UAlbany's Leah McIntosh Named America East Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – UAlbany sophomore Leah McIntosh was named the America East Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. It is the third honor of the season for McIntosh.

McIntosh went 3-0 in three complete-game appearances last week. She led the Great Danes to wins over Kennesaw State, Siena and conference opponent Binghamton. McIntosh recorded her first career no-hitter in a 1-0 shutout win over Kennesaw State, tying a career-high with 12 strikeouts. She threw the first seven-inning, no-hit shutout by a UAlbany hurler since May 6, 2006.

McIntosh, who finished with 29 strikeouts for the week, also fanned nine batters in a 2-1 win over Siena and struck out eight in an 11-3 five-inning victory over Binghamton in the first conference game of the season.

McIntosh, a native of Whitby, Ontario, is 7-3 on the season with a 1.90 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 62.2 innings of work.

UAlbany's Best & Ladouceur Receive America East Conference Weekly Lacrosse Awards

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. -- University at Albany’s Kayla Best has been chosen America East Conference Player of the Week in women’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 31 by the conference office. Freshman Tee Ladouceur was selected America East Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.

Best had 10 goals and one assist in two victories last week. She recorded career-highs in goals (6) and points (7) as her team rallied for a 17-12 league triumph at UMBC on March 26. Best, who sealed the outcome with back-to-back free-position shots in the final six minutes, became the first Great Dane to score six goals in a game since April 22, 2005. Best also scored four times and added a career-best five ground balls in Sunday’s 16-11 non-league victory against Longwood. Best, who has 26 goals and four assists this year, extended her scoring streak to 23 consecutive games.

Ladouceur, a first-team All-American on the high school level, also combined for 10 goals and one assist in last week’s two games. She had five of her career-high six goals in the second-half rally against UMBC. She netted a pair of unassisted goals that tied the contest at 12 apiece and scored her sixth, one off the program’s single-game freshman record, for a 14-12 lead. Ladouceur, who has a team-leading 29 goals this season, scored four times versus Longwood. She posted career-highs in draw controls (5) and caused turnovers (3) in that non-league win.

UAlbany (7-3) is off to its best since 1998 when the program competed at the NCAA Division II level. The Great Danes host Syracuse, ranked No. 5 in both national polls, on April 2 at 4:00 p.m.

University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Wins 16-11 in Non-League Contest Against Longwood

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- Kayla Best and Tee Ladouceur each had four goals in leading UAlbany to a 16-11 non-league victory over Longwood on Sunday, March 30 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes, who improved to 7-3 overall, have won five of their last six games.

UAlbany led 9-6 at halftime, but then ran off four unanswered during the opening 10 minutes of the final period. Ladouceur converted a free-position attempt to begin that stretch. Freshman Nikki Branchini, who had a career-high three goals, later drove around a defender in the middle of the zone. Brittany Scott sent a free-position shot into the lower left corner, before Ladouceur drove to the cage and switched to her right hand for a seven-goal cushion with 20:07 to play. The freshman midfielder had a team-leading 29 goals.

Longwood (4-9) held a 2-1 advantage early in the first half after Liz Sellmayer cut to the top of the crease to finish off Christine Comeau’s feed. The Great Danes answered by scoring four consecutive times over the next five minutes. Jodi Battaglia drew her team even with a free-position goal and then set up Best on a right-to-left crossing pass with 23:11 left in the stanza. Scott, a senior midfielder, completed a fastbreak, before Ladouceur was credited with a goal after a Lancer defender misplayed a loose ball into her own net.

UAlbany was still on top, 8-4, after Jane Bush scored from the top of the crease, but the Lancers cut that lead in half with a pair of unassisted goals. Sellmayer netted her second of the game when she rotated inside two defenders from left of the cage. Carlie Nethken then found the net on a rebound after UAlbany goalkeeper Katie Neer stopped Sellmayer’s initial shot. The Great Danes took a three-goal margin to the break when Best, a sophomore midfielder, scored in transition by spinning to her left shoulder with 2:43 remaining.

“We made good adjustments against their defense and caused some turnovers by riding well,” said UAlbany coach Lindsey Hart, whose team is off to its best start since the 1998 campaign will host fifth-ranked Syracuse on Wednesday. “We didn’t execute the way we wanted for the full sixty minutes. We got away from a disciplined style at times and didn’t finish every play.”

Sophomore midfielder Paige Farmer totaled three goals and one assist for the Lancers, who are in their second season at the NCAA Division I level. Goalkeeper Eliza Coughter made 10 saves. UAlbany’s Neer and Emily Miller combined stop 13 shots in the cage.

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UAlbany 16, Longwood 11

Longwood – Scoring: Page Farmer 3-1, Liz Sellmayer 2-0, Amanda Bereznay 1-0, Carlie Nethken 1-0, Britt Fraquharson 1-0, Lauren Barnaba 1-0, Kesley Dean 1-0, Karli Brentlinger 1-0, Christine Comeau 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Eliza Coughter (60:00, 10 saves, 16 GA).

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-0, Tee Ladouceur 4-0, Nikki Branchini 3-0, Brittany Scott 2-0, Jodi Battaglia 1-1, Jane Bush 1-0, Taylor Frink 1-0, Stacey Brown 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (47:38, 9 saves, 7 GA), Emily Miller (12:22, 4 saves, 4 GA).

University of Albany Softball Defeats Binghamton, 11-3, in America East Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Leanne Tillman smashed a lead-off home run over the center field fence in a seven-run fourth inning that led UAlbany to an 11-3 win in five frames in America East Conference softball action on Sunday afternoon at Albany Field. The second game of the league doubleheader was called after nine innings due to darkness with the score tied at 3-3. The remainder of that game, along with the third contest of the series, will take place on Monday at 12 p.m.

Binghamton (3-16, AE 0-1) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Emily Phillips knocked in two runs on a single to second base. Sandy Meadows, who led off with a single, and Sara Eppolito, who reached on an error, scored on the play.

UAlbany (10-9, AE 1-0) responded with two runs in both the second and third innings. Gina Mason recorded an RBI double to center field to score Meagan Butsch for the Great Danes’ first run. Kat Smith knocked a single to left later in the inning to send Mason home. In the bottom of the third, Butsch knocked in Michelle Connors and Bailey Van Deest to give UAlbany a 4-2 advantage.

The Great Danes compiled eight hits to score their seven runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. After four consecutive singles, Connors and Van Deest recorded back-to-back doubles to give UAlbany a 9-2 lead. Connors drove in Maisonet, while Van Deest sent Connors and Kothe across home plate. Smith also recorded an RBI in the frame, driving in Bill, who came in to run for Van Deest.

Sophomore Leah McIntosh earned the win in the circle for the Great Danes, striking out eight batters in five innings. Patty Egan took the loss for Binghamton, fanning two in 3.1 innings of work.

UAlbany Tennis Sweeps Sacred Heart, 7-0, for 15th Win of Season

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior Aimee Kern won in straight sets at first singles and teamed for a doubles victory to lead UAlbany to a 7-0 sweep of Sacred Heart on Sunday, March 30 at the Bubble.

Kern topped Julianne Kasinow at No. 1 singles by scores of 6-3 and 6-0 for her 12th singles win of the season. She later teamed with freshman Susan Ma at first doubles to defeat Darcy Demers and Nicole Betz, 8-2. Ma was victorious in three sets at No. 2 singles over Demers, registering scores of 6-0, 2-6 and 10-7.

At third singles, junior Kim Weltman beat Betz in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-2. The tandem of Weltman and Charlotte Tatler won at No. 3 doubles by a score of 8-1 over Mandy Finkelstein and Britany Price. Tatler won her match at fourth singles over Elizabeth Harrington by a score of 6-1 in each set.

Freshman Laine Mackey defeated Jessica Schnell, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 5 singles, while senior Amanda Hall beat Ashley Amalfe at sixth singles, 6-0 and 6-4. The duo teamed for an 8-5 win at second doubles over Amalfe and Kasinow.

UAlbany (15-2) returns to action on Saturday, April 5 at Stony Brook at 1:00 p.m.

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Singles
1. Aimee Kern (UA) def. Julianne Kasinow (SHU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Susan Ma (UA) def. Darcy Demers (SHU) 6-0, 2-6, 10-7
3. Kim Weltman (UA) def. Nicole Betz (SHU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Elizabeth Harrington (SHU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Laine Mackey (UA) def. Jessica Schnell (SHU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Amanda Hall (UA) def. Ashley Amalfe (SHU) 6-0, 6-4


Doubles
1. Kern/Ma (UA) def. Demers/Betz (SHU) 8-2
2. Mackey/Hall (UA) def. Kasinow/Amalfe (SHU) 8-5
3. Weltman/Tatler (UA) def. Mandy Finkelstein/Britany Price (SHU) 8-1

UAlbany Lacrosse Downs Binghamton, 8-2, in America East Opener at John Fallon Field

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Corey Small had two goals and two assists in leading UAlbany to an 8-2 victory over Binghamton in the America East Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, March 29 at John Fallon Field. The temperature at face-off was below 30 degrees while a stiff northwest wind blew across the field.

UAlbany (2-5, AE 1-0) led 2-1 midway through the second quarter, but rattled off three goals in a two-minute-and-16-second span. Steve Ammann converted a bounce shot off a drive from the left side to start that run. After goalkeeper Brett Queener cleared the ball following one of his six saves, Small finished off John Alpizar’s crossing pass to complete a perfectly executed fastbreak. Mark Cometti drilled an underhanded shot from the left side after being set up by Small for a four-goal lead with 3:26 left in the period.

