UALBANY CAPTURES AMERICA EAST VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE-GAME THRILLER

Albany, N.Y. – Ashley Hunter had a tournament-record 28 kills and Shelby Goldman added 25, as UAlbany rallied past Maine, 3-2, to win its first-ever America East Conference Volleyball Championship on Saturday, Nov. 20 at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes, who won by scores of 30-20, 28-30, 22-30, 30-20 and 15-13, became the first women’s program in school history to earn an NCAA Division I Tournament berth.

UAlbany (27-6) had to come from behind for the first time this season, trailing 2-1 after three games. Hunter, the championship’s most outstanding player, helped draw her team even with nine kills in the fourth. She nailed a pair of winners in a four-point run that snapped a 9-9 tie. Goldman, who was also on the all-tournament team, nailed four kills in sending the final to a fifth and deciding game.

Maine (17-11) took a 13-12 lead in the fifth, when Carmen Morgan, who recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 15 digs, blasted a shot off a blocker. The Great Danes responded with three consecutive points to win the title. Ashley Green spun a service ace to the right sideline to give her team the lead. Goldman then delivered the game-winning point, when she sent back Morgan’s dig that just cleared the net.

"This is just amazing for our seniors to get a conference championship," said UAlbany coach Kelly Sheffield, whose team won just four of 24 matches in 2001. "We kept our composure and stayed positive. Our ball control got better after the third game, and Hunter just got on a roll."

Maine’s Brittany Howe, a 6-foot senior, had six of her 16 kills in the third game, when her team seemed to take control of the match. All-Conference outside hitter Kaili Jordan totaled 13 kills and 10 digs for the Black Bears, who handed UAlbany its lone conference regular-season loss eight days ago.

"I really can’t explains how this feels," said America East Player of the Year Blair Buchanan, who had 62 assists and 13 digs from her UAlbany setter position. "This was our goal all year. I never thought we would lose. Hopefully, this will be a stepping stone for what we can accomplish in the future."

UAlbany’s Ashlee Reed added her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs. The Great Danes, who have won 21 of their last 22 matches, will await the NCAA pairings to be announced on Nov. 28.

WOMEN’S GOLF CAPTURES FIRST-EVER AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Hebron, Conn. - Diane Onofry fired an 88, the best round of the day, in leading UAlbany to the America East Conference Women’s Golf Championships on Tuesday, May 4 at the Anderson’s Glen Course of the Blackledge Country Club. The Great Danes finished with a 36-hole score of 723, and won by 20 strokes over second-place Boston University.

Onofry, a junior who won medalist honors, carded an 84 to take the first-day lead, and finished with a two-round score of 172 on the par-72, 5,458-yard course. UAlbany's Jill Friedman finished four strokes behind Onofry in second place with a total of 176 (86-90). Albany head coach Richard "Doc" Sauers had three golfers among the top-five finishers, as Anne Lyons was fifth with rounds of 88 and 96.

Haley Goucher was Boston U's top golfer by shooting a pair of 91s. She was one stroke better than teammate Leah Johnson, who turned in a championship score of 183 (94-89).

Lauren Bruce placed 11th with a total of 193 (91-102) and senior Diane Wasileski carded a 196 (96-100) for the Great Danes, who grabbed a 21-shot lead after the opening round. The America East Championship, the first for the women in league history, was conducted as a stroke play event with the top four of team's five golfers counting toward the team score in each round.

******

2004 America East Women’s Golf Championships

(Anderson’s Glen Course of the Blackledge Country Club - Hebron, Conn.)
Team: 1. UAlbany 349-374--723, 2. Boston U. 370-373--743, 3. Hartford 401-392--793
Individual: 1. Diane Onofry, UAlbany, 84-88-172, 2. Jill Friedman, UAlbany, 86-90-176, 3. Haley Goucher, Boston U., 91-91-182, 4. Leah Johnson, Boston U., 94-89-183, 5. Anne Lyons, UAlbany, 88-96-184, 6. Nicole Saad, Hartford, 92-95-187, T7. JoAnna Krupa, Hartford, 98-91-189, T7. Kara Vaneck, Boston U., 93-96-189, 9. Brenna Gibson, Boston U., 92-98-190, 10. Kerry Hassell, Hartford, 99-93-192, 11. Lauren Bruce, UAlbany, 91-102-193, 12. Nicole Schiffer, Boston U., 97-97-194, 13. Diane Wasileski, UAlbany, 96-100-196, 14. Julie Handler, Hartford, 112-113-225.

