Courtesy UAlbanySports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The best season in UAlbany women’s soccer Division I history came to close on Friday night at University Park after a 5-0 defeat to Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“The 2015 season was incredible. Not only did we win the America East Championship, but we also made program history,” said UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella. “This team will always be remembered as the group that won the program’s first championship, and the seniors got to leave behind their legacy. I feel honored and grateful to have worked with such amazing young women.”
UAlbany (11-9-1) set new marks in the 2015 season with the program’s first-ever America East Championship victory, first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament, the highest-ever seeding in the America East Tournament at two and the most amount of wins, 11, in a Division I season.
UAlbany fell to Penn State (17-3-2), a 1-seed in the tournament, in a night with strong winds and occasional snow at Jeffery Field.
The Great Danes played almost even with shots in the second half, down 7-5 in that category. Penn State had an early 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. UAlbany, despite holding off the Nittany Lions for the next 35 minutes, was not able to recover.
This game saw the end of the UAlbany careers for the senior class. Celia Balf, Shelby Belak, Alana Brennan, Allison Carhart, Krista Fitzpatrick, Kelly Kempf and Kari Quinn all were involved in their final game in a UAlbany uniform.
Caitlyn Paltsios had two of UAlbany’s six shots, including one on goal. Belak had the other shot on goal in the first half. Alana Olivieri, who had helped UAlbany to five wins in a row going into the NCAAs, got the loss in goal with five saves.
Emily Ogle finished with two goals and an assist for Penn State, with Megan Schafer scoring the team’s first goal five minutes in. Britt Eckerstrom picked up the win in goal, saving two shots in the first 70:37 of play.
Going against a very harsh wind in the first half, UAlbany tried to play defense with more players on the back line. Penn State fired away with help from the elements, with UAlbany blocking a number of shots.
With five minutes elapsed, Penn State put a ball just outside the goal box. UAlbany tried to clear it, but Schafer emerged a slid into the ball, grounding the shot into the goal for a 1-0 Penn State lead.
In the 16th minute, a long range kick was sent towards the box. The wind gave the ball more speed and pushed past Olivieri inside the right post for the goal, making it 2-0 in favor of the home team.
Penn State added a third goal in the 20th minute as Ogle attacked from long range, netting the ball just inbetween the crossbar and the outstretched hands of Olivieri to make it 3-0 Nittany Lions.
In minute 29, Belak stole a pass and sprinted down the right side, weaving through defenders and getting to the back line. She shot towards the center of the box towards a scrum as Eckerstrom made the save on the ground.
The home team stayed on the attack as in the 36th minute, Frannie Crouse attempted a hard shot in the box. Olivieri dove and got a couple of fingers on the ball to tip it out of bounds. Three minutes later, Haleigh Echard tried a ground ball shot from close range, with Olivieri picking up the ball.
The UAlbany defense held for the final 25 minutes of the first period, going into halftime down 3-0.
With the wind on its side, UAlbany started to get a couple of possessions and threaten. But Penn State scored first in the half off a cross to Ogle, who put a first touch off the right post and into the net for a 4-0 Nittany Lion lead.
UAlbany got a chance after Paltsios’s turnaround shot was deflected out of bounds. Caroline Kopp and Paltsios each got corner kick chances and powered them towards the goal, with each missing too far.
Ogle nearly added a third goal off a free kick in the 67th minute. Her free kick hit the corner and went out.
UAlbany pressured a defender in its offensive third in the 70th minute and stole the ball up to the box. Carhart shot quickly with her chance being blocked. Paltsios picked up the ball, got free and tried a 20-yard shot from straight-away, with Eckerstrom making the save.
Morgan Loder and Bianca Webb each had late shots for the Great Danes, missing on goal. Charlotte Williams added a late goal in the 88th minute on a turnaround shot inside the left post for the eventual 5-0 final score in favor of Penn State.
Penn State will host the winner of Boston University-St. John’s for the NCAA Second Round next weekend.