Great Danes Rally Late for Dramatic Draw with Stony Brook

Down two goals with 10 minutes left, UAlbany refused to fold.

The Great Danes stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to grab a 2-2 draw against Stony Brook on Wednesday afternoon at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium, salvaging a point from a game they dominated for long stretches.

UAlbany moves to 2-4-1 on the season, while Stony Brook leaves Albany at 3-0-4, still unbeaten but pushed to the brink.

UAlbany Piles on Pressure, But No Breakthrough

From the opening whistle, UAlbany set the tone.

In the 5th minute, Sydney Kofton fired the first warning shot of the day, the start of a relentless personal and team onslaught. The Great Danes drove the ball into dangerous areas, but Stony Brook held firm and waited for their moments.

Goalkeeper Claudia Volino was first called into action in the 24th minute, turning away a Stony Brook effort. A minute later, the visitors nearly silenced the home crowd when Maya Corbett rattled the post, her shot bouncing out to spare UAlbany.

The close call didn’t slow the Great Danes. They unleashed six more shots before halftime, but the final touch kept eluding them. The break arrived with the scoreboard stubbornly stuck at 0-0, despite UAlbany’s mounting pressure.

Seawolves Strike Twice After the Break

The second half flipped on its head.

After withstanding UAlbany’s early surge, Stony Brook struck first in the 56th minute, finally breaking the deadlock and seizing a 1-0 lead. The goal shifted the energy inside Casey Stadium. UAlbany still had the ball, still pushed forward, but now chased the game.

When the Seawolves doubled their advantage in the 71st minute to make it 2-0, the situation turned bleak for the hosts. Stony Brook, clinical in front of goal, looked ready to ride out the final 20 minutes and escape with a statement road win.

UAlbany had other plans.

Blannett and Levac Ignite the Comeback

The response came late, but it came with force.

In the 80th minute, Meredith Blannett finally broke through, slotting home her first goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1 and jolt life back into the Great Danes. The goal capped an industrious performance from Blannett, who finished with six shots as she kept probing for an opening.

The momentum swung hard. Stony Brook, so composed earlier, suddenly found themselves under siege.

Seven minutes later, the comeback was complete. Kiara Levac found the equalizer in the 87th minute, leveling the match at 2-2 and sending UAlbany’s bench into celebration. Levac added four shots to her name on the afternoon, but that one was the one that mattered.

Kofton, the constant engine of UAlbany’s attack, ended the match with a staggering 11 shots, including eight headers and five on target. Her aerial presence and persistence helped tilt the field, and the stats told the story: UAlbany outshot Stony Brook 30-16, and put 11 attempts on frame to the Seawolves’ four.

Final Push Falls Short, But Statement Made

Even at 2-2, UAlbany kept chasing all three points.

In the dying seconds, the Great Danes earned a corner and flooded the box, searching for one last decisive touch. The delivery came in, bodies crashed together, but the ball never crossed the line. The whistle followed, sealing the 2-2 draw.

It wasn’t the win UAlbany’s shot count suggested. It was something else: proof of resilience, and a reminder that this team can punch back when the odds stack up.

Next up, the Great Danes head to Orono, Maine, for a Sunday clash with the Black Bears at Alumni Field, kickoff set for 12:00 p.m. If they bring the same volume of chances — and that late-game edge — what kind of statement will they make on the road?