UALBANY DEFEATS BINGHAMTON, 10-4, TO WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Vestal, N.Y. -- Michael Solazzo and Merrick Thomson each scored three goals and goalkeeper Kevin Rae made 12 saves to lead UAlbany to its second consecutive America East Conference men's lacrosse championship with a 10-4 victory over top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday afternoon at East Gym Complex. The Great Danes earned the league's automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Albany (10-5), the tournament's No. 3 seed, jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening quarter. Brendan Russell converted a crossing pass from Chris Martocchia with one minute and 15 seconds elapsed in the contest, before Frank Resetarits connected on a bounce shot. Luke Daquino netted the first of his two goals on an underhanded low shot from the left side with 56 seconds left in the period.

Binghamton (10-6), who won the conference's regular-season crown with an undefeated league record, scored back-to-back 20 seconds apart midway through the second quarter to cut the deficit to 3-2. Rob Williams netted a man-advantage goal, before Matt DeCirce fired in a shot after teammate Chris Bernard took control of a failed clearing attempt.

The Great Danes, who dropped a 9-8 decision on their home field to Binghamton in the regular-season finale one week ago, quieted that comeback nearly one minute later. Solazzo rifled a left-handed shot into the cage on an extra-man opportunity. Daquino gave his team a 5-2 halftime advantage when he sent a high shot inside the far post following a restart with 2:35 left.

Albany's defense took charge in the second and third periods, as the Bearcats were held scoreless for more than 33 minutes. Rae, the championship MVP for the second straight year, made three key stops en route to recording double-figure saves for the 11th time this season. His team's man-down unit wiped out 5-of-6 extra-man chances.

The Great Danes would eventually push out to an 8-2 lead with 8:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. Thomson, a freshman attackman, tallied his second goal of the afternoon after faking the goalkeeper from right of the crease. Solazzo, who also had two assists, then ripped a shot from the middle of the field inside the right post. The UAlbany senior midfielder added his 24th goal of the season with 3:29 to play, as he came around from behind the cage for a 10-3 advantage.

"Defense is what wins championships, and our man-down unit did a great job today," said Albany coach Scott Marr, whose team had to win on the road for the second straight year in making the NCAA Tournament field. "It's a credit to our kids that they stayed together and were positive. We had to come from two goals down in the fourth quarter in the semifinals and then to win here in the final makes it a well-deserved championship."

Resetarits finished with one goal and two assists and Martocchia had two assists for the Great Danes, who reached the final with a 9-8 overtime win against UMBC in the semifinals last Wednesday. Binghamton's Matt McNamara scored once and assisted on another, while goalkeeper Matt McKeown, the America East player of the year, had nine saves.

"I felt like this was my last opportunity; it might be the last game I may ever play," said Solazzo, who joined Rae, Daquino and defenseman Patrick McSweeney on the America East all-tournament team. "We are not like any other team. We rely on each other and we were definitely on the same page today. Our defense was excellent and Kevin (Rae) made some big saves, so we didn't feel like we had to make plays or rush on offense."
-------------------------------------
America East Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship

#3 Albany (10-5) 3 2 1 4 - 10
#1 Binghamton (10-6) 0 2 0 2 - 4

Albany -- Scoring: Michael Solazzo 3-2, Merrick Thomson 3-0, Luke Daquino 2-0, Frank Resetarits 1-2, Brendan Russell 1-1, Chris Martocchia 0-2, Eric Wolf 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Kevin Rae (58:56, 12 saves, 3 GA), Chris Gill (1:04, 0 saves, 1 GA).

Binghamton -- Scoring: Matt McNamara 1-1, David Burpoe 1-1, Matt DeCirce 1-0, Rob Williams 1-0, Chris Bernard 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Kevin McKeown (60:00, 9 saves, 10 GA).