HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany women's soccer team captured its first America East title in program history, beating top-seeded Hartford, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Al-Marzook Field. The win came on the heels of the school's field hockey team also capturing the America East title earlier in the day.
America East Championship Most Outstanding Player, Kelly Kempf, netted the game-winner with 2:17 remaining, finishing a dramatic comeback for Albany. It was the second goal for the Great Danes in the final eight minutes of the contest after training for the previous 76 minutes.
Kempf was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammaets Caroline Kopp, Savanah Courtney and Cailtyn Paltsios. Paltsios notched the assist on the game-tying goal.
For Hartford, Caitlin Smallfield, Aaliyah Ingram and Hayley Nolan all earned All-Tournament Team selections. Ingram scored the lone goal of the match for the Hawks.
Hartford's Katie Connolly earned the Elite 18 Award for the second-straight year. The junior has a perfect 4.0 GPA in Psychology. The award, in its second year, is given to the top students competing in each America East Championship. For volleyball, the award goes to the student-athlete with the highest GPA between the two teams competing for the championship.
Hartford got on the board early as Kylie Hoang headed down a ball to Ingram who fired a shot from 25-yards out off a bounce that went just over the hand of Albany keeper Alana Olivieri in the sixth minute of play. The Hawks controlled the pace in the first half, outshooting the Great Danes, 5-3.
Albany flipped the field on the Hawks in the second half, holding a 10-1 shots advantage in the final 45 minutes.
The Great Danes were unable to get anything past Hartford keeper Jessica Jurg for much of the contest. Jurg, the 2015 Goalkeeper of the Year, made four saves in the match.
Albany finally broke through in the 82nd minute when Paltsios sent a free kick into the box that came down to Allison Carhart, who finished with a shot off a bounce into the top-side netting that tied the game at one.
That sent the stage for Kempf. The senior capitalized on miscommunication in the box, as a high ball drew Jurg out of the net. The ball was headed away, but came down to Kempf who fired a low shot from the right side of the box past Jurg, who was unable to get back to recover. The goal put Albany up, 2-1, with just over two minutes to go.
Albany became just the second No. 2 seed in America East history to win the title, joining the 2007 Boston University squad. The No. 2 seed improved to 2-10 all-time against the No. 1 seed.
The Great Danes earned their first title in program history, under the directiro of third-year head coach Caitlin Cucchiella. Albany will find out its fate in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship during the selection show on NCAA.com on Monday at 4:30 PM.
All-Tournament Team
Gabby Boehmer, UMBC
Brooke Murphy, New Hampshire
Noelle Leon-Palmer, Maine
Kate Evans, Maine
Caroline Greer, Vermont
Ally Ramos, Vermont
Caitlin Smallfield, Hartford
Aaliyah Ingram, Hartford
Hayley Nolan, Hartford
Caroline Kopp, Albany
Caitlin Paltsios, Albany
Savanah Courtney, Albany
Kelly Kempf, Albany - MOP