UAlbany Women's Soccer Edged Late in 2-1 Heartbreaker vs. Hartford
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany women's soccer team led most of the match vs. Hartford but fell 2-1 after the Hawks scored on two late corner kicks at Casey Stadium.
Leanne Miller's 39th minute goal from Krista Fitzpatrick gave UAlbany (6-8-1, 1-3-1 AE) for most of the remainder of the game. Hartford (9-2-4, 3-0-3 AE) scored twice in the final 14 minutes off corner kicks from Julia Carr to take the match.
“Our desire and willingness to create offensive opportunities was there tonight, and we felt we played the better game,” said UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “But, set pieces determine the match, and Hartford executed on them.”
UAlbany outshot Hartford 18-10 in the game and had 10 corner kicks to its opponent's five. Miller's goal was her second of the season. Alana Olivieri got the loss in her first collegiate start in goal, finishing with four saves.
Caitlin Smallfield and Hayley Nolan scored on the corner kicks in succession in the 77th and 83rd minutes. Jessica Jurg picked up the win in goal with four saves.
The Great Danes controlled the possession almost exclusively in its offensive half in the opening 15 minutes. The game's first shot on goal came in the 15th minute as Kiana Rugar passed to Vivian Vega for a looping shot, with the keeper catching the ball next to the post.
UAlbany nearly got its first goal as Rugar took a pass from Fitzpatrick and broke through the back line in the 23rd minute. Rugar shot low as Jurg blocked the ball out of bounds. The resulting corner did not bring a shot.
Hartford picked up a corner kick with about 16 minutes left in the first half. UAlbany cleared out the attempt; Erica Primovic fired a ground ball back into the box, with the deflected ball going to Olivieri.
In the 39th minute, a foul gave Fitzpatrick a free kick from 30 yards out. She curled the ball towards the middle, where Miller tapped the ball inside the left post past a diving Jurg to give UAlbany a 1-0 lead, the eventual halftime score.
The home team continued to control possession in the opening of the second half. Caitlyn Paltsios put a corner kick into the box in the 58th minute, as Hartford headed it away. Vega tried a shot soon after, with her attempt being blocked.
Off a breakaway, Vega sprinted towards the box off a cornerback. Vega kicked across the box with the ball hitting the right post.
Minute 76 saw Tori Tripp get loose from the back row for a shot, seeing Olivieri make a diving save. Carr's first corner was headed out of bounds by UAlbany. The second corner sat near the right post as Smallfield emerged and tipped the ball just past the goal line for the equalizer goal.
Nolan missed high on a set piece in the 80th minute. Three minutes later, Carr again curled towards the post. Nolan received the deflected and grounded the ball inside the left post to give Hartford a 2-1 lead.
UAlbany tried one final attack in the final minute. Meghan Malone pounded a ball from long range off a defender and out of bounds for a corner. The corner arced to the middle of the box, but was cleared by Hartford in the scrum. The clock expired as UAlbany fell 2-1.
UAlbany will play its final America East regular season road game on Sunday, October 18th, taking on Vermont at 2 p.m.
