UAlbany WSOC Falls Just Short in Road Battle at Hartford 1-0
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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In a physical contest on the road, UAlbany fell after a late-second half goal in a 1-0 defeat to Hartford to open America East play.
Chanel Johnson, the reigning America East Striker of the Year, scored a goal in the 74th minute to give Hartford (5-2-3, 1-0 AE) the win over UAlbany (3-7-2, 0-1 AE).
“Today was like the ocean, we had waves that were consistent, and waves throughout the game that challenged us,” said UAlbany coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “Our emphasis this week will be to put our opponents' defense under more pressure and be fearless in the final third.”
Alana Brennan got the loss with one goal allowed, adding five saves, including four diving ones on breakaway opportunities. UAlbany had six shots, including two by Vivian Vega.
For Hartford, Jessica Jurg picked up the shutout win with three saves in front of the net.
Kiana Rugar got the first look in the first couple of minutes, taking a pass and dribbling around the back line. She got off a ground ball shot about 10 yards out, going right to the keeper.
Five minutes later, Hartford attempted a breakaway with a one-on-one with Chanel Johnson against Celia Balf. Balf held her ground, forcing Johnson to shoot quickly, right to a standing Brennan in the middle of the goal box.
UAlbany pushed in the 21st minute, getting a chance. Rugar, trying to get around a triple team, passed to an open Alexa Schneider on the near side of the box. Schneider arced a pass towards Vega for the header, just missing the shot wide left of the post.
Hartford looked to counter the other way. Sidney Spremullo went down the side and into the box, attempting to cross, with Stephanie Nelle blocking the attempt out of bounds. On the resulting corner, the header by Raelynn Mikell was blocked by Nelle and picked up by Brennan.
As Hartford tried to clear out a ball from the UAlbany offensive third, Leanne Miller in the box kicked the ball from about 15-yards out on an arc, with a jumping Jerg catching the ball just under the crossbar. The other way, Johnson quickly fired on the net from long range, missing wide.
The Hawks tried a quick attack in the 36th minute. Johnson got the cross from a sprinting player, kicking the ball wide right of the post. The following minute, Melina Spanos got a header shot, missing well right.
Each side had opportunities before the end of the half, but no shots on goal in the final minutes as the teams went into the locker room tied at 0-0.
In the second half, Johnson got past the UAlbany back line for the breakaway. One-on-one against the keeper, Brennan slid in front of Johnson, who kicked the ball into the keeper. Hartford kept possession but did not get another shot on goal in the chance after Brennan's save.
Johnson did get another attempt from long range in the 52nd minute, just around a defender. Brennan dove to the right and knocked away the ball for another save, keeping the scoreless tie. Aaliyah Ingram got a shot in the next minute, missing right.
UAlbany got a look in the 68th minute with Krista Fitzpatrick getting free outside the box on the near side. She crossed to Vega inside the penalty area, who headed the ball wide left.
In the 74th minute, Johnson got the ball from Spremullo about 25 yards out straight-away. Johnson hop-stepped around a defender and fired at the cage for the score on the left side to make it 1-0 Hartford.
Brennan had to stay focused in the following minutes, saving an arc shot from Johnson in minute 77 and Spremullo on a breakaway in minute 80.
With about five minutes left, Caitlyn Paltsios got a free kick from about 10 yards outside the box. She put the ball into the box, but no player touched it as the ball went out-of-bounds untouched. UAlbany would not get off another shot as time expired.
UAlbany returns to the Capital District for a pair of conference matches, starting with the America East home opener on Thursday, October 2nd vs. New Hampshire at 7 p.m.