The teams exchanged man-up goals early in the third quarter. UAlbany’s Nate Sullivan sent a blast into the top right corner. The Bearcats’ Steven Carlson rifled a shot into the net off a pass from behind the cage by teammate Stephen Smith. The Great Danes put the contest away with a pair of unassisted goals. Freshman midfielder Kyle Crotty scored his second of the game by driving from the right point past a defender. Small tallied his 14th of the season when he scooped up a ground ball in the middle of the zone, moved to his left, and netted a behind-the-head shot past Binghamton goalkeeper Larry Kline.

“It’s always important to win your first conference game,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was coming off an eight-day layoff since defeating 11th-ranked Princeton. “We were sloppy offensively and didn’t execute. I was disappointed we didn’t put more points on the board. Binghamton’s goalkeeper made some good saves. They play a controlled style and we were patient on defense and forced them into turnovers.”

The Great Danes held the visitors to the lowest goal by a conference opponent since April 6, 2002. Binghamton (2-4, AE 0-1) had just 17 shots on the cage and was forced into 26 miscues. UAlbany held a 2-0 lead after the opening period on goals by Brian Grodotske and Crotty. Binghamton’s Drew Wichmann cut that deficit in half when he cut to the top of the crease to finish off Chris Mulheron’s feed shortly after a UAlbany offside penalty had expired.

Kline, who is third among the national leaders in save percentage, stopped eight shots for the Bearcats, who posted a 9-8 win on their home field in last year’s matchup between these teams. UAlbany has won 27 of their 34 regular-season game against America East opponents.

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UAlbany 8, Binghamton 2

Binghamton – Scoring: Drew Wichmann 1-0, Steven Carlson 1-0, Chris Mulheron 0-1, Stephen Smith 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Larry Kline (60:00, 9 saves, 8 GA).

UAlbany – Scoring: Corey Small 2-2, Kyle Crotty 2-0, Mark Cometti 1-0, Nate Sullivan 1-0, Brian Grodotske 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, John Alpizar 0-1, Jordan Levine 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (55:29, 6 saves, 2 GA), Dan McKeon (4:31, 1 save, 0 GA).

UAlbany's Daniel Avery Wins 110-meter High Hurdles at Raleigh Relays

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Raleigh, N.C. – UAlbany freshman Daniel Avery won the 110-meter high hurdles to lead the Great Danes on the second day of the Raleigh Relays at Paul Derr Track Stadium on Saturday, March 29.

Avery, who advanced to the finals with a time of 14.50 seconds in Friday’s preliminary heats, crossed the finish line in an IC4A-qualifying 14.31 seconds. Freshman Wilfredo de Jesus Elias recorded a toss of 166-feet, 2-inches to place ninth in the hammer throw.

In women’s action, junior Laura Cummings placed seventh in the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:57.79. In section 2 of the 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Kristine Mun finished third in 11:21.96 and senior Danielle Trimpop came in fifth in 11:26.14.

UAlbany returns to action on Friday, April 4 at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C. and the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla.

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Men’s Results
110 Meter High Hurdles: 1. Daniel Avery 14.31 (IC4A). Hammer Throw: 9. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 166-2. Triple Jump: 17. Dong Ning Hu 42-5.25.



Women’s Results
3,000 Meter Steeplechase (Section 1): 7. Laura Cummings 10:57.79. 3,000 Meter Steeplechase (Section 2): 3. Kristine Mun 11:21.96, 5. Danielle Trimpop 11:26.14. Javelin Throw: 22. Isabella Katsarelis 91-6.

University of Albany NanoCollege to Hold Inaugural Community Day

Albany, NY - Children, adults and families throughout Tech Valley can receive an up-close look at the exciting world of nanotechnology when the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany holds its inaugural Community Day on Saturday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex.

The first-ever event is part of "NEXSTEP," or "Nanotechnology Explorations for Science, Training and Education Promotion," spearheaded by CNSE's NanoEconomics Constellation in partnership with KeyBank. NEXSTEP is a collaborative program that includes educational initiatives designed to promote greater understanding of the region's changing economic and business environment driven by nanotechnology, with a special emphasis on children, citizens and community.

CNSE's Community Day will feature presentations, booths and interactive demonstrations that highlight the exciting technological breakthroughs being enabled by nanotechnology, including those in the fields of health care, energy, environment, electronics and economics; guided tours of the cutting-edge cleanroom facilities at CNSE's $4.2 billion Albany NanoTech, the most advanced research complex in the academic world; and, a chance for children and adults to participate in hands-on activities that provide greater understanding of the science described by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as "leading to the next Industrial Revolution."

"There's an exciting change occurring in our community, brought about by nanotechnology, through the leadership of the UAlbany NanoCollege, " said Jeff Stone, President, KeyBank Capital Region. "This Community Day is a critical component of KeyBank's support of the NEXSTEP initiative in educating our community about the world of nanotechnology and its impact as an economic force."

"We are delighted to offer individuals in our community and region a firsthand look at the UAlbany NanoCollege, which is recognized worldwide as a leader in nanotechnology education, innovation and commercialization," said Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of CNSE. "This event, created as part of the NEXSTEP program in collaboration with our forward-thinking KeyBank partners, provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the exciting possibilities being enabled by nanotechnology, and to showcase the pioneering educational and technological capabilities that are positioning Albany and New York State as global leaders in the most important scientific field of the 21st century."

CNSE's Community Day is planned in conjunction with the national celebration of NanoDays, a week of community-based educational outreach events being held March 29-April 6 to raise public awareness of nanoscale science and engineering.

For further information and to pre-register for CNSE's Community Day, please visit http://cnse.albany.edu/Newsroom/CNSE_Community_Day

Defending NEC Champion UAlbany Begins Spring Football Practice on Sunday, March 30

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Head coach Bob Ford and the University at Albany football team will begin defense of their 2007 Northeast Conference championship when spring practice begins on Sunday, March 30. The Great Danes will conduct 15 NCAA-allowed spring workouts and will use both Alumni Turf Field (artificial) and Mara-Tisch Field (natural) as practice sites. The scheduled dates are: March 30 and 31 and April, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 26.


2008 Spring Preview

UAlbany won its third Northeast Conference title in 2007 by becoming the fifth team in league history to go undefeated in conference play. The Great Danes will have to work even harder to repeat with a challenging non-league schedule and the addition of Duquesne as an NEC member.

Head coach Bob Ford has 48 letterwinners, including 12 starters, returning from a squad that finished with an 8-4 record. Spring practice will once again give the coaching staff an opportunity to work on all three phases of the game and evaluate personnel.

"On defense, we have to improve in the red zone," offers Ford, who has a 225-162-1 career record in 39 varsity seasons at the collegiate level. "It's a matter of tightening things up and being more aggressive in our approach. These practices will also allow us to identify the pass rushers and swing people on the defensive line."

Ford continues, "Certain elements of our run offense need to be established, and we have to become consistent in the three-step pass game. We want to review our punt returners and long snappers on special teams."

OFFENSE: Tailback David McCarty leads an offensive unit that ranked 20th nationally in rushing at nearly 209 yards per game. McCarty, who was named to the Sports Network All-America squad, ran for 1,503 yards, the third-highest single-season total in team history. McCarty grinded out eight 100-yard efforts, including a career-best 247 yards in a championship-clinching win against Central Connecticut State. Justin Gannon and Colin Simmons, a pair of juniors, rushed for 250-plus yards last season.

Quarterback Vinny Esposito, like McCarthy, made the most of his first season as a starter. He recorded the second-best single-season passing total in school annals with 1,810 yards. He threw 12 scoring passes and accounted for 1,946 yards in total offense. Frank Blasinsky, Dan Di Lella and Mike Tracy will also get plenty of work during spring drills.

The Great Danes can build around three all-conference offensive linemen, but will have to replace both starting guards. Raphael Nguti (6-6, 330) earned first-team All-NEC recognition at right tackle. Center Kevin Richards (6-2, 280) and left tackle Justin Tougas (6-6, 308) were named to the all-league second team.

UAlbany's starting receivers were seniors, but the rotation allowed for several players to be involved one year ago. Daniel Bocanegra, a converted quarterback, hauled in 26 passes for 316 yards. Tim Bush had 17 receptions for 225 yards and two TDs. In addition, the Great Danes have two tight ends in Dan Archer (7 catches) and Marcus Miles (10 catches) who have the ability to both block and become factors in the passing attack.

DEFENSE: The Great Danes featured a talented senior class on the defensive line. The unit helped the defense rank 17th in points allowed among the NCAA leaders. In fact, all three starters were members of the all-conference first or second teams.

The good news centers around defensive tackle Tom Pandolf (6-0, 260), a first-team All-NEC standout. Pandolf had his most productive campaign with 37 tackles and 3.0 sacks. Sophomore Trevor Anderson (6-2, 265, Cobleskill-Richmondville) also emerged as the season progressed and finished with 28 tackles, including seven for a loss. Mike Kelly and Tony Sparano, who had 10 tackles apiece, rotated at the defensive end positions.

At inside linebacker, UAlbany's all-time tackles leader is now a professional in Germany. Justin Brancaccio (6-0, 220) moved into the starting lineup and tied for second on the team with 63 tackles, including 6.5 for losses, last season. Mark Peretore, a fifth-year senior, has also been a starter during his career. He had 47 tackles in 2007. Chris Simpson (14 tackles) will also see playing time.

Emerson Kinsey (6-1, 215) worked at one of the outside linebacker spots, where he totaled 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks and recovered two fumbles. Dave Nicomini (6-3, 230) can float between the linebacker and safety positions. He was second on the squad with 63 tackles. A solid performer, Nicomini had six or more hits vs. six opponents.

UAlbany's secondary returns intact. Dave Casale had 56 tackles and two interceptions in his first year at free safety. Cornerbacks Jean Juste (34 tackles, 4 PBUs) and L.B. McCloskey (38 tackles, 3 INTs) were sound in their new roles. Safety Dave West and cornerback Ross Bertrand (31 tackles, 3 PBUs) showed great improvement. West, a second-team All-NEC selection, had 60 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions.

