University of Albany Uses Two Late Goals to Advance to America East Conference Men's Soccer Semifinals - UAlbany Sports 2011

Burlington, Vt. - It's an America East Conference quarterfinal match that the University at Albany men's soccer team won't forget for a long time. With four minutes remaining and third-seeded Vermont leading, 2-1, everyone at Centennial Field believed the game was over. However, back-to-back own-goals in a three minute span by Vermont defenders capped UAlbany's win over Vermont, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon. First-year head coach Trevor Gorman grabbed his first postseason win and the just the second overall for the men's soccer program.

With Vermont (9-7-1) ahead, 1-0, at the half, UAlbany looked to tie the match. In the 63rd minute co-captain David Pinto was pressuring the Catamount defense. He sent a crossing pass inside the box to teammate Brandon Wilson, who headed the ball towards the net, but was denied by Vermont goalkeeper David Ramada. Then, in the 76th minute, Pomare Te Anau and Wilson hooked up on a bang-bang play to tie the game, 1-1.

In the 86th minute, UAlbany(6-9-3) experienced déjà vu when Vermont's DJ Edler delivered the go-ahead goal with a header off a free kick, which he did to the Great Danes twice six days ago in the regular season, that looked to take the wind out of the UAlbany sails. With the Great Danes down a goal and four minutes remaining, the match seemed to be over. However, in the 87th minute, Te Anau sent a crossing pass into the box looking for one of his teammates, but found a Vermont defender to redirect it in his own goal to tie the game, 2- 2, with about three minutes remaining.

The Great Danes continued pressuring the Catamount defense, and in the 89th minute as UAlbany's Te Anau chipped a pass inside the goalkeeper box. Ramada struck it away from the net, only to have it redirected by his own defender's back to give UAlbany the eventual game-winner.

Physical play highlighted the first half with Vermont getting the first shot in net. In the 15th minute the Catamounts Joe Losier carried the ball inside the 18-yard box and made a crossing pass that eluded the first Vermont offender but found the foot of Zach Paul, whose shot hit the inner part of the cross bar to grab the early 1-0 lead.

UAlbany led in corners, 5-1, and the teams were even in shots,8-8. Vermont's Ramada recorded three saves on six chances, while UAlbany's Foncette didn't record a save and allowed two goals.

UAlbany advances to the tournament semifinals for the second time in program history, visiting Stony Brook on Wednesday at 7 p.m.