Great Danes Fall to Undefeated Holy Cross 2-0 on the Road
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WORCESTER, Mass. – The UAlbany women's soccer team tried to knock off undefeated Holy Cross on Sunday, but fell to the Crusaders 2-0 at Smith Soccer Stadium.
Holy Cross (6-0) got a goal in each half. Caitlin Harty scored on a second pass from a free kick in the first half, with a UAlbany (1-4) own goal in the second half completing the score.
Alexa Schneider led the Great Danes with three shots, with two in the second half. Alana Brennan got the loss despite six saves. UAlbany led the game in corner kicks 8-3, including six in the first half.
Carly McCabe got the shutout win in goal for Holy Cross.
UAlbany earned the first opportunity of the game on a corner kick in the third minute, but no shot was made on the high cross. No shots were attempted in the first 15 minutes, even with a couple of offensive chances for UAlbany.
In the 20th minute, Schneider was clear and took a shot outside the box, going high after a deflection. UAlbany got a corner as a result, with the cross being caught by the keeper.
Holy Cross got a big chance 26 minutes in after Caitlin Harty took a pass from the back line and shot past Brennan, but the ball going left of the post to avoid a score. But with 18:04 left in the half, Hardy got another chance off a free kick from Malone and scored in the middle of the cage for a 1-0 Holy Cross lead.
Later, Holy Cross got a 3-on-2 on a breakaway attempt. A cross to Alex Weyrauch was lightly kicked to Brennan for the running save. UAlbany countered as Caitlyn Paltsios got a free kick attempt, but the ball went just beyond Schneider's leg.
Both sides saw chances in waning minutes of the first half. Jenna Scanlon shot on a free kick about 25 yards out, hitting the crossbar. Kara Shaw received the ball on the far side and tried to cross near the end line, but a diving Brennan stopped the attempt. The other way, Schneider crossed to a running Leanne Miller, who kicked an arc shot that was saved by the keeper's finger near the corner. Paltsios earned another chance on the same possession, kicking it high above the net. UAlbany went into the locker room down 1-0 to Holy Cross.
UAlbany got the first opportunities in the first half, with Vivian Vega getting a turnaround shot three minutes into the period, but McCabe made the save. Holy Cross countered, with Aly Spencer's 25-yard shot going high.
With neither offense having many chances in the coming minutes, UAlbany got to its offensive side and got off a couple of crosses, but neither turned into shots.
The other way, Harty got a shot off from the far side, hitting the post. The ball inadvertently hit off the back of Angela Luizzi and into the net for an own goal, making it 2-0 Holy Cross through 67:35.
Schneider looked to lead the offense as UAlbany tried to get back. In the 77th minute, a hard shot by Schneider was blocked by a defender at the top of the box. Three minutes later, she tried another shot from the corner of the box, but it went high.
Brennan saved a couple of long shots late to hold the deficit at two. With under five minutes to play, UAlbany got a final chance on a corner kick. Fitzpatrick's corner came to the goal box with a kick from Morgan Loder being blocked by a defender near the post. UAlbany was unable to get another shot off and fell to Holy Cross 2-0.
UAlbany plays another opponent on the road on Wednesday, taking on Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire at 7 p.m.
