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Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore midfielder Chrissy Klepper scored her first career goal and freshman goalkeeper Breanna Maggio registered her third shutout of the season to lead the UAlbany women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Colgate on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Varsity Field. The Great Danes, who have not surrendered a goal in five straight halves, closed out non-conference play by registering their fourth shutout victory of the season.
UAlbany (5-5) used its speed in the middle and up front to dominate the first half against a bigger and taller Colgate squad. Maggie DeVerna and Chelsea DeVerna each had open looks that went just high of the goal in the early going for the Great Danes, which had a commanding 11-5 advantage in total shots over the first 45 minutes of action.
After failing to capitalize on its initial opportunities, UAlbany got on the scoreboard in the 13th minute when a defender lobbed the ball into the box for Maggie DeVerna to finish. Raider goalkeeper Ashley Walsh came out of the net to intercept the cross, but she collided with the forward, and the ball fell to open space. Klepper, who was named the team's player of the game, got to the ball first and shot it to the back of the empty net to give UAlbany a 1-0 lead.
Maggie DeVerna had a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 21st minute when she took a pass down the left sideline from Kendra Harrell-Vigil and went in all alone on Walsh. However, the goalkeeper came charging out and made the point-blank save to keep it a one-goal match.
Colgate (2-5-2), which has won 10 Patriot League titles in its storied history, threatened to tie the match up before recess several times, but UAlbany's young defense consisting of Katie Grant, Casey Marks, Katie Norwood, Jaclyn Rosada and Harrell-Vigil either blocked the shots or stole the ball away from inside the box. Most of the shots on Maggio in the opening stanza came from outside of 25 yards.
UAlbany, which has already matched its highest win total in the program's Division I era, kept the pressure on early and often at the start of the second half while clinging to a one-goal advantage. However, the squad could not extend its lead with many of their shots sailing either high or wide. After failing to penetrate the defense for most of the match, Colgate turned it on for the latter part of the closing frame. The Raiders created better opportunities to score, but everything was cleared away by the defense or saved by Maggio.
Colgate earned one of its three corner kicks in the closing minutes with one last chance to net the equalizer. However, the ball was cleared up the field and away from trouble. The visitors made one last push in the final 20 seconds, but UAlbany's defense once again came through by forcing a Raider forward to kick the ball out of bounds. Grant took her time to throw the ball in from the left sideline in the final seconds, and the Great Danes survived to post their second straight one-goal win.
UAlbany's Maggio made six saves on 15 opportunities to post her third shutout this season, a mark which has been unmatched by any other Great Dane goalkeeper on the NCAA's highest stage. Colgate's Walsh made four stops on 24 chances and was credited with the loss. She was relieved by Rebecca Michlin late in the second half, who did not face any shots.
The Great Danes return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. when they travel to Vermont for their America East Conference opener.
Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information
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