Men’s Soccer Falls to NJIT 1-0 on Senior Night

Score: NJIT 1, UAlbany 0
 
Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
 
Records: UAlbany (5-11-1, 1-5-1) | NJIT (6-7-4, 3-2-2)
 
Short Story: UAlbany closes the 2023 season with a tough 1-0 defeat against NJIT on Senior Night.
 
Key Stats

• UAlbany recorded seven corner kicks to NJIT’s two
• NJIT outshot UAlbany 11-10, including 8-6 in the second half
• UAlbany controlled 56% of total possession
• UAlbany placed six of their 10 total shots on goal 

Head Coach Trevor Gorman: “Disappointing to see our season end that way.  We wanted to give the seniors a good sendoff for all they’ve done in their time here.  While we fell short of our goals, the spirit and attitude has always been positive.  Our focus and attention turn towards the future and to building out way back step-by-step.”
 
How it Happened

• The University at Albany men’s soccer team hosted its 2023 finale Tuesday night against budding rival NJIT.  Before the game, UAlbany honored the six members of its 2023 senior class, Alejandro Giner, Miltiadis Hadjipanayiotou, George Pitsillides, Alex Pechacek, Jeff Thielmann, and Piet Wesling in a brief ceremony.
• In the ninth minute, Alex Pechacek ripped a shot from the top left corner of the NJIT box.  A Highlander defender deflected the shot, but goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys still had to make a play on the ball to prevent a goal.  Reisgys dived and punched the ball out for a UAlbany corner kick.
• UAlbany narrowly outshot NJIT 4-3 in the first half, but drew four corner kicks to the Highlanders’ zero.  Three of the combined seven shots were on target.  UAlbany controlled 57% of possession in the first 45 minutes.
• In the 58th minute, off a corner kick, Santiago Frias redirected the serve with his head downwards.  The header caught Reisgys slightly out of position, but bounced just over the crossbar for an NJIT goal kick.
• UAlbany goalkeeper Daniel Shannon, in the 60th minute, intercepted a draw attempt by NJIT after the Highlanders had pushed deep into UAlbany territory.  The Great Danes’ defense collected and cleared the ball to end the threat.
• After drawing a foul in the UAlbany box, NJIT was awarded a penalty kick in the 79th minute.  Sergio Martinez Cubel stepped up to take the attempt and beat Shannon to the back left corner…