By: Akin Taylor | October 14, 2021
The University at Albany Great Danes traveled to Alumni Stadium to play against conference rivals the Hartford Hawks. The Great Danes’ stifling defense held the Hawks to a single-digit shots output for the 1-0 overtime win. It is a bounce-back win for the Danes, improving to a 7-4 record after losing earlier this week to Dartmouth.
The game got off to a slow start until the 18th minute when Austin DaSilva broke through the Hartford defense on a breakaway set up by a through ball and proceeded to cut right and around the Hartford Rotem Fadida. DaSilva's touch pushed the ball just a bit too far, and his shot on the open net went high over the goal from such a shallow angle.
UAlbany Mid-Fielder Pantelis Panteli ripped a shot off a free-kick on target in the 30th minute. Hartford Goalkeeper Rotem Fadida dived to his left and punched the ball over the crossbar to save a potential goal, leading to a UAlbany corner kick. The Hawks would answer back with a corner kick of their own in the 38th minute, but it would be off-target.
The Danes' incredible defense held Hartford without a shot in the first half. Hartford managed three shots during regulation, but they did not record a shot on target all night.
Despite UAlbany outshooting Hartford 15-3 in regulation, neither team broke through with much action in 90 minutes, and the Great Danes entered their third overtime session of the season.
A very pleased University of Albany Coach Trevor Gorman spoke of the team’s excellent performance. "[I’m] very pleased to get three points on the road tonight. Our performance was positive and purposeful,” said Gorman. “The guys generated a lot of chances and played together throughout. The conference games are coming thick and fast now, so we have to recover for Wednesday.”
Next up for the Great Danes, they will face UMass Lowell on Wednesday. They look to win their second straight and their eighth overall game.