UAlbany Men's Soccer Blanks Cornell, 4-0

Ithaca, N.Y. – The University at Albany used four different goal scorers to cruise to a 4-0 win over Cornell in men’s soccer action on Wednesday night at Berman Field. With the victory, the Great Danes have already surpassed their win total from last season and matched their second-best start through six matches since joining the Division I ranks in 1999.

UAlbany (4-2) fired in its first goal in the 41st minute when freshman Bjorn Bekkers took a pass from Ian Peach and banked the ball in off the post from about 20 yards out. It was Bekkers’ first career goal and Peach’s first career assist.

The Great Danes doubled their lead when Peach took a cross from freshman Luuk Collou and finished the play from 12 yards in the 55th minute. It was Collou’s first career assist. Junior Claudio Dantas, the leading scorer in America East, headed in the third UAlbany goal in the 67th minute off a corner kick taken by senior Gaby Seguin-Gauthier. Dantas now has five goals and three assists for 13 points in just six matches.

The Great Danes got some more insurance in the 78th minute when senior Mikael McNamara one-touched a pass from L.J. Papaleo for his second career goal in as many matches. Papaleo was also credited with his first career assist on the play.

The four goals scored was the most by a UAlbany team since the program defeated St. Francis, N.Y. by a score of 4-0 back on Sept. 11, 2005. Cornell (0-5), playing its home opener tonight, was shutout for the fourth time this season.

UAlbany freshman goalkeeper Adrian Foncette made three saves and recorded his second career shutout in just his third start. Sophomore Scott Brody got the start for Cornell. He allowed three goals and made three saves in just over 71 minutes of action. Luca Cerretani relieved him for the rest of the match and allowed one goal.

The Great Danes return to action on Sunday to host cross-town rival Siena in their home opener at 3 p.m. The match will conclude a tripleheader at UAlbany’s Varsity Field after the UAlbany, Army, Sacred Heart and Siena women’s teams play second round matches of the Governor’s Cup earlier in the day.

UAlbany (4-2) 1 3 - 4
Cornell (0-5) 0 0 - 0

UAlbany: Scoring – Ian Peach (1-1), Bjorn Bekkers (1-0), Mikael McNamara (1-0), Claudio Dantas (1-0), Luuk Collou (0-1) Gaby Seguin-Gauthier (0-1), L.J. Papaleo (0-1). Goalkeeping: Adrian Foncette (90:00, 0 GA, 3 saves).

Cornell: Scoring – None. Goalkeeping – Scott Brody (71:24, 3 GA, 3 saves), Luca Cerretani (18:36, 1 GA, 0 saves).

UAlbany 4, Cornell 0 (Sep 17, 2008)