ALBANY, NY--UAlbany scored a goal in each half, defeating visiting NJIT, 2-1, in America East Conference men's soccer action at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Great Danes pick up its second consecutive win, improving to 6-3 overall, 1-1 in the America East while the Highlanders move to 2-5-1 overall, 1-1 in the America East.
UAlbany opened the scoring in the eighth minute of action on a goal by Adam Aoumaich assisted by Austin DaSilva and Haflidi Sigurdarson for a 1-0 lead.
NJIT scored the equalizer in the 11th minute on a left-footed blast by Tomas Jorge. On Jorge's 30-yard blast, a Great Dane defender deflected the ball into the net, altering the change of direction of the ball but not the momentum of the shot. The goal for Jorge was his first of the season.
In the 19th minute, NJIT nearly went ahead off a set piece as Jorge served the ball into the box, finding a running Alejandro Rabell, who headed the ball, just sailing high over the crossbar.
UAlbany held a 5-1 advantage in shots after the first 45 minutes with the Highlanders lone shot, coming off the left-foot of Jorge in the 11th minute.
In the 51st minute, graduate student Regsan Watkins carried the ball from the middle of the field to the left side, striking the ball with his left-foot in-between three Great Dane defenders but UAlbany's keeper Carolos Tofern stopped the Highlander shot.
The Great Danes regained the lead, 2-1, in the 67th minute on a goal by Andrew Weiner assisted by Neophytos Scottis. Scottis lifted the ball over the Highlander defense, finding Weiner, who settled the ball, beating the Highlander keeper who came out to clear the ball, scoring into an open net.
A header by the NCAA Division I active career goals (45) and points (98) leader Rene White sailed high in the 82nd minute off a corner kick served into the box by Jorge.
The Great Danes finished with an 8-7 overall shot advantage. NJIT's Jorge combined for three shots for the Highlanders while four different players recorded one shot -- White, Rabell, Watkins and Goncalo Franco.
NJIT will return to action when the Highlanders visit defending America East Champions New Hampshire on October 1, who are currently 8-0 on the season and ranked No. 9 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. Kickoff is slated for 7pm.