KICKING GAME: Punter Chris Lynch set the program's single-season record by averaging 40.5 yards per attempt. Lynch and Herb Glass are candidates for the place-kicking duties.

University of Albany's Luke Schoen Places Second in the Pole Vault at Raleigh Relays

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Raleigh, N.C. – UAlbany sophomore Luke Schoen finished second in the pole vault to lead the Great Danes at the Raleigh Relays on Friday, March 28 at Paul Derr Track Stadium.

Schoen cleared the bar at 15-feet, 11-inches to place second and qualify for the IC4A meet later this season. Senior David Parker tied for seventh in the event by clearing 14-feet, 5.25-inches.

In the 110-meter high hurdles, freshman Daniel Avery turned in an IC4A-qualifying performance of 14.50 seconds to advance to Saturday’s finals. Junior Brian Yurkewecz completed the 5,000-meter run in 15:10.83 to place fourth in his section.

In the women’s competition, sophomore Laine Sefick recorded a time of 19:49.39 for 12th place in the third section of the 5,000-meter run. Freshman Kadine Johnson had a toss of 41-feet, 1-inch to place 19th in the shot put.

The Great Danes resume competition at the Raleigh Relays on Saturday, March 29 at 10:00 a.m.

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Men’s Results
110 Meter High Hurdles: 12. Daniel Avery 14.50 (IC4A), 25. Anthony Assent 15.61, 32. David Parker 16.48. 5,000 Meter Run (Section 3): 4. Brian Yurkewecz 15:10.83. 5000 Meter Run (Section 4): Hilbert DNF. Pole Vault: 2. Luke Schoen 15-11 (IC4A), T7. David Parker 14-5.25, Michael Dempsey NH. Long Jump: 25. Dong Ning Hu 18-3.75.


Women’s Results
100 Meter Dash: 67. Sarah Lapierre 13.32, 80. Jessica Antoniades 13.88. 5,000 Meter Run: 12. Laine Sefick 19:43.39. Shot Put: 19. Kadine Johnson 41-1. Discus: Kadine Johnson Foul.

University of Albany Softball Completes Doubleheader Sweep of Crosstown-Rival Siena

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore pitcher Leah McIntosh struck out nine Siena batters in game one, while Marissa Powell and Brittany Rose combined in the circle for a victory in the nightcap to lead UAlbany softball to a softball doubleheader sweep of the Saints at Albany Field on Thursday afternoon. The Great Danes won the first game by a score of 2-1 and held off a late rally to take game two, 3-2.

Siena (6-14) struck first in the early game, breaking a scoreless tie that lasted until the sixth inning. Catcher Andrea Piela led off the top of the inning with a triple to right field, and scored on an RBI single by Jennifer Granato two batters later.

UAlbany (9-9) answered in the bottom of the frame, as senior left fielder Amber Maisonet led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on the throw. Center fielder Nicole Kothe followed with a walk, and the baserunners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Michelle Connors. Bailey Van Deest hit a ground out to second that allowed Maisonet to score and tie the game. Right fielder Meagan Butsch put the Great Danes ahead with a triple to right centerfield, scoring Kothe. Siena pitcher Jamie Piela induced a pop-up by Gina Mason to end the inning.

The Saints attempted to rally in the top half of the seventh, loading the bases on two singles and a batter that was hit by a pitch. Renee Clavette pinch-hit for Siena, and McIntosh struck her out swinging to get out of the jam and seal the win in her eighth complete-game performance.

UAlbany got on the scoreboard early in the nightcap, scoring single runs in each of the first two innings. Maisonet drew a lead-off walk and stole second, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a groundout by Connors. In the second frame, the Great Danes loaded the bases, led by Butsch with a single to left. Gina Mason was walked by Siena’s Lauren Shaheen and catcher Kat Smith was hit by a pitch. Freshman shortstop Andrianna Walraven grounded out to second base, giving Butsch enough time to cross home for a two-run lead.

Siena cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth frame, as pinch runner Stacie Sueda scored on an error by the first baseman. UAlbany added another run in the bottom half of the inning, as Connors drove an RBI single into left centerfield to score Walraven, who led off the inning with a walk.

The Saints loaded the bases in the top of the sixth against Rose, who entered the game for Powell to start the inning, and walked her first two batters faced. Jamie Piela recorded a bunt single to make the bags full with no outs. UAlbany recorded the first out, gunning down Jenny McNulty at home, but Lauren Weingart reached on a fielder’s choice to keep the bases loaded for Siena. Granato, who induced a walk from Rose earlier in the inning, scored on a fielder’s choice, as Piela was out at third. Stacey Landini tapped a ground ball back to Rose to end the inning.

Rose sealed the win for UAlbany in the top of the seventh, fanning three of four batters faced to earn her first career save. Powell and Rose each finished with three strikeouts while allowing just one hit apiece.

The Great Danes will return to action on Saturday, hosting Binghamton in their first America East Conference action of the season. The doubleheader will start at 12 p.m.

University of Albany and Siena closing in on deal to continue series

The University of Albany and Siena are working on agreement to continue their men’s basketball series. Both sides said they expect a deal to come soon after the Final Four.

Siena athletic director John D’Argenio said the sides exchanged proposals before the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. He and UAlbany athletic director Lee McElroy then agreed to continue talking after the NCAA Tournament.

Asked if he expects a contract to get done, D’Argenio said, “I don’t see why it wouldn’t.”

McElroy described the deal as needing to be “finalized.”

The contract between the schools expired after this year’s game, which Siena won, 75-71, at Times Union Center.

UAlbany is believed to be seeking more tickets to sell and better locations for those seats. McElroy said he and D’Argenio still had details to work out in regard to both.

“(D’Argenio) has made a nice proposal that needs to be fine-tuned, based on some of the pervious years we played,” McElroy said. ”We intend to make this one of the best college basketball events in the country.”

Courtesy: Pete Iorizzo

Lacrosse's Best & Ladouceur Each Score Career-High Six Goals as UAlbany Rallies for A-East Win

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Catonsville, Md. – Kayla Best and Tee Ladouceur each scored a career-high six goals as UAlbany rallied for a 17-12 victory over UMBC in America East Conference women’s lacrosse play on Wednesday, March 26 at UMBC Stadium.

UMBC (2-8, AE 1-3) built an 11-7 advantage early in the second half with three unanswered. Amanda Pappas, a freshman midfielder who had three goals and one assist, started that run, before Erika Braerman netted a free-position opportunity. Senior attack Megan Keelan then converted a feed from Ali Levendusky.

UAlbany (6-3, AE 1-1) still trailed 12-10 midway through the period, but Ladouceur and Best accounted for five of the game’s next seven goals. Ladouceur, a freshman attacker, drew her team with 9:37 remaining on a pair of unassisted goals. After Jodi Battaglia won the subsequent draw control, Christine Grueniger put the Great Danes ahead 43 seconds later with her 14th of the season.

Ladouceur, whose goal total was one off the school’s single-game freshman record, netted her sixth goal of the game for a 14-12 lead. Best, a sophomore midfielder who extended her scoring streak to 22 consecutive games, found the cage with back-to-back free-position goals one minute and 16 seconds apart to seal the outcome. Best, who also had an assist, recorded a career-best seven points.

UMBC reversed a 4-3 deficit in the opening half by scoring four consecutive times. Maggie Chizmar put her team in front with 13:20 left in the period after teammate Ashley Lancer forced a turnover. Freshman Megan Linkous and Abbey Swift, who each had two first-half goals, scored unassisted to complete the outburst. The Retrievers, who had 24 of their 35 shots before the break, took an 8-6lead to the intermission.

Battaglia finished with two goals for the Great Danes, who won for the first time in four trips to UMBC’s facility. Goalkeeper Katie Neer made eight saves. Levendusky, one of the conference’s top scorers, had two goals and one assist for UMBC, a program that has dropped six straight.

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UAlbany 17, UMBC 12

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 6-1, Tee Ladouceur 6-1, Jodi Battaglia 2-0, Jane Bush 1-1, Christine Grueniger 1-1, Rory Redmond 1-0, Brittany Scott 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 8 saves, 12 GA).

UMBC – Scoring: Amanda Pappas 3-1, Ali Levendusky 2-1, Abbey Swift 2-0, Megan Linkous 2-0, Megan Keelan 1-2, Maggie Chizmar 1-1, Erika Braerman 1-0, Kelly Burgoyne 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Kate Quick (49:45, 4 saves, 12 GA), Susie Sweeney (10:15, 0 saves, 5 GA).

UAlbany Names John Allen & Eric Evans Assistant Football Coaches & Juan Torres Operations Dir.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany head coach Bob Ford announced on Wednesday, March 25 the hiring of John Allen and Eric Evans as assistant football coaches and Juan Torres as director of operations. Allen will coach the receivers and Evans will work with the tight ends. In addition, UAlbany has promoted Ryan McCarthy to offensive coordinator after serving as quarterbacks coach the previous three seasons. Mike Morita takes over as offensive line coach after working with the tight ends and tackles last year.

Ford, the winningest active coach at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level with 225 career victories, begins his 36th varsity campaign in the fall. Ford has 48 lettermen, including 12 starters, returning off last year's Northeast Conference championship team. The Great Danes won their third NEC title since joining the conference in 1999.

Allen previously was the head coach of NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder until the National Football League ceased league operations in June 2007. He had been the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Amsterdam Admirals from 2004-07. The Admirals won the 2005 World Bowl championship when they led NFL Europe in scoring and total offense. Allen has also served as a coaching intern with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers.

On the collegiate level, Allen was the wide receivers coach at Bucknell University in 2002. He worked with the FCS program's punt return team and recruited the state of Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area. Allen was the offensive coordinator from 2000-02 and receivers coach from 1996-00 at Lock Haven University, a Division II program in Pennsylvania. He coached six all-conference players and one ECAC all-star as well as handled special teams and recruiting. In addition, Allen was an assistant at the 2005 East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco, Calif.

