Albany Edges Yale 2-0

by Tim Bennett

September 3, 2012

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale men’s soccer team did a good job creating opportunities in Sunday’s game with Albany. The Bulldogs, though, just weren’t able to finish them. The result was a 2-0 loss to the Great Danes on a warm afternoon at Reese Stadium.

Yale outshot Albany 17-15 and had a big edge in possession time.

“In the first half, I thought we were pretty good,” said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins. “We were dangerous and created a lot of chances. We need to be more clinical with our goal scoring opportunities.”

Albany (2-1) didn’t have many opportunities but made them count. Brandon Wilson scored late in the first half, and Anthony Rozzano sealed the win with a goal with three seconds left in the second half.

The Bulldogs (0-2) started strong and had the first five shots of the game.

Yale goalkeeper Bobby Thalman had to come up big on Albany’s first shot. Pomare Te Anau found himself along just outside the box. He fired a hard shot, but Thalman dove to his left to snare it.

Thalman made another big stop later in the half when he came well out of his net to smother a shot from Wilson, who had gotten behind the defense.

Wilson, though, earned his revenge moments later when he neatly headed in a short cross from Michael Schneider from eight yards out.

Yale’s best chance came with a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the second half. The Great Danes were whistled for a foul just outside the box near the endline. Jenner Fox quickly fed Peter Jacobson, whose shot from 10 yards went high.

“We’re not executing the way we need to,” Tompkins said. “We’re not sharp yet, but it’s still early in the season."

The Bulldogs also were missing a couple of key players – Nick Alers, Tucker Kocher and Andy Hackbarth – due to injury.

Thalman finished with five saves.

Yale is back in action on Friday, hosting Colgate at 7 p.m. at Reese Stadium.