By Christian Hince | September 4, 2023
On Friday, the University at Albany soccer team knocked off Niagara University for a second straight shutout victory, moving to 2-1. The visiting Purple Eagles fell to 0-2-1 with the loss.
Great Dane forward Mamadi Jiana and Niagara’s Landon Hungerford fight for the ball.
Photo Credit: Brent Warzocha/UAlbany Athletics
The Great Danes got on the offensive as early as the first two minutes, with defender Santiago Frias driving the ball near the goal before a Niagara foul left forward Mohamed Soumah on the ground for a few moments. With a free kick opportunity awarded to UAlbany’s Mamadi Jiana, the forward scored to put the team up 1-0 at the 1:37 mark.
While Niagara was often under siege across the evening, the Purple Eagles had chances to score in the opening half. The first came in the 25th minute, when forward Asher Barnes passed the ball ahead to midfielder Cameron Roach who sailed it over the middle of the goal. Just two minutes later, quick ball movement up the field from Niagara gave forward Felix Kogler a guarded opportunity which flew over the right side of the goal into the scoreboard.
UAlbany’s offensive dominance continued otherwise. In the 36th minute, a right-side shot attempt from midfielder Timo Jansen connected with the head of forward Ander Castillo, who knocked it in to put the Great Danes up 2-0.
Albeit the final score, UAlbany’s performance was heavily one-sided. Along with them outshooting Niagara 14-2, who didn’t get a single on-goal attempt all second half, the Great Danes controlled possession with ease, finishing with a mark of 69% on the night.
Missed opportunities kept UAlbany from making the score much more lopsided. Chances like these included a 42nd minute shot from Castillo at point-blank which deflected off Niagara goalie Jamie Barry, and defender Lovro Horvat’s 50th minute attempt which bounced off the left post.
“Our guys kept the pressure on the majority of the game and we were unlucky not to score more goals,” UAlbany head coach Trevor Gorman said. “There's always still plenty to work on.”
On Monday UAlbany hits the road to face Syracuse, the number one team in the country.