In a rematch of a 2015 NCAA tournament first-round game, the University at Albany came out on top again as the Great Danes defeated Cornell 12-8 Saturday afternoon at John Fallon Field.
Despite a four-goal performance from Cornell freshman Colton Rupp, the Big Red (1-2) could not keep up with the Great Danes’ high-powered offense.
Connor Fields led the Great Danes with four goals and added two assists, which complemented a standout game by UAlbany goalie Blaze Riorden.
“For him to have four goals today does a good deal for his confidence moving forward,” Great Danes head coach Scott Marr said about his attackman, who only had one goal going into the game.
UAlbany beat Cornell 19-10 in last season’s first round of the NCAA tournament.
Fields and fellow attackman Justin Reh connected with each other multiple times. On one goal, Reh made a behind-the-back pass from behind the cage to a cutting Fields, who buried a low shot from the crease past Cornell goalie Brennan Donville at 11:26 in the second quarter.
“Our offense is clicking just as well as it did last year,” Reh said about the success of the offense. “We have six guys that can go to the net and score.”
Cornell never had a lead, but kept the game within striking distance throughout. Down five halfway through the third quarter, Ryan Matthews ripped a shot from the right wing past Riorden for his second goal of the day, sparking a three-goal rally and momentum swing.
That only lasted briefly.
With 2:11 to go in the third, Adam Osika dodged to the goal and got off a shot that hit the inside pipe and bounced back out before Donville clamped on it.
There was uncertainty whether the ball crossed the goal line, but the referee from the far wing came running in and ruled it a goal.
“It’s a tough to tell from the sideline and the ref was right on top of it, so I have to imagine it went in,” Cornell head coach Matt Kerwick said. “It looked like it hit the pipe to me, but he was right there.”
Kerwick did not blame the play for the change in momentum: “You can’t worry about that. You got to keep playing.”
Going into the fourth, Big Red came out hot, and would record 13 shots on goal for the quarter. The problem: For the second time in two games, Riorden allowed only one fourth-quarter goal. Riorden finished the game with 18 saves, three short of his career high.
“I took it upon myself to step up this week and get back to the basics,” Riorden said. “Those 18 saves were not just me; it was a group effort.”
Big Red outshot the 2-1 Great Danes 45-35.
“We left some chances out there on the field today,” Rupp said. “You got to give the goalie credit — he played really well — but we would definitely love to can some more of those.”
Cornell 1 3 3 1 — 8
UAlbany 2 5 3 1 — 12
Cornell scoring: Rupp 4-0, Matthews 2-0, Dowiak 1-1, Edmonds 1-0, Flynn 0-1. UAlbany scoring: Fields 4-2, Oakes 3-1, Reh 2-2, Osika 1-0, Lasada 1-0-, Burgmaster 1-0, Maloney 0-2, Eccles 0-1.
Goalies: Cornell, Brennan Donville 9 saves. UAlbany, Blaze Riorden 18 saves.
St. John’s 10, Siena 9
NEW YORK — Brian Gaffney’s goal with 1.9 seconds in regulation lifted the Red Storm past the Saints.
Siena 1 5 3 0 — 9
St. John’s 6 1 1 2 — 10
Siena scoring: Jordan Barlow 2-0,
Brian Prunty 1-2, Chris Robertson
1-2, Mike Reilly 1-0, Joe Arcarese 1-0, Kevin Cousin 1-0, Dan McAvoy 1-0. St. John’s scoring: Jason DeBenedictis
4-2, James Bonanno 2-1, Nick Heller 2-0, Brian Gaffney 1-0, Thomas Stackpole 1-0, Eric DeJohn 0-2; Chris Hughes 0-1, Thomas Marron 0-1.
Goalies: Siena, Tommy Cordts, 15 saves. St. John’s, Joseph Danaher, 8 saves; Michael O’Keeffe, 7 saves.
Women
Siena 13, Colgate 12
LOUDONVILLE — Lynnzee Miller and Cara McQuillan scored three goals each to lift the Saints past the Raiders.
Colgate 9 3 — 12
Siena 5 8 — 13
Colgate scoring: Taylor Fischer
3-0, Lauren Gorajek 3-0, Emily Peebles 2-0, Haley O’Hanlon 1-1, Kallan Murray 1-0, Sarah Bowles 1-0, Kristen Norden 1-0, Isabel Kreitler 0-2. Siena scoring: Lynnzee Miller 3-0, Cara McQuillan 3-0, Lauren Anglim 2-0. Ashley Ruchalski 2-0, Sarah Croutier 1-2,
Michelle Schwartz 1-2, Lauren Smith 1-1, Briana Sirianni 0-2, Andi Elwell 0-1.
Goalies: Colgate, Asil Asfour, 7 saves. Siena, Samantha Horton, 7 saves.
Categories: -News-, -Sports-, College Sports
