Orono, Maine ?  Senior goalkeeper Steward Ceus recorded his 18th career shutout and junior forward Claudio Dantas factored in to a pair of goals to help lead the University at Albany men's soccer team to a 3-0 win over the University of Maine on Wednesday afternoon. With the victory, the Great Danes guaranteed themselves at least home-field advantage in the opening round of the America East Conference Tournament. In addition, the team's 12th win this afternoon matches the Division I program record set back in 2004.

            “This was a very physical match, but our guys really stepped it up,” said head coach Johan Aarnio, whose team was guaranteed a home match in the upcoming conference tournament after Vermont defeated Hartford by a 1-0 score earlier this afternoon. ”Steward was dominant in goal and put forth one of his best perfomances.”

UAlbany (12-3-1, AE 5-1-1) got on the scoreboard in the 16th minute when Bjorn Bekkers took a cross from Dantas and buried a shot into the upper right corner of the net. With his 10th helper of the year on the play, Dantas matched the all-time school record for assists in a season. Ed Campbell set the standard in 1968, and it was matched by Bryan Grabon in 2000.

            “Bjorn scored a highlight film type of goal,” said Aarnio. “He is very strong and sees the field well.”

Dantas doubled the Great Dane lead when he received a pass from Mike Peters and beat goalkeeper Nemanja Kostic to the lower left corner of the goal in the 29th minute. He also matched Nick Southworth's Division I program record for goals in a season with his ninth on the play.

In the second half, UAlbany got an insurance goal from L.J. Papaleo off a direct kick

taken by Erik DiLorenzo in the 66th minute. Maine (4-9-2, AE 1-5-1), which gave up more than two goals for the first time this season, outshot the UAlbany by a 19-12 clip and had its chances to avoid the shutout. However, UAlbany goalkeeper Steward Ceus along with the defensive line led by starters Milos Jankovic, Konner McNamara, Hilco Beeks and DiLorenzo would not let anything through.

UAlbany's Ceus matched his career high with nine saves on 19 chances. He also broke two school Division I program records for career shutouts (18) and saves (320). Buona Coundol (17 shutouts) and Trevor Serraro (312 saves) held the previous marks. Maine's Kostic was credited with four saves on 12 opportunities in the losing effort.

The Great Danes can lock up the top seed in the America East Conference Tournament for the first time ever if they can win their final match of the regular season at home versus Vermont on Sunday at 1 p.m. Seniors Gaby Seguin-Gauthier, Don Johnson, Mikael McNamara, DiLorenzo and Ceus Five will be recognized for their contributions to the program prior to the match.

-agate-

UAlbany (12-3-1, AE 5-1-1)         2          1          -           3

Maine (4-9-2, AE 1-5-1)              0          0          -           0

UAlbany: Scoring ? Claudio Dantas (1-1), Bjorn Bekkers (1-0), L.J. Papaleo (1-0), Mike Peters (0-1), Erik DiLorenzo (0-1). Goalkeeping ? Steward Ceus (90:00, 0 GA, 9 saves).

Maine: Scoring ? None. Goalkeeping ? Nemanja Kostic (90:00, 3 GA, 4 saves).

UAlbany 3, Maine 0 (Oct 29, 2008)