Soccer Past Yale 2-1
ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany men’s soccer team (2-7-2, 1-0 AE) got back on track on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win against Yale at Bob Ford Field.
“We’re happy to get a home win over a tough Yale team,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. “In the second half we increased our intensity and pressure, and we were rewarded. Hopefully we can continue to be tough to beat at home.”
The game got off to a quick start, with Bernardo Mattos scoring his first career goal in the 6th minute. The freshman’s goal marks the earliest point in the game the Great Danes have scored all season, and just the second time the squad has scored in the first half. Mattos tracked down a cross from Philip Persson on a free kick, and headed the ball into the back of the net on the far side.
Yale came back down the field less than thirty seconds later. The Bulldogs earned a corner kick, and nearly evened the score. Midfielder Kit Alexieff made the defensive save at the goal line to maintain the lead for UAlbany.
The Bulldogs didn’t find their response until the closing moments of the first half. Max McKiernan fired a shot from nearly 30 yards out to even the score going into halftime.
Brandon Wilson had UAlbany’s first chance to re-gain the lead early in the second half, hitting the post in the 59th minute.
Ivan Martinez chased a ball down deep into Yale’s left side, and flicked a shot over his defender and past the Bulldog goalie to make the score 2-1 in the 82nd minute. The sophomore scored his second career goal and first gamewinner.
Mattos and Martinez are the sixth and seventh Great Danes to tally a goal this season. Ten UAlbany players have tallied a goal or an assist in 2013.
Tim Allen made seven saves to earn his second win in goal.
The Great Danes travel to No. 8 UMBC on Saturday for their second league game. That contest is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m.
