Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
STONY BROOK, N.Y. — UVM men’s soccer senior Adrian Gahabka netted his first career game-winning goal and helped the Catamounts claim a 1-0 shutout at Stony Brook in the America East opener on Saturday night. The Green and Gold improve to 5-3 overall and begin the league slate at 1-0.
COACH’S QUOTE
“In America East play, earning three points on the road can be a tall order,” head coach Rob Dow said. “Tonight was our best defensive performance as a team and we couldn’t have pulled it off without our young guys stepping up.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 14th minute, Alex Nagy tried to give the Catamounts an early lead with a free kick but the sophomore lined a shot directly at Stony Brook goalie Edmund Kaiser (2 saves) from 20 yards out.
The German duo of Rasmus Tobinski and Gahabka broke the scoreless tie in the 20th minute. Tobinski sent a through ball for Gahabka who dribbled into the box and fired a shot on frame. Kaiser deflected the shot with his gloves but the ball bounced out of his reach and rolled over the goal line.
The Seawolves came close to finding the equalizer just past the midway point of the first half. Stephen Turnbull worked the goal line and bent a shot towards the far post but the attempt flew wide left.
UVM’s defensive unit came through with three big saves in the second half to preserve the win. In the 68th minute, goalie Nate Silveira made a diving stop off a free kick from 20 yards out. Six minutes later, the back line cleared away a dangerous ball in front of the net after some pinball action. Silveira denied the biggest shot of the night in the 88th minute. SBU’s Jack Valderrabano toed a ball at point-blank range but Silveira leaped at the last second and knocked the ball away.
GAME NOTES
Silveira made three saves and picked up his second career clean sheet.
Gahabka’s decisive score was the second goal of his collegiate career. Prior to Saturday night, the senior defender found the back of the net in the season opener at Loyola Chicago.
After Tobinski has held scoreless at Loyola Chicago, the reigning America East Offensive Player of the Week has registered at least one point in the last seven matches (6 goals, 2 assists).
UVM extended its unbeaten streak against Stony Brook to eight games (7-0-1) dating back to 2012. The Cats also move to 12-5-2 in the all-time series against their conference rival.
With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Make-A-Wish Vermont; bringing this year’s total to 62 wins and $6,400.
WHO’S NEXT
Vermont will face UAlbany in the conference home opener next Saturday (Oct. 5) as a part of Alumni Weekend. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office on gameday. Fans can catch all of the action in HD at CatamounTV.com.
MEN’S SOCCER ALUMNI GAME & 1989 TEAM CELEBRATION – SATURDAY, OCT. 5
Vermont men’s soccer alumni are invited back to Centennial and Virtue Fields during Alumni Weekend! The full schedule for the events specific to the men’s soccer alumni is below and alumni are asked to pre-register at go.uvm.edu/msocalum. Any questions can be directed to our Victory Club office at Victory.Club@uvm.edu or 802-656-0956.
10 a.m. at Centennial Field – Alumni Game, Coffee & Bagels
2 p.m. at Virtue Field – Vermont vs. UAlbany
5-7 p.m.at Halvorson’s Upstreet Café – Vermont Soccer Celebration & Recognition of the 1989 Team
Able Paint Glass and Flooring is the presenting sponsor of the 2019 Vermont men’s soccer season