Five Great Danes Net Goals as UAlbany Women's Soccer Crushes Holy Cross 5-0 in Home Opener
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Postgame Interviews - Nick Bochette | Leanne Miller | Alexa Schneider
ALBANY, N.Y. – Scoring on five of its first six shots on goal, the UAlbany women's soccer team opened at home in dominating fashion with a 5-0 victory over Holy Cross at Bob Ford Field on Wednesday night.
Five different UAlbany (2-3) players scored goals in the team's strongest victory since the 6-0 win over Vermont on October 5th, 2014. In addition, 10 UAlbany players earned either a goal or an assist plus the team earned its first shutout of the season.
“Top to bottom tonight throughout the team, we were dangerous,” said acting head coach Nick Bochette. “From the first group that was in to the subs off the bench, everyone was committed, they moved together, and they made a lot of things happen out there.”
Leanne Miller scored the game's opening goal from Shelby Belak and Kiana Rugar in the 6th minute. Alexa Schneider's goal four minutes later allowed UAlbany a 2-0 halftime lead. Vivian Vega, Allison Carhart and Morgan Loder added goals in the second half to help earn the five-goal win. Caroline Kopp and Mariah Williams earned their first collegiate assists of their career. Alana Brennan earned the shutout in goal, giving her 7.5 shutouts in her collegiate career, with three saves in 90 minutes.
“Every came out ready, we were all hungry and wanted to get some goals,” said Miller. “We just worked really hard tonight.”
“We were so excited to play on our home field for the first time, we had four away games that were extremely tough, and I don't think we could have opened up in a better way,” said Schneider, who is now tied for second in UAlbany women's soccer history with nine assists after earning one tonight.
For Holy Cross (0-3-1), Emily George led the team with three shots, while Andj Seslija had two. The loss went to Brooke Holle, who allowed two goals in the first half. Emma Gurchiek played the second half in goal, allowing three goals and saving three shots.
Holy Cross was the early attacker, getting two shots off in the first five minutes. Jenna Scanlon went for a long range shot intended for the right post, with a jumping Brennan catching the ball.
In the 6th minute, UAlbany counterattacked with a charge down the near side. Rugar kicked to a racing Belak, who kicked a cross from near the sideline. She found Miller for the ground ball kick and score inside the right post for a 1-0 UAlbany lead.
Minutes later, UAlbany pushed again, led by Fitzpatrick on a run outside the box in the middle. She looked to pass to Schneider just inside the goal box in the near corner. Schneider beat the keeper to the ball, turned and kicked inside the right post past two defenders for the goal to make it 2-0 UAlbany.
Holy Cross looked for a counter in the 16th minute, connecting passes to the right side of the box. The ball was kicked to Aly Spencer near the left post, who tried a quick shot and missed left.
The Crusaders continued to race to the goal on counter attacks, getting a chance in the 36th minute as Spencer found Shaw going down the middle of the field. As Brennan came closer, Shaw went for a long range shot from 25 yards, missing the post wide left. UAlbany went into the locker room up 2-0.
Into the second half, a pass from Kopp found Schneider alone outside the box on the near sideline. Schneider crossed to an open Vega for the header inside the right post for the goal to make it 3-0 UAlbany in the 49th minute.
Quickly thereafter, Rugar went after the center of the back line, tip toeing and stutter stepping around defenders. She got free and fired to the right post, being denied by a diving Gurchiek.
The next 25 minutes saw each side going back and forth, trying to set up its own position. Annie Galvin got went for a long range shot in the 60th minute, which was stopped by Brennan.
On a breakaway in the 76th minute, a pass took a strange carl off the turf, going in front of Carhart. Carhart raced to the goal, fired to the left post and scored for UAlbany's fourth goal of the night.
Holy Cross's best chance of the game came in the 85th minute as Aly Spencer went to take a corner kick. Spencer curled the ball into the box as the attempt was kicked away. Claire Malone charged in and kicked hard, seeing her shot blocked. UAlbany protected and did not allow another shot in the game.
In the closing minutes, Williams passed to Loder, who sprinted all alone down the middle to set up a one-on-one with the keeper. Loder got around the goalie and scored on the wide open net for her first collegiate goal in the 88th minute, making it 5-0 Great Danes.
In the final minute, Carhart nearly earned a second goal as UAlbany peppered at the cage. A hard kick from Carhart was hit by the goalie into the right post and away. Williams tried on the rebound but was blocked, then a second chance by Carhart again was saved by a diving keeper. But it was not needed as UAlbany walked away with the 5-0 victory.
UAlbany will return to Bob Ford Field on Friday at 7 p.m., taking on in-state opponent Marist.
