Balanced Offensive Attack Propels UAlbany Men's Soccer Past Marist, 5-1

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Eleven different players recorded a goal or an assist to lead the University at Albany men’s soccer team to a decisive 5-1 win over Marist College on Sunday, Sept. 28. The five goals scored was the most by a UAlbany team since the program defeated the Red Foxes by a score of 7-1 back on Sept. 1, 2002. Head coach Johan Aarnio’s squad will enter America East Conference play having already doubled last year’s win total. The team is also off to its best start through eight matches since beginning the 2004 season with an overall ledger of 6-1-1.

UAlbany (6-2), which averages a league-best 2.50 goals per game, tallied two in the first half of action. Senior co-captain Erik DiLorenzo put the Great Danes on the scoreboard when he took a pass from freshman Konner McNamara and scored his first goal of the season on a header from inside the box in the 15th minute. Freshman L.J. Papaleo doubled the Great Dane lead in the 25th minute when he netted his first career goal and game winner after receiving a pass from classmate Luuk Collou, who was credited with his third assist of the season.

Senior Don Johnson would pad the Great Dane lead early in the second half when he scored his second goal of the season in the 47th minute. Sophomores Shaun Kane and Ian Peach were credited with assists on the play.

After Troy Confessore put Marist (2-5-1) on the board in the 49th minute, the Great Danes scored two more times to put the match out of reach. Junior Claudio Dantas netted his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 64th minute after taking a pass from classmate Mike Peters, who earned his first career point on the play. The rout continued when freshman Bjorn Bekkers headed in a cross from senior Gaby Seguin-Gauthier in the 73rd minute to give the Great Danes a commanding four-goal advantage that they would hold until the very end.

UAlbany senior goalkeeper and co-captain Steward Ceus stopped six of the 16 shots taken by Marist to improve his record to 4-1 this season. He also boasts an .821 save percentage as well as a 1.00 goals against average to date. Marist’s Scott Kessler saved just two of the 15 UAlbany shots he faced in net.

The Great Danes will look to extend their winning streak to four matches for the first time since 2004 when they open up America East action at Boston University on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

UAlbany (6-2) 2 3 - 5

Marist (2-5-1) 0 1 - 1

UAlbany: Scoring – Erik DiLorenzo (1-0), L.J. Papaleo (1-0), Don Johnson (1-0), Claudio Dantas (1-0), Bjorn Bekkers (1-0), Konner McNamara (0-1), Luuk Collou (0-1), Shaun Kane (0-1), Ian Peach (0-1), Mike Peters (0-1), Gaby Seguin-Gauthier (0-1). Goalkeeping – Steward Ceus (90:00, 1 GA, 6 saves).

Marist: Scoring – Troy Confessore (1-0), Lucas Szabo (0-1). Goalkeeping – Scott Kessler (90:00, 5 GA, 2 saves).