A native of Chester, Va., Allen was a senior captain and four-year letterman at James Madison University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in office systems management. Allen played on JMU teams that advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals in 1991 and 1994.

Evans comes to the UAlbany program from Northwestern University where he was a graduate assistant the last two years. He assisted with the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends and helped build the Big Ten Conference's top passing offense at 307.9 yards per game. Evans also coordinated the scout defense and special teams and handled offensive quality control.

Previous to Northwestern, Evans was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Dayton from 2004-05. He coached the tight ends and tackles and helped develop the program's first All-America tight end since 1999. In addition, Evans was responsible for the punt return and field goal units on special teams and recruited in Illinois, Wisconsin and northern states. As an undergraduate at DePauw University in Indiana, Evans spent four years as a student assistant. He received his B.A. in kinesiology with a minor in history. A native of St. Charles, Ill., Evans earned a master's degree in exercise science from Dayton in 2006 and has completed some coursework on another master's in liberal studies.

Torres, who previously worked with the UAlbany football program from 2001-06 in video operations, joins the staff in the role of director of operations. He will handle administrative duties, travel and coordinate video operations. Torres, who had been employed by the Starbucks Corporation, earned a B.A. in Spanish from the University at Albany in 2006.

UAlbany Men's Outdoor Track & Field Picked First in Preseason Coach's Poll, Women Garner Third Place

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany men’s outdoor track and field team has been selected to finish first, while the women’s team was chosen to place third, according to the preseason poll of the head coaches conducted by the America East Conference.

The Great Danes were selected to win their fourth consecutive men’s conference championship by receiving seven first place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams), totaling 63 points. New Hampshire, which earned the remaining two first place votes, tallied 55 points for second place, while Binghamton followed closely behind with 53 points. UMBC came in fourth with 43 points and Boston U. recorded 36 points to round out the top-five. Stony Brook was tabbed sixth with 29 points, followed by Maine (20), Vermont (17) and Hartford (8) to complete the nine-team poll.

In the women’s poll, Boston U. was selected as the preseason choice to finish the season first and follow up its indoor championship. The Terriers received six first place votes to garner 62 points. New Hampshire was tabbed first on the final three ballots and received 59 points for second place. UAlbany, the defending outdoor champions, placed third with 50 points. UMBC was picked fourth with 40 points and Stony Brook registered 33 points to round out the top-five preseason picks. Binghamton finished sixth with 31 points, followed by Maine (22), Vermont (19) and Hartford (8).

The UAlbany men, who have combined to win the last six indoor and outdoor conference championships, will be led this season by captains Renauld Buck, Drew Harrison and Michael McCadney. The Great Danes won nine events at last season’s conference championship en route to a meet record 268 points and their third consecutive outdoor championship and fourth in the past five years. UAlbany returns 2007 champions Joe Greene (400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay), Ricardo Estremera (3,000-meter steeplechase), Freddie Wills (triple jump), Gabriel Lopez (long jump), Pat Weider (200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay), Raphael Jean-Baptiste (4x100-meter relay) and Dieuseul Joseph (4x100-meter relay).

The Great Danes’ women’s team will be led by captains Jenn Gurrant, Brenna Militello and Ashley Vives. UAlbany won four events to edge out New Hampshire by six points for its second consecutive title at last season’s conference meet. Militello, a senior, and Gurrant, a junior, return to defend their 2007 championships in the high jump and long jump, respectively.

The 2008 America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held May 3-4 at the University of Maine.

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Men’s (first place votes in parenthesis)

1. UAlbany (7) 63, 2. New Hampshire (2) 55, 3. Binghamton 53, 4. UMBC 43, 5. Boston U. 36, 6. Stony Brook 29, 7. Maine 20, 8. Vermont 17, 9. Hartford 8.


Women’s (first place votes in parenthesis)

1. Boston U. (6) 62, 2. New Hampshire (3) 59, 3. UAlbany 50, 4. UMBC 40, 5. Stony Brook 33, 6. Binghamton 31, 7. Maine 22, 8. Vermont 19, 9. Hartford 8.

University of Albany Softball Uses No-Hit Shutout to Gain Doubleheader Split

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kennesaw, Ga. – Leah McIntosh tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts in earning her first career no-hitter to lead UAlbany to a 1-0 win over Kennesaw State in the nightcap of a non-conference softball doubleheader at Bailey Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls took game one by a score of 3-0 to earn the split.

McIntosh, a sophomore right-hander, recorded her third shutout and seventh complete-game effort of the season. She allowed just two walks in the game, while improving her record to 5-3 in the circle. McIntosh threw the first seven-inning, no-hit shutout by a UAlbany hurler since May 6, 2006.

UAlbany came out on top of a pitcher’s dual, as the game was scoreless until the top of the seventh inning. The Great Danes got two runners on base by virtue of a fielder’s choice and a single by third baseman Meagan Butsch. With two outs, Andrianna Walraven singled to right field, scoring pinch runner Tara Dalton. Kennesaw State’s Angela Lopez struck out Kat Smith to end the inning. The Owls were unable to produce in the bottom of the frame, and McIntosh recorded her 12th strikeout of the day to end the contest. Lopez finished with nine strikeouts and allowed five hits.

Defensive player Jessica Cross and first baseman Corri Connally each recorded two hits and one RBI to lead Kennesaw State in the early game. The Owls scored their first run in the bottom of the opening frame, as Connally knocked a single to right field to send Amanda Malcom, who recorded a single earlier in the inning, across home plate.

Kennesaw State (23-9) tacked on another run in the fifth. Left fielder Jordan Hackett was hit by a pitch to reach base, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Malcom. Cross drove a two-out double into left centerfield to score Hackett, before UAlbany pitcher Marissa Powell induced Connally’s flyout to end the inning.

The Owls added an insurance run in their half of the sixth on an RBI single up the middle by third baseman Hollie Huffman. Kennesaw State’s Brittany Matthews earned the shutout win with seven strikeouts, improving to 15-3 on the season.

Powell tossed a complete game, fanning two opposing batters. Freshman first baseman Gina Mason recorded two hits for the Great Danes, while second baseman Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) and Walraven each had singles.

UAlbany (7-9) will host crosstown-rival Siena in the Great Danes’ home opener on Thursday at Albany Field. The first pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 2:30 p.m.

Baseball Falls to UNC Greensboro, 9-7, in Series Opener

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Greensboro, N.C. – Greg Feltes homered twice to lead UNC Greensboro to a 9-7 victory over the UAlbany baseball team in non-conference action on Tuesday, March 25 at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Feltes gave the Spartans a one run lead in the first inning by blasting a two-out, 0-2 pitch over the left field fence. UAlbany responded by scoring twice in the top of the second frame. After junior catcher Ryan Gugel was hit by a pitch, freshman designated hitter Jamie Liebowitz launched a two-run shot to left.

UNC Greensboro (16-5) scored twice in the third and four times in the fourth to take control of the contest. With the bases loaded and two out in the third, catcher Sean Snell doubled down the left field line to plate Tim Carrier and Matt Gaski. The Spartans expanded their lead to 7-2 in the fourth on a two-run homer by Gaski and a solo shot by Feltes.

UAlbany (4-15-1) narrowed the gap to 7-6 with a run in the fifth and three in the sixth. The Great Danes loaded the bases in the fifth on singles by sophomores Ralph Rizzo and Brendan Rowland, sandwiched around a walk by junior Gary Pitcheralle. James White entered the game for the Spartans and was able to work out of the jam by inducing a run-scoring double play and ending the inning with a strikeout. Junior Sean Donovan singled and classmate Zac Halloran walked to lead off the sixth frame. Gugel followed by delivering a two-run double to right center to bring the Great Danes within 7-5. After an out and a single by Rizzo, Gugel crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

The Spartans pushed their lead back to two in the bottom of the frame on a homer to right field by Ricky Orton. In the eighth, Feltes added an insurance run by walking, stealing second, moving to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a second wild pitch.


Seniors Tom Zink and Mike Konstanty singled and doubled, respectively, to start the ninth inning. Zink cut the Great Danes’ deficit to two as he scored on a wild pitch, but Rob Gilliam recorded three straight strikeouts to close out the game.

Junior Josh Willimott picked up his first loss of the season, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits. Junior Matthew Herrick allowed one run over 1.2 innings of work. Junior Sean Gregory struck out four, while yielding a run in 2.2 innings, ending a streak of 14 innings, over six appearances, without allowing a run. White recorded the win for UNCG, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Gilliam picked up the save for the Spartans, striking out three.

The Great Danes and the Spartans wrap-up their two-game series on Wednesday, March 26 with first pitch at 6:00 p.m.

University of Albany Entry Plaza Construction Progress

LAST PUSH FOR UNIVERSITY STADIUM

Contact the following government officials and voice your support for the Multi Purpose Stadium. Now is the time to let these officials know that you want state funding included in this year's budget. The budget deadline is April 1, 2008... therefore, there is no time to waste. Call, email, and go in person to the following officials now.

There are behind the scenes discussions on what should be attached to this years budget, that wasn't originally requested by former Governor Spitzer, and our stadium is being considered.

Please contact these officials with the utmost respect and with a high level of intellect... please put significant thought into your presentation before contacting them.

Governor Paterson:

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari:
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco:
tediscj@ assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Neil Breslin
breslin@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno:
bruno@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcom Smith:
masmith@senate.state.ny.us

City of Albany: Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us

UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip
presmail@uamail.albany.edu

UAlbany Interim Provost Susan D. Phillips
sdphil@uamail.albany.edu

A Brief but To The Point Example:

The University of Albany needs your support now. We
need your support to guarantee that UAlbany is
included equally in the Revitalization Effort of the
SUNY system.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT....

