Wildcats Edged Out by Great Danes, 1-0 in America East Quarters

Thursday, October 25

Albany, NY

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

7-9-2, 3-4-1AE

University at Albany

12-6-2, 5-2-1AE

New Hampshire

Albany (NY)

Mia Neas, who made nine saves in the quarterfinals against Albany. (Photo by Matthew Troisi)

Photo by: Matthew Troisi

Wildcats Edged Out by Great Danes, 1-0 in America East Quarters

10/25/2018 9:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

UNH can’t overcome early Albany goal despite strong second half.

ALBANY, N.Y. – Graduate student Mia Neas (Old Saybrook, Conn.) made nine saves to keep the Wildcats' playoff hopes alive, but an early Albany goal was the deciding factor as the University of New Hampshire women's soccer team fell at Albany on Thursday evening by a score of 1-0.

Albany's goal was scored within the first 10 minutes, giving UNH plenty of time to respond with several scoring opportunities of their own. Despite the pressure in the second half, Albany's defense held on just enough to preserve the shut out and end the Wildcats' season. The Great Danes move on to face co-regular season champions Hartford on Sunday.

GAME INFORMATION:
Date: October 25, 2018 – 7 P.M.
Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium – Albany, N.Y.
Attendance: 311
Score: Albany 1 (12-6-2) New Hampshire 0 (7-9-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Great Danes struck first in just the seventh minute, on a drive down the right side of the field by Mariah Williams, who shot across the box to the upper left corner and put the ball just out of reach of Mia Neas.
Several UNH counter-attacks would follow that goal, a majority started off the feet of Liz Lane (Porter, Maine) who dribbled through the defense in the 12^th minute and tried to squeeze the ball between a charging Andrea Leitner and an aiding defender, but Leitner was able to get a foot on it to prevent it from going through.
The Wildcats got a pair of corner kicks in the 32^nd minute; the first was corralled by Lane, who spun in the box and tried to charge the net but her attack was cleared over the endline by an Albany defender.
The ensuing corner kick was placed perfectly for a UNH header, butLeitner punched the ball away before a Wildcat striker could make contact.
The Great Danes took that clear and immediately drove down the field to set up another scoring chance; after a series of passes, Albany fired from the top of the 18, but the hard shot was knocked away high by Neas, and the ensuing Albany corner sailed through the box and out for a goal kick.
New Hampshire set the tone early in the second half, attacking early and often, starting with a header off a corner by Maddie Murdick (Burlington, Conn.) in the 48^th, but it went just high.
On a counter-attack by Albany, the Great Dane tired a similar shot on Neas but she made the diving save to keep the 'Cats alive.
The Wildcats got what seemed to be a clear-cut opportunity in the 59^th minute as the Albany defense mis-read a pass that went through to Lane, but her initial shot was saved once again by a charging Leitner, and the rebounded shot was blocked and cleared.
With the UNH back line pressure, Albany was able to get some passes through to challenge Neas; she saved all six shots on goal in the second half, several in spectacular fashion, trying to keep the 'Cats alive.
With time winding down, Albany prevented the UNH offense from getting much past midfield, clearing balls back into UNH territory and out of bounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Albany was called for offsides three times in the contest.
A foul-heavy game, the Great Danes were whistled for 13, the Wildcats for seven.
UNH had six corner opportunities to Albany's three.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

The Wildcats are 0-3 when facing Albany in the post-season.
New Hampshire was looking to win its third game of the season where they allowed the first goal; their record in that situation is now 2-9-0.
Mia Neas' nine saves were the second-highest she's made in a game this season. She made another nine saves against Princeton and a career-high 10 against Dartmouth this season.
- Nine saves is the most saves on the road Neas has made this season. Her previous highest was eight, also at Albany.
Neas finishes her career with a record of 18-15-3 (.541 win%) and 1.15 goals-against average. Her GAA is second best behind UNH's all-time leader, Mimi Borkan (1.06), and her win percentage is second best behind UNH leader Molly Kirchner (1990-1993, 32-25-3, .558). *