UAlbany Women's Soccer Beats New Hampshire, 3-1, for First America East Conference Victory

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Freshman Katie Grant scored her first career goal and assisted on another to lead the University at Albany women’s soccer team to a 3-1 victory over New Hampshire at Varsity Field on Sunday, Oct. 5. Ashley Tirabassi recorded two assists in a match for the first time in her career, which included setting up Grant’s game winner at the end of the first half.

New Hampshire (3-8-1, AE 2-1) got on the scoreboard early to take a quick 1-0 lead when Amy Avitabile took a cross from the right side and found the back of the net in the third minute. Shaunna Kaplan and Stephanie Gilkenson were credited with assists on the play.

UAlbany (3-11, AE 1-2), which entered the match 0-7 all-time against the Wildcats, responded with two straight scores to take a 2-1 advantage heading into the break. Kendra Harrell-Vigil tied up the match in the 18th minute when she took a pass from Tirabassi and let the ball sail from 20 yards away to the upper 90 of the net. Grant netted the next goal in the 42nd minute. After receiving a pass from Tirabassi, Grant went from left to right and around a New Hampshire defender before potting a shot from the center around the 18-yard line.

The Great Danes added an insurance goal in the 84th minute when Teresa Boring, facing pressure inside the box, shot the ball past goalkeeper Ally Yost. The UAlbany defense did not surrender a single shot the rest of the way and the team held on to beat the Wildcats for the first time ever.

UAlbany’s Amber Maisonet faced 10 shots and made six saves to earn her first collegiate win. Yost of UNH stopped four of the 14 shots taken by the Great Danes in the losing effort.

The Great Danes travel to Dartmouth on Tuesday for their final non-conference match of the regular season. The match is slated to begin at 6 p.m.

New Hampshire (3-8-1, AE 2-1) 1 0 - 1
UAlbany (3-11, AE 1-2) 2 1 - 3

New Hampshire: Scoring – Amy Avitabile (1-0), Shaunna Kaplan (0-1), Stephanie Gilkenson (0-1). Goalkeeping – Ally Yost (90:00, 3 GA, 4 saves).

UAlbany: Scoring – Katie Grant (1-1), Ashley Tirabassi (0-2), Kendra Harrell-Vigil (1-0), Teresa Boring (1-0). Goalkeeping: Amber Maisonet (90:00, 1 GA, 6 saves).