Please consider supporting the University of
Albany's proposed Multi Purpose Athletic Stadium,
which has already been approved by SUNY's Board of
Directors and sent to former Governor Spitzer. The
former governor did not include the much needed
stadium in his budget proposal for 2008.

Although SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook already
have large multi purpose athletic stadiums on their campus, the
former governor proposed to give both University Centers over 100
million more than the University of Albany in athletic
department funding this year. And even more unfortunate, UAlbany
does not have a stadium, has a field resembling a high school, but plays in Division I FCS football. UAlbany even hosts the NFL's Superbowl Champion New York Giants
training camp each summer.

The former governor has been narrow sighted in focusing on only two of the University Centers of SUNY. The four University centers have been the pillars of the New York Higher Education System. In terms of University Centers and their equality, they all should receive equal funding and attention in the future.

Please support the University of Albany. Please make sure we receive equal funding, which includes our much needed multipurpose athletic stadium.

I speak for many people when I express the concern over what's happening.

Thank you,

Mr. Brent Euler
University of Albany Alumnus ‘93

UAlbany Names MJ Engstrom Interim Head Women's Volleyball Coach

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced today that MJ Engstrom has been appointed interim head women’s volleyball coach. Engstrom, who has previously been a head coach at the collegiate level, was elevated from her role as a UAlbany assistant. Kelly Sheffield, a two-time America East Conference Coach of the Year, left the position to become the head coach at the University of Dayton.

“We are very appreciative of Kelly Sheffield’s contributions in building the UAlbany volleyball program to a championship level,” McElroy said. “His team performed at a high level on the court, in the classroom, and as members of the community. MJ Engstrom will do an excellent job as interim coach. She understands our program and has the support of the student-athletes and administration.”

Engstrom completed her third season as the top assistant last fall. She helped guide UAlbany to its third conference championship in the last four seasons and produced the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory. UAlbany finished 24-10 overall and reached the NCAA’s second round for the first time in team history. Engstrom, who has served as recruiting coordinator for the last three seasons, has been instrumental in the Great Danes’ success by bringing in one of the top classes one year ago.

Freshman Amanda Cowdrey was named the 2007 America East rookie of the year and earned all-conference second-team accolades. She was also joined on the all-rookie squad by classmates Brooke Stanley and Tawny Dahmes, who hails from Engstrom’s home state of Minnesota.

Engstrom came to UAlbany after five seasons as the head coach of Nicholls State University in Louisiana. She led the Colonials to the 2003 Southland Conference Tournament championship and the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history. Engstrom also spent two years at the helm of the Villanova volleyball program, guiding the Wildcats to their first NCAA appearance in 1997. The tournament berth was the first at-large bid for a Big East Conference program.

Along with her head coaching experience, Engstrom served as an assistant coach at the University of Washington from 1998-99 and the University of North Dakota from 1990-93. She has also worked with the USA Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball teams and has run her own volleyball camp in conjunction with Coastal Virginia’s volleyball club since 1997.

Engstrom, a native of St. Paul, Minn., is on the editorial board for the International Journal for Volleyball Research and is a member of the USA Volleyball Sports Medicine and Performance Commission. She was a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota and graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology.

University of Albany's Corey Small Selected America East Conference Lacrosse Player of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Corey Small has been chosen as the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse as announced on Monday, March 24 by the conference office. Small is the first Great Dane to be recognized this season.

Small, a junior attack from St. Catharines, Ontario, had four goals, including two in each half, in last Friday’s 10-2 upset win over Princeton, ranked No. 11 in both national polls entering the contest. He broke a 1-1 tie with his first goal of the game and then staked his team to a 4-1 halftime lead with an underhanded blast. Small scored off a rebound in the third quarter and finished off a fastbreak in the final period.

Small, whose goal output was one off his career-high, has netted three or more goals on eight occasions as a collegian. He currently leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and two assists and is seventh among the America East leaders at 2.33 points per game.

Softball Drops 4-0 Decision to Kent State

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Athens, Ga. – Jessica Toocheck slammed a two-run homer to right field to complete a four-run fifth inning for Kent State, leading the Golden Flashes to a 4-0 win over UAlbany on the final day of the Georgia Spring Fling at the UGA Softball Stadium.

The game was knotted at 0-0 through four and a half innings before Kent State broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the fifth frame. Defensive player Chelsey Jones led off the Golden Flashes by drawing a walk, and was replaced on the base path by pinch runner Heather Duhon. Leah Archual recorded a sacrifice bunt to advance Duhon to second. Following a single by Holly Finchum and a pop-out by Kim Hamilton, Jessica Carmichael broke the scoreless tie by knocking a double into center field, scoring Duhon and Finchum.

In the next at bat, Toocheck drove the ball over the right field fence to complete Kent State’s scoring rally. Relief pitcher Brittany Rose (Schenectady) entered the game and gave up a single to her first batter faced, but struck out Corey Houk to end the inning.

UAlbany’s Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) and Megan Butsch both recorded hits in the fourth inning, but the Great Danes were unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunity. Rose tossed the final 1.1 innings for UAlbany, fanning three. She replaced sophomore right-hander Leah McIntosh, who fell to 4-3 on the season after allowing all four runs, despite striking out five opposing batters.

Gabrielle Burns went the distance in the circle for Kent State (15-6), fanning four UAlbany batters and allowing just two walks.

UAlbany (6-8) will return to action on Tuesday, March 25, with a doubleheader at Kennesaw State starting at 2 p.m.

University of Albany's Jean-Baptiste, Barnes, Jenkins and Joseph Win 4x100 Relay, Gerasimova Claims Triple Jump at Hurricane Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Coral Gables, Fla. – The quartet of Raphael Jean Baptiste, Jeffery Barnes, Torshiro Jenkins and Dieuseul Joseph won the 4x100-meter relay and senior Arina Gerasimova won the triple jump to lead the UAlbany track and field team at the Hurricane Invitational on Saturday, March 22 at Cobb Stadium.

In the opening running event of the day, the 4x100-meter relay team sprinted to an IC4A-qualifying time of 41.84 seconds to place first. The team of Daniel Avery, Jean Juste, Kyle Nadler and Michael McCadney placed third in the event with a time of 42.95 seconds. In the 4x400-meter relay, Andrew Overbaugh, Joe Belokopitsky, Jenkins and Barnes placed fourth in a time of 3:23.22, while Alan Nimblette, McCadney, Drew Harrison and Tyler Fogarty finished sixth in 3:27.55.

Fogarty finished third in the 800-meter run in a time of 1:55.98, while Belokopitsky crossed the finish line in 1:59.20 to take seventh. Juste qualified for the IC4A competition in the 110-meter hurdles with a seventh-place time of 14.81 seconds. In the long jump, sophomore Valete Graham placed fifth with a leap of 22-feet, 3-inches.

In the women’s competition, Gerasimova recorded a leap of 40-feet, 5-inches to win the triple jump. Sophomore Zuliana Fontanez placed sixth in the 800-meter run in 2:16.11. The team of Jenn Gurrant, Christen Griffin, Kamilah McShine and Ashley Vives finished the 4x100-meter relay in eighth place in 48.44 seconds. In the 4x400-meter relay, Gurrant, Fontanez, Vives and Melissa Lee came in eighth in 3:58.48.

UAlbany returns to the track on Friday, March 28 at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C. at 10:00 a.m.
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Men’s Events
100 Meter Dash: 7. Dieuseul Joseph 10.95, 13. Raphael Jean Baptiste 11.10. 110 Meter High Hurdles: 7. Jean Juste 14.81 (IC4A), 9. Nick Assini 15.18, 11. Garrett Askew 15.25, 16. Mohamed Kanu 15.92. 200 Meter Dash: 10. Drew Harrison 22.21, 14. Torshiro Jenkins 22.34, 22. Jean Juste 22.95, 26. Garrett Askew 23.42. 400 Meter Hurdles: 8. Andrew Overbaugh 57.75, 10. Nick Assini 59.24, 11. Alan Nimblette 59.81, 12. Mohamed Kanu 1:01.04. 800 Meter Run: 3. Tyler Fogarty 1:55.98, 7. Joe Belokopitsky 1:59.20, 11. Jared Jupin 2:00.31. 1,500 Meter Run: 9. Tyler Fogarty 4:07.97, 12. Joe Belokopitsky 4:13.01. 4 x 100 Meter Relay: 1. Raphael Jean Baptiste, Jeffery Barnes, Torshiro Jenkins, Dieuseul Joseph 41.84 (IC4A), 3. Daniel Avery, Jean Juste, Kyle Nadler, Michael McCadney 42.95. 4 x 400 Meter Relay: 4. Andrew Overbaugh, Joe Belokopitsky, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes 3:23.22, 6. Alan Nimblette, Michael McCadney, Drew Harrison, Tyler Fogarty 3:27.55. Long Jump: 5. Valete Graham 22-3, 11. Kevin O’Riley 21-2, 12. Kyle Nadler 21-1.50, 14. David Parker 20-11.25.

Women’s Events
100 Meter High Hurdles: 14. Kamilah McShine 14.54, 16. Christen Griffin 14.78, 23. Valerie Maignan 15.85. 200 Meter Dash: 21. Ashley Vives 25.66, 33. Christen Griffin 26.57. 400 Meter Dash: 18. Melissa Lee 58.52, 27. Corrine Porter-Stepney 59.46, 32. Octavia Clarkson 1:00.21, 33. Laura Bolognino 1:01.21. 400 Meter Hurdles: 18. Rebecca Kelly 1:08.78. 800 Meter Run: 6. Zuliana Fontanez 2:16.11. 4x100 Meter Relay: 8. Jenn Gurrant, Christen Griffin, Kamilah McShine, Ashley Vives 48.44. 4 x 400 Meter Relay: 8. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Ashley Vives, Melissa Lee 3:58.48, 14. Corrine Porter-Stepney, Octavia Clarkson, Laura Bolognino, Rebecca Kelly 4:12.27. Long Jump: 8. Valerie Maignan 17-4.75, Tiffany Sprenkels FOUL. Triple Jump: 1. Arina Gerasimova 40-5, 8. Sandy Antenor 37-1.25.

