Tigers Blank UAlbany, 2-0

Saturday, September 20

Princeton, N.J.

6:00 PM

Princeton University

4-1-0, 0-0-0

UAlbany

2-4-1, 0-0-0

UAlbany

Princeton

Kevin Kelley vs Rutgers celebration 2025

September 20, 2025 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton men's soccer team blanked the UAlbany Great Danes, 2-0, on Saturday night in Roberts Stadium.

Daniel Ittycheria converted on a penalty kick in the 43rd minute to put the Tigers up 1-0 going into the half. In the 84th, Kevin Kelley connected with Jackson Martin to double the Tiger lead.

With the win, Princeton improves to 4-1 on the season, while UAlbany falls to 2-4-1.

"I thought UAlbany was another really tough opponent, they had us under a lot of pressure for parts of the game. I thought our back line and Andrew, again, did a really good job of not breaking. We had stretches where we put some good soccer together, but credit to Albany; they made it hard for us to find time and space to put plays together and get somewhere," said Head Coach Jim Barlow. "I didn't think we were as sharp as we have been in other games, so towards the end of the game we were hanging on to a one-goal lead, and we found a way to get through it. We know every game is going to be really difficult and really tough, and we're happy to grind out another shutout."

How It Happened
The first shot of the game came at the foot of Ittycheria in the 12th minute, which got blocked before Bardia Hormozi would send another chance just wide of the goal in the 15th as the Tigers started to heat up.

UAlbany countered with their own attack, forcing an early save from Andrew Samuels in the 17th.

The game settled into an end-to-end battle, with neither side able to generate a solid chance to score. Coming off the bench in the 28th and infusing energy into the Tiger side, Kelley went to work to create plays. He and Ittycheria would each tally a shot on goal to force saves from Kodai Tsuzuki, but they could not capitalize as the halftime break drew near.

In the 43rd minute, Garry Zhang was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick awarded to the Tigers. Stepping to the spot, Ittycheria confidently buried the ball in the bottom left of the net, putting the Tigers up 1-0 just before the break.

Coming out of the half, UAlbany upped the energy as they looked for an equalizer, but Princeton countered each attack with one of their own.

As the match continued, Princeton would register nine shots in the second-half to UAlbany's six as the Tigers looked to solidify the win and the Great Danes sought an equalizer.

With six minutes left, Kelley found space on the right corner of the attacking end, sending a cross in just in front of the goal where Jackson Martin stashed it home for his second career goal.

The 2-0 score stood as the clock ran out, and the Tigers would take the solid 2-0 victory.

Of Note