UAlbany Battles Maine to a Stalemate in Late Season Conference Match

Orono, ME-- The University at Albany women’s soccer team played the University of Maine to a 3-3 draw on Thursday, Oct. 18 in an America East Conference battle. The Great Danes erased a 2-0 Maine lead at the half when their offense came to life for three goals within a two-minute span. However, the Black Bears scored a third goal of their own in the same time frame, leading to the eventual stalemate decision.

UAlbany (5-10-2, 2-4-1 AE) came into the match just one game behind Maine (7-6-3, 3-3-2 AE) in the conference standings. The tie puts the Great Danes in position to clinch a playoff berth with a UMBC tie/loss tonight or a win/tie against the Retrievers in their final regular season match this Sunday.

 

Maine opened up the match with a quick goal in the fifth minute by Nikki Misener. The junior midfielder then assisted on a second Black Bears goal in the 33^rd minute. Maine defender Joanie L’Abbe sent a corner kick to Misener who then set up freshman forward Charlene Achille on her third goal of the season.

The Great Danes fought back to erase the lead out of the locker room.  Four goals were scored, including three by UAlbany, in an exhilarating two-minute time frame. 

 

First, in the 53^rd minute, senior back Casey Marks recorded her first goal of the season off a corner kick from freshman midfielder Krista Fitzpatrick. Then, less than a minute later, senior forward Shayla Bergeron scored unassisted for her team-leading eighth goal of 2012.

 

Both teams would contine the scoring frenzy to put the game at 3-3. Just shy of the 55^th minute mark, Maine freshman Alex Abrahams scored off an assist from teammate Eve L’Abbe. 11 seconds later, the Great Danes once again evened the score. It was an assist from Bergeron to senior Chelsea Deverna, giving Bergeron 22 total points on the season.  

 

Despite outshooting the Black Bears 21-11, including 6-2 in overtime, UAlbany could not push the ball past the goalkeeper again. The two teams were scoreless through the rest of regulation and two 10-minute overtime pers.

 

Maine won the cornerkick battle 6-5 while UAlbany had only four fouls compared to Maine’s eight. Great Dane goalkeeper Alana Brennan recorded three saves. Maine goalie Meagan Price-Leibenzeder saved eight shots. 

UAlbany will play its final regular season game against UMBC at the Turf at College Park on Sunday. Game time is slated for noon. The Great Danes will be honoring eight seniors before the start of the contest.