MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Vermont (9-4, 2-1) returns to conference play and heads to reigning America East champion UAlbany (4-8, 0-3) on Friday (Oct. 12). The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Free live video will be available at AmericaEast.TV.
 
RELATED LINKS
Video | Live Stats
 
REVISITING LAST YEAR'S AMERICA EAST SEMIFINAL
Friday night's primetime contest is a rematch of last year's conference semifinal at Virtue Field. Fourth-seeded Albany scored late in the first half with a goal from Nico Solabarrieta and stole a 1-0 win from top-seeded Vermont. The Great Danes went on to upset No. 2 seed UMass Lowell in the title game and later advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
NATIONAL STATS LEADERS
The Cats are one of the top scoring teams in the country. UVM has launched 17.54 shots per game, the sixth-highest average in Division I, which has resulted in the 14th-most goals (26). The Green and Gold have charted the 22nd-most points (73) and cracked the top-25 in save percentage at .810. Geo Alves owns the third-highest shots per game average (4.92) and has netted the sixth-most game-winning goals (4). In net, Clay Thomas has posted the eighth-best save percentage (.844).
 
10-WIN SEASON
Vermont will try to claim its 10th win of the season as it would mark the fourth consecutive year with at least 10 victories. UVM produced six straight seasons with double-digit wins from 1986-91, which included two conference championships (1989, 1990) and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (1989, 1990).
 
SCOUTING UALBANY
The Great Danes have tallied 55 points this season for the second-highest scoring offense in the league behind Vermont. UAlbany also trails UVM in second with 18 goals and 19 assists. Last time out, the Great Danes beat American 6-2 and set an America East single-game high for this season in points, goals, and assists. Solabarrieta shares the conference lead with Alves in points (18) and goals (8). He matched a career-high with four goals in the victory at American. UAlbany also has the top setup man in America East as Daniel Krutzen stands atop his competitors with seven assists. Goalie Danny Vitiello sits third in the league with 41 saves and has recorded a 1.52 goals-against average.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts will try to move within a game of tying the all-time series as the Great Danes hold a slight 10-12-3 advantage. The two programs have met in the America East Tournament in each of the last four seasons and five out of the last six overall. UVM will try to end a five-game skid against its conference rival.
 
Able Paint Glass and Flooring is the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Vermont men's soccer season