Great Danes Rally Late for 2-2 Draw Against Stony Brook
Down two goals with ten minutes left, UAlbany refused to fold.
The Great Danes clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Stony Brook on Wednesday afternoon at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y., salvaging a point from a match they dominated for long stretches but nearly let slip away.
UAlbany moves to 2-4-1 on the season, while Stony Brook stands at 3-0-4.
UAlbany Piles on Pressure, But No Breakthrough
The tone was set early.
In the 5th minute, Sydney Kofton fired the first warning shot for UAlbany, the opening act in what became a relentless personal barrage. The Great Danes dictated much of the first half, pushing numbers forward and peppering the Stony Brook back line.
Claudia Volino was called into action in the 24th minute, making her first save to keep the game level. A minute later, the visitors came inches from snatching the lead when a strike from Maya Corbett smashed off the post and bounced out, a sharp reminder of how thin the margins can be.
UAlbany responded with volume. The Great Danes unloaded six more shots before the break, but the final touch kept eluding them. Despite the pressure, the scoreboard stayed frozen at 0-0 heading into halftime.
Seawolves Strike Twice
The deadlock didn’t survive much longer.
In the 56th minute, Stony Brook finally broke through, punishing UAlbany with the opener to make it 1-0. The goal shifted the mood, and for the first time all afternoon, the Great Danes were chasing the game instead of dictating it.
That chase grew steeper in the 71st minute. Stony Brook doubled the lead, stretching it to 2-0 and silencing the early rhythm UAlbany had built. The Seawolves, efficient rather than expansive, suddenly looked poised to walk away with all three points.
Blannett Sparks the Comeback
The response was urgent.
With time slipping away, UAlbany finally found the breakthrough their shot count demanded. In the 80th minute, Meredith Blannett buried her first goal of the season, slicing the deficit in half and igniting the comeback. At 2-1, belief rushed back into the stadium.
The Great Danes surged forward again. Seven minutes later, the equalizer arrived.
Kiara Levac stepped up in the 87th minute, finding the back of the net to level the match at 2-2. From two down to all square in the space of seven frantic minutes, UAlbany had flipped the script and put Stony Brook on the ropes.
Kofton Leads Relentless Attack
The numbers told the story of UAlbany’s attacking intent.
Kofton led the charge with 11 shots, including eight headers and five efforts on target, constantly testing the Seawolves’ defense and goalkeeper. Blannett, beyond her crucial goal, added six shots of her own, while Levac paired her late strike with four attempts.
As a team, UAlbany outshot Stony Brook 30-16, and put 11 shots on frame to the Seawolves’ four. The Great Danes spent much of the afternoon on the front foot and finished like a team determined not to let the game get away.
In the dying seconds, UAlbany earned a corner and threw bodies into the box, searching for a dramatic winner. The delivery came in, but the final touch never arrived. The whistle followed, sealing the 2-2 draw.
What’s Next
UAlbany now turns its attention to the road, heading to Orono, Maine, for a Sunday matchup with the Black Bears on September 20 at Alumni Field, with kickoff set for 12:00 p.m.
After proving they can rally late, the question is simple: can the Great Danes start turning all that pressure into wins?
