FINAL: No. 4 Albany 1, No. 1 Vermont 0
BURLINGTON, Vt. – No. 4 seed Albany scored the only goal of the evening late in the first half to steal a 1-0 victory away from top-seeded Vermont in the America East Semifinal on Wednesday night at Virtue Field.
 
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The Catamounts had a solid chance in the 14th minute from Daði Bærings Halldórsson. Ívar Örn Árnason lofted a throw-in near the box where Albany's defense cleared the pass away. After gathering the loose ball, Halldórsson put too much behind a shot as the ball sailed high over the crossbar.
 
The Great Danes broke through with the only goal of the match in the 32nd minute. From midfield, Nico Solabarrieta toed a low through ball to a sprinting Daniel Krutzen near the box. Krutzen tracked down the feed on the edge of the box and fired a low shot past an outstretched Aron Runarsson (1 save) into the bottom right corner of the net.
 
UVM was on the attack about two minutes later in hopes of tying the game before halftime. Geo Alves' corner kick hooked in front of the net but the kick was cleared away by the Great Danes' backline. Dani Rovira came charging in from the top of the box and threaded the needle with a line drive, but Albany keeper Danny Vitiello (5 saves) made the save.
 
Less than five minutes into the second half, Alves eyed the equalizer on a free kick. The junior launched a shot from the right side of the field, but his attempt was snared out of midair by Vitiello.
 
In the 83rd minute, Albany came within inches of adding an insurance goal. Daniel Krutzen booted a ball from 10 yards out that bounced off the near post.
 
Albany advances to play second-seeded UMass Lowell in the America East Championship Game on Sunday (Nov. 12).
 
Vermont finishes the season with a 10-8-1 overall record. Wednesday marked the final game for the Catamounts' four seniors – Arthur Bacquet, Tom Cole, Zack Evans, and Eamon Kitson.