Baseball loses to Coastal Carolina

Conway, S.C. – Scott Woodward registered three hits and scored four runs to lead No. 18 Coastal Carolina to an 18-4 win over UAlbany in the middle contest of a three-game non-conference baseball weekend set at Watson Stadium on Saturday, March 22.

Coastal Carolina (17-4) got on the board with four runs in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Rico Noel doubled down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs. David Sappelt followed with a double to right field to plate Noel and David Anderson pushed across Sappelt two batters later with a single. Jose Iglesias tallied a run in the fifth for the Chanticleers as he was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Derek Martin.

UAlbany (4-13-1) answered back with a pair of runs in the fourth and a single run in the fifth. Junior catcher Ryan Gugel led off the fourth with a double and came around to score on senior designated hitter Mike Konstanty’s double to center. After a single by junior shortstop Sean Donovan, Konstanty scored on a double play. In the fifth, junior centerfielder Dave West singled with two outs and scored on Gugel’s double to right field. The Great Danes loaded the bases, but relief pitcher Joey Haug induced an inning-ending groundout to end the rally.

The Chanticleers scored 13 runs over the next three innings to put the game out of reach. They tallied four runs in the fifth, a pair in the sixth and seven in the seventh frame. Adam Rice drove in two runs in the fifth with a single up the middle to give Coastal Carolina a 9-3 lead. Iglesias highlighted the sixth with a solo home run to center field.

UAlbany scored its final run of the game on a groundout by Donovan to drive in sophomore Brendan Rowland. Coastal Carolina closed out the scoring with seven runs in the seventh frame. Dustin King capped the frame with a double to right center to knock in two runs and closed out the game’s scoring by crossing the plate on a fielding error.

Junior southpaw Cory Warrings took the loss for the Great Danes, yielding five runs on 10 hits over three innings. Haug registered his second win of the season by striking out two over 1.3 scoreless innings.

Gugel and Rowland each registered two hits and a run in the contest for the Great Danes. UAlbany and Coastal Carolina play the final game of the series on Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m.

Softball Swept by Kent State and Georgia on Second Day of Spring Fling

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Athens, Ga. – Gabrielle Burns struck out four without allowing a hit in the final two innings to lead Kent State to its second-straight victory over UAlbany, defeating the Great Danes 4-2 on the second day of the Georgia Spring Fling at the UGA Softball Stadium. UAlbany also dropped a 4-0 decision to the host Bulldogs later in the afternoon.

Kent State (14-5) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Outfielder Lauren Brocklehurst scored the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice by Jessica Carmichael. First baseman Jamie Fitzpatrick, who reached on a walk, scored the second run for the Golden Flashes on an RBI single to center by catcher Amy Hair.

Kent State doubled its advantage in the top of the fifth frame. UAlbany’s Bailey Van Deest connected with first baseman Leanne Tillman to turn a double play to start the inning, but Fitzpatrick reached base on an error, which also allowed Jessica Toocheck to score. Fitzpatrick crossed home on an RBI double by Carmichael to give the Golden Flashes the 4-0 advantage.

UAlbany cut the deficit back to two runs in the bottom of the inning, as shortstop Andrianna Walraven led off with a walk. Senior left fielder Amber Maisonet cracked her first home run of the season in the next at bat, sending the two-run shot over the right field fence.

The Great Danes would get runners on base in the sixth, but Burns recorded two strikeouts to start the seventh and induced a fly-out from Michelle Connors to end the game.

Sarah McCloud and Kate Gaskill combined in the circle for Georgia’s shutout win over the Great Danes in the second game. McCloud, who tossed 5.1 innings and recorded three strikeouts, earned her seventh win of the season, while Gaskill fanned three to claim her third save for the Bulldogs.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, as Georgia baserunners advanced on consecutive wild pitches by UAlbany’s Leah McIntosh. Designated player Jennie Auger tripled to right field to score Taylor Schlopy and Katie Backer to give the Bulldog’s the advantage.

Georgia (28-8) added two more runs in the next frame, as third baseman Alisa Goler knocked a two-RBI single into left. UAlbany (6-7) had a chance to score in the bottom of the fifth, as Maisonet advanced to third on a single by Nicole Kothe. Gaskill struck out her first batter faced, and fanned the final batter of the inning to get the Bulldogs out of the jam.

The Great Danes had another scoring opportunity in the top of the final inning, as Walraven and catcher Kat Smith recorded back-to-back singles. Walraven was caught trying to advance on a throw, and Gaskill struck out Kristine Bill to seal the Georgia victory.

McIntosh dropped to 4-2 on the season in her sixth complete-game performance. She struck out four and issued two walks in the game.

The Great Danes will wrap play at the Georgia Spring Fling on Sunday, taking on Kent State at 12 p.m.

Women's Lacrosse Falls in Conference Opener

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Molly Collins scored four goals, all in the first half, and had one assist in leading No. 15 Boston University to a 15-2 victory over UAlbany in the Great Danes’ America East Conference opener on Saturday, March 22 at John Fallon Field.

Collins, a senior midfielder, scored the contest’s opening goal on a shot from left of the cage and later converted a free-position opportunity for a 3-0 lead with 18:42 remaining in the first half. Collins staked her team to a 7-0 halftime lead with back-to-back goals. She sent a blast high into the net after cutting in front of the crease and then added her fourth of the game after gathering in Erica Baumgartner’s pass from over top of the cage.

Sarah Dalton, who also totaled four goals and one assist, went to work in the final half. The All-America midfielder scored three times in the period, including consecutive goals for a 12-1 advantage with 24:20 to play. Xan Weitzel, who handed out four assists, fed Dalton on cut to the crease for her 21st of the season.

Boston U. (6-2, AE 2-0) limited the Great Danes to 13 shots, while goalkeeper Rachel Klein made 10 saves. Steph Walker had three goals and one assist and Traci Landy scored twice. The Terriers, who are also ranked 16th nationally by Inside Lacrosse, are favored to win the America East title and make their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance.

Kayla Best and Jane Bush tallied second-half goals for UAlbany (5-3, AE 0-1). The Great Danes, who had matched their best start as a Division I program, have dropped all nine meetings in this series, including a pair of postseason contests.

University of Albany's Corey Small Scores Four Goals in Lacrosse's 10-2 Win Against No. 11 Princeton

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Corey Small scored four goals, including two in each half, as UAlbany picked up its first win of the season with a 10-2 upset of 11th-ranked Princeton on Friday, March 21 at John Fallon Field.

UAlbany (1-5) ended a stretch of four consecutive one-goal losses by limiting Princeton to 10 of its 28 shots through the opening three quarters in a game played in freezing temperatures and wind gusts in excess of 30 miles per hour. Senior goalkeeper Brett Queener made 10 saves, including six in the final period, as the Great Danes held an opponent to its lowest goal total in nearly five years.

The Great Danes, who were edged by No. 14 Drexel just six days ago at home, snapped a 1-1 tie late in the first quarter when Small and freshman Kyle Crotty connected 28 seconds apart. Small scored from the right side off a pass from Steve Ammann after the Tigers were whistled for an offside call. Queener’s save of a Mark Kovler shot led to Crotty’s goal in transition. Small gave his club a 4-1 halftime lead midway through the second quarter when he fired an underhanded blast from the middle of the zone after freshman Brian Caufield drove from the left corner.

Small, whose goal count was one off his career-high, and Levine stretched the lead with goals in the final four minutes of the third quarter. Princeton goalkeeper Alex Hewitt stopped Brian Grodotske’s initial shot, but Small recovered the rebound and found the back of the net. Levine carried the ball from the right side, hesitated, and then spun back to his right shoulder for his fifth goal of the season with 2:44 left in the stanza.

The Great Danes, who were hosting their highest-ranked opponent since last year’s NCAA first-round game with Loyola, scored four unanswered in the final stanza. Chris Schongar, a long-stick midfielder, helped clear the ball in transition to the scoring area, where Small finished off Caufield’s crossing pass. Caufield upped his team’s lead to 8-1 with 11:31 to play after a blocked shot in the defensive half led to a fastbreak opportunity. Ammann, a senior midfielder who a career-best scoring total with two goals and two assists, scored his second of the game five minutes later.

“It feels good because we beat a quality opponent,” said Queener, who made double figures saves for the 20th time in his career. “We played our best sixty minutes this year. We communicated, new their offensive sets, and played with discipline.”

Mark Kovler, an All-America midfielder, scored both goals for the Tigers, who were coming off an 11-6 victory over Hofstra and were held to their lowest goal output since the 1989 campaign. Hewitt finished with eight saves. UAlbany’s Caufield had one goal and two assists.

“We needed a win,” offered UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was playing its fifth national top-15 opponent this season. “That’s a program with six national titles and a Hall of Fame coach. Brett Queener was great in goal, but we also played solid position defense. We limited our mental mistakes and played with discipline.”

**********

#11 Princeton (2-3) 1 0 0 1 - 2

UAlbany (1-5) 3 1 2 4 - 10

Princeton – Scoring: Mark Kovler 2-0, Scott MacKenzie 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Alex Hewitt (60:00, 8 saves, 10 GA).

UAlbany – Scoring: Corey Small 4-0, Steve Ammann 2-2, Brian Caufield 1-2, Jordan Levine 1-1, Kyle Crotty 1-1, Mark Cometti 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (55:18, 10 saves, 1 GA), Dan McKeon (4:42, 1 save, 1 GA).

UAlbany 10, #11 Princeton 2 (Mar 21, 2008)

Baseball Falls 5-1 in Weekend Series Opener at No. 18 Coastal Carolina

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Conway, S.C. – Bobby Gagg struck out seven over seven innings to lead No. 18 Coastal Carolina to a 5-1 win over UAlbany in the opening game of a non-conference baseball series on Friday, March 21 at Watson Stadium.

David Sappelt, the Big South Player of the Year last season, led off the bottom of the first inning by belting the first pitch he saw for a home run to left field. The Chanticleers tacked on an unearned run in the second as Scott Woodward scored on a throwing error.

Coastal Carolina (16-4) took a 4-0 lead in the fourth as Tommy Baldridge walked to lead off the frame and Woodward followed two batters later with a homer to right field. The Chanticleers closed out their scoring in the sixth as David Anderson led off with a double and later scored on a passed ball.

UAlbany (4-12-1) scored its lone run in the top of the eighth inning. Sophomore right fielder Brendan Rowland connected on a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a groundout that moved him to third, Rowland scored as junior designated hitter Ryan Gugel reached base on an error by the first baseman.

Senior righty Casey Walsh was tagged with his fourth loss of the season for the Great Danes, striking out three in six and two-thirds innings pitched, while yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits. Junior Chris Ott pitched a scoreless final one and one-third innings. Gagg, the 2007 Big South Pitcher of the Year, improved to 3-1 on the season by striking out seven in seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits. Nick McCully earned his third save by striking out the only two batters he faced.

The Great Danes and the Chanticleers resume their series on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

University of Albany's Renauld Buck Places Fourth in Shot Put at Miami University's Hurricane Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Coral Gables, Fla. – Senior Renauld Buck finished fourth in the shot put to lead the UAlbany track and field team at Miami’s Hurricane Invitational at Cobb Stadium on Friday, March 21.

Buck, a senior, registered a throw of 48-feet, 0.50-inches to finish in fourth place in the event. Junior Will Anger placed ninth in the event with a distance of 42-feet, 8-inches. In the high jump, senior David Parker and sophomore Anthony Collica tied for 10th place by clearing the bar at 6-feet, 3.50-inches.

Day Two of the invitational begins on Saturday, March 22 at 11:00 a.m.

-agate-

Men’s Results
Shot Put: 4. Renauld Buck 48-0.50, 9. Will Anger 42-8. High Jump: T10. David Parker 6-3.50, T10. Anthony Collica 6-3.50.


Women’s Results
High Jump: Brenna Militello NH

Atlantic City Surf Sign UAlbany's Steve Wyland

Wyland enters his first professional season after playing collegiately at the University at Albany. He led the America East Conference with a .388 average in 2007, finishing third with 45 runs scored and 45 RBI to go along with 14 doubles and five home runs. The Stratford, N.J., native helped to lead the Great Danes to a conference championship and a berth in NCAA regional play for the first time in school history.

As a junior in 2006, Wyland was named to the all-conference second team, finishing eighth in the league with a .347 average and leading the America East with a .469 on-base percentage. He was fourth in the conference with a .357 average his sophomore year, earning first-team All-America East honors.

Wyland finished second all-time at UAlbany in games played (174), third in hits (211), fourth in runs scored (142) and at-bats (607), and fifth in RBI (108) and career batting average (.347).

NY Private Universities Want Public Aid: They Want To Steal a Share of $4B State Endowment

Does Cornell University's campus look like it needs New York State Public assistance, in the form of billions of dollars? New York State has been using your tax money, supporting private schools for decades.

Maybe a part of what has been askew with New York States Public University System is that taxpayers have been duped into funding and providing public assistance in the form of billions and billions of dollars to PRIVATE colleges and universities located in NYS... instead of using this money to build a better SUNY.

Now, private schools seek aid, and their lobbying group pushes for share of proposed $4B New York State Higher Education endowment recently proposed by Governor Spitzer. How in the world can New York State taxpayers being funding private colleges and universities with billions of dollars in funding? What about 'private university' doesn't the New York State government understand.

"New York wants a top public university system. It already has a leading private one.
Now the state faces new questions on how to support both.

The spotlight is keyed in on boosting SUNY. But New York's private colleges -- the world's biggest sector of private higher education -- also are pushing for more state support.

Their agenda: A low-cost student loan program with debt forgiveness for graduates who stay in New York. More tuition assistance. Billions in research grants.

These also would be open to the publics. They'd draw on the same $4 billion endowment, funded by leasing some of the state Lottery, that Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed to shore up SUNY and CUNY.

The programs could expand a deep pool of public money available to a private education sector that has historically wielded great influence in Albany.

Tuition. Construction. Operations. All are subsidized by state programs and grants.

Private colleges cashed in some $9 million between April 2003 and March 2005 from the state's taxpayer-funded pork barrel "member item" account, according to a Times Union analysis. That included $735,000 for Columbia University and around $1.6 million for New York University.

Spitzer, meanwhile, just committed $50 million for a building at University of Rochester, which has a $1.7 billion endowment. SUNY's University at Albany has a $30 million endowment.

State support for private colleges and their students adds up to about $350 million a year, not including capital projects, according to the private schools. Some put the number higher. Some question the investment. And some legislators have pushed to reduce it.

"I think there has to be a much more judicious, careful study of what the state gains from allocating funds to private institutions," said Pedro Caban, SUNY's vice provost for diversity and educational equity. "We have to ask some basic questions. If an institution has a billion-dollar endowment, should it not take moneys from those endowments to provide tuition support rather than depending on public funds to provide tuition support?"

Abe Lackman, president of the lobbying group that represents private colleges in Albany, argues that his sector is a bargain for taxpayers.

The more than 100 private colleges that belong to Lackman's Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities enroll about 460,000 students, compared with 427,000 at SUNY's 64 schools. They fulfill a public purpose. And they serve greater numbers of low- and moderate-income students than SUNY or CUNY, according to the commission.

Private colleges "relieve an extraordinary burden" that taxpayers would have to bear, said Lackman, a former Senate finance committee secretary and special adviser to Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. New York's private schools are magnets for out-of-state students, he added.

Meanwhile, a task force that Spitzer formed to elevate higher education highlighted "grave concerns" about SUNY and CUNY in a December report.

"While New York's private research universities are widely recognized as world-class institutions," the report said, "SUNY and CUNY need significant investment to become competitive with other states' top public research universities."
A degree of tension has always existed between public and private colleges in New York. It flares up periodically, said Henry Steck, a SUNY Cortland political science professor who has studied state aid to the privates. At one point it was characterized as "nearly warfare."

There's a long history to this tale of two systems.

Go back to the mid-1800s. National sentiment back then "supported the establishment of the great state land-grant universities," according to former SUNY Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs Sanford Levine. That mainly grew out of the Morrill Act of 1862, "which provided for grants of federal lands to states for the creation of educational institutions," he said.

"In New York, however, the push for public higher education met a resistance not experienced in other states due to our exceptional tradition of first-rate, strong independent private colleges," according to a 1988 speech Levine gave on SUNY.

Cornell University became New York's land-grant school. It wasn't until the 1940s that different forces propelled the creation of SUNY, one of the country's youngest state systems.

Still, New York has maintained a commitment to its private schools. That annual commitment includes roughly $250 million through the Tuition Assistance Program; $46 million in unrestricted "Bundy Aid" and about $300 million for capital projects over the past decade.

"I doubt that the public in New York is aware of the support that the state gives to private institutions," said Barbara Bowen, head of CUNY's faculty union. "But I also at the same time bet that most of the public is not aware of how underfunded SUNY and CUNY have been." Parry can be reached at 454-5057 or by e-mail at mparry@timesunion.com. Aaron Ancel, a data analyst, contributed research to this report." Courtesy: M. Parry

Contact your New York State government representative in the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly... Voice your opinion on this matter.

Governor Patterson:

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari:
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco:
tediscj@ assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Neil Breslin
breslin@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno:
bruno@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcom Smith:
masmith@senate.state.ny.us

City of Albany: Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us

President of The University of the State of New York (USNY) and Commissioner of Education: Richard P. Mills

Interim SUNY Chancellor: Dr. John B. Clark

NYS Commission on Higher Education
hecomm.sm.web@nysemail.state.ny.us

SUNY Flagships: University of Albany's Future at Stake. Voice Your Support Now !

The University of Albany is one of the four University Centers in the SUNY system. UAlbany has been a peer to SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, and SUNY Binghamton for over a century. But, ‘for how long?’ is the question the University of Albany, UAlbany alumni, the Capital District, and the City of Albany should be asking.

There is major concern after listening to the Governor’s State of the State Address, and his Speech concerning SUNY future. It appears that Governor Spitzer and his Commission on Higher Education are pushing for the creation of two flagship Universities in the SUNY system, but the University of Albany is not one of them. Flagship status means huge investment, with little investment to other campuses. Albany is the capital of New York State and is home to the NY State Government. Albany is also home to UAlbany. How would it be possible not to include the University of Albany in flagship status, representing the State of New York?

There is concern and it is evident in this News10 coverage:

“Albany-area politicians were shocked that with all of Governor Eliot Spitzer's talk of boosting higher education, that UAlbany did not even get a mention in the more than hour-long speech. He did, however, mention designating Stony Brook University and the University at Buffalo as "flagship" institutions.

Canestrari, the Assembly Majority Leader, could not believe that the governor did not mention UAlbany in calling for the creation of two so-called "flagship universities" - one on Long Island, the other in Buffalo.” Courtesy: News10 Albany

*************

On Tuesday, the Governor released his BUDGET PROPOSAL, containing major changes in funding for the SUNY system. The allocations of funds seem to be concentrated on the two University Centers that have been verbally labeled as future flagships of the State University of New York system, Buffalo and Stony Brook. This budget proposal has raised red flags, expressing concern over the omission of the Univesity of Albany and the University of Binghamton.

Being excluded from Flagship designation means a loss and reduction of billions and billions of dollars in funding. This funding affects every aspect of a university, including educational and athletic facilites.

The Times Union offered an interesting fact regarding the University of Buffalo being targeted with huge investment for MAJOR EXPANSION. “The New York Times reported that realizing UB's planned expansion will require a one-time investment of $1.6 billion. Governor Spitzer’s response… " we are saying to them, Yes, we want to dedicate significant revenues to help you transform. "

With such deliberate talk of supporting the Univerity of Buffalo and Stony Brook, what will happen to the University of Albany? Will UAlbany receive equal funding? Will UAlbany receive equal flagship status?

The answers to these very questions may be hinted at, if one looks at Sptizer’s budget proposal for SUNY.

*************

NOTICE THE VAST DIFFERENCES IN GOVERNOR SPITZER’S PROPOSED FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY CENTERS OF SUNY. THIS MAY BE A SIGN THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY IS BEING PASSED BY FOR FLAGSHIP STATUS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM.

In every category of University Center funding, Buffalo and Stony Brook are receiving much, much more than the Albany and Binghamton.

Total budget allocations with Nanotech and Stonybrook hospital included:

SBU - $1,515,100,000
UB - $331,151,000 (no major projects funded)
UAlbany - $347,923,000
Bing - $234,577,000 (no major projects funded)

Total budget allocations without UAlbany’s Nanotech and Stonybrook’s Hospital. A more realistic measure of fund allocation per University center:

SBU - $873,000,000
UB - $703,000,000
UAlbany - $445,000,000
Bing - $374,000,000

Campus-wide critical maintenance per University center:

SBU - $86,160,000
UB - $75,031,000
UAlbany - $39,743,000
Bing - $38,334,000

Various Projects (which includes the Division I lighting for UA, but not the athletic appropriations for Bing, UB, or SBU):

UB - $178,214,000
SBU -$172,258,000
Bing - $120,689,000
UAlbany - $78,849,000

"Minor rehab" category:

UB - $1,306,000
SBU - $1,262,000
UAlbany - $556,000
Bing - $554,000

Community Colleges and small SUNY colleges receiving major Athletic Department funding:

SUNY Utica-Rome - $20,000,000 for a fieldhouse.
SUNY Brockport - $24,000,000 for Special Events and Recreation center
SUNY Canton - $18,000,000 for Athletics and Recreation center
Tompkins Cortland Community College Athletics Complex - $10,000,000"

***************

UAlbany Facilities Funding?

Facilities upgrades is a necessity when a University or a University system wants to compete on the National level. The University of Albany has been contemplating a new multi-purpose athletic stadium for the past few years, especially after claiming several NEC Championships the past few years. Finally, the university was prepared to include the stadium funding in this year's UAlbany budget request. The SUNY Board of Directors already approved the request. It was passed on to Governor Spitzer, along with the entire SUNY request.

The governor appears to have forsaken the University of Albany's athletic department. It appears he excluded the stadium funding in his budget proposal, which has been passed on to the State legislature.

Although SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook already have large football stadiums on their campus, the governor has proposed to give them both over 100 million more than the University of Albany in athletic department funding. UAlbany plays in Division I FCS football but has a high school quality field, with rusted metal and wooden bleachers. The field only seats a couple thousand spectators, offering horrible views at best. UAlbany even hosts the NFL's New York Giants training camp during each summer.

News channel 10’s following piece echoes this concern:

"After the Governor's budget proposal on Tuesday, some alumni were concerned that the University may be left out in the cold….

The Governor laid out his strategy for higher education….. With plans already drawn up for a new state-of-the-art stadium at the University of Albany, it might be expected to see big numbers in funding for the SUNY University of Albany campus. However, even though those numbers are seen for several SUNY and CUNY systems, Albany is not one of them.

Many local minds are abuzz with questions about the planned stadium, and if the school will receive the State support to get it up and running. With upper-class facilities already existing in other SUNY schools such as Buffalo and Stony Brook, the query remains if Albany can still be a flagship in the Governor's budget.” Courtesy: News 10 Albany

If SUNY is to gain national recognition, which the governor seeks, the university centers need the facilities to mirror success and quality of its programs. UAlbany is the most successful in terms of athletics, winning 27 conference championships and earning 13 NCAA tournament apprearances in only 7 years of Division I competition. The University needs a stadium, period. Buffalo and Stony Brook granted funding when they proposed their stadiums. Now, the governor is neglecting UAlbany for its deserved facility request.

****************

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FLAGSHIP LABEL

The flagship label is not just a frivolous title. A flagship campus is by definition the best. This will be New York State’s official designation that the specified universities are the new face of SUNY. These flagship Universities will be the showcase universities of the State University of New York system. The flagship campuses will gain National Recognition, and all others will wither into mediocrity.

By design, the flagship campus or campuses are the largest within any given state university system. In addition, these flagship universities are the best funded within the university system. Disproportionate spending on flagship campuses, including massive spending on educational facilities, higher quality professors, and athletic programs and facilities, is the norm. This flagship status is permanent and the universities labeled as ‘flagship’ always become the most prestigious of the entire system. Universities which fail to acquire flagship status become second class, and suffer in many ways.

If the University of Albany was passed over for flagship status, it would be a huge blow to its future. UAlbany would be labeled as ‘inferior’, in comparison to the flagship campuses of SUNY. The University would receive billions of dollars less in funding than the flagship campuses. This limited funding would mean that all growth in the University would terminate. Seldom would the University see any new construction of new, much needed facilities. A large majority of funding would be earmarked for upkeep of the present facilities.

There is much more at stake here than the future of UAlbany. If the University does not acquire the flagship status, the Capital District would would suffer a significant economic loss. This loss will be in the form of millions, if not billions of dollars, over the decade. Funding decreases immediately. This Flagship status is permanent and therefore the funding loss happens perpetually. In the long run, this means the loss of thousands of jobs in Albany and the Capital District, when enrollment numbers take a nose dive, and services are not needed anymore. Small businesses catering to the University student body will not survive.

With all of the history behind the University Centers and the investment into these four pillars of SUNY.... how can someone and a group of education specialists come out and exclude two of them, when considering Flagship status?

Maybe they don't know what flagship status actually means. Maybe they don't realize the negative impact this will have on the SUNY system as a whole, specifically the other two University Centers.

Would a New York teen pick a SUNY non-flagship school before a SUNY flagship school? Most of them will probably not do so. Would sport enthusiastic teens pick a SUNY non-flagship school with athletic facilities that resemble a high school, or will they pick a SUNY flagship with Division I quality athletic facilities? Probably the flagship with topnotch athletics and athletic facilities.

The people deciding the futures of the University centers have apparently not seen that UAlbany's enrollment applications have skyrocketed his decade. Those enrollment numbers will be dwindling rapidly if we are categorized as second rate.

The University of Albany and the Capital District would be huge losers if not given flagship status.

*****************

WORLD CLASS RESEARCH WILL BE THE SOURCE OF IDENTITY FOR ‘THE NEW SUNY’

Governor Spitzer has the intention of bringing the SUNY University system to levels competitive among the world leaders. SUNY’s first class research is going to be the center piece in this endeavor. Why would there be a question on whether or not to include the University of Albany as a flagship? UAlbany is a powerhouse of research initiatives.

The University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics are only two of the University’s world class research centers. The Cancer center is considered among the top in the nation. The Nanoscale Center is considered the top in the World. Among those topnotch research centers at the University of Albany are: The Center for Neuroscience Research, The Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, and The Northeast Regional Forensic Institute.

Please visit: http://www.albany.edu/research/CentersInstitutesLabs.htm

UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Technology is the first in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. The NanoTech Complex - a $4.2 billion, 450,000-square-foot Megacomplex that has attracted over 250 global corporate partners - is the most advanced research complex of its kind at any university in the world.

UAlbany's Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics, located in a $45 million facility, is committed to research that will discover the genetic origins of cancer and lead to finding a cure for the disease.

Look at the Total Annual R & D $ at the Leading New York Research Universities:

Cornell.........648 million
Columbia.......541 million
Rochester......366 million
UBuffalo.......297 million *
NYU............284 million
UAlbany........274 million *
Mount Sinai....273 million
UStonyBrook...234 million *
Rockefeller....215 million
Yeshiva........189 million
RPI..............70 million
Syracuse........36 million
UBinghamton....29 million *

* SUNY Universtiy Centers

It is quite obvious that the two leaders in the SUNY University system are the Universtiy of Albany and the University of Buffalo. If there were only two Universities within the State University of New York system that should be granted FLAGSHIP status, these would be the two. On the other hand, it would be ashame if any of the University Centers of SUNY were left out to dry on this one. There has been too much invested already, and the research bases are solid and strong in all four centers. In a sense, SUNY already declared all four centers as Flagships of NY's State University system, when they were declared University Centers years ago. The solution that makes sense is to equally fund these university centers in all sectors: academics, facilities, athletics, etc. This is how to make SUNY stand out among the national leaders in higher education, to have four powerhouse Universities leading the Nation.

*****************

The Governor commented that the SUNY Buffalo and Stony Brook were well positioned to handle rapid growth and expansion, through rapidly increasing state funding, and well positioned to lead the SUNY system.

The University of Albany is also well positioned. Before any mention of 'Flagships' in the SUNY system, UAlbany has become one of the top universities in the nation, with outstanding programs throughout. This is evident through the following national rankings.

The University of Albany Rankings
Top 25 Program Rankings:

#1 Nanoscience and Engineering - ahead of Cornell (#2), Michigan-Ann Arbor ((#3), Rice (#4), University of Pennsylvania (#5).
#2 Criminal Justice - (US News 2006)
#3 Africana Studies - (Black Issues in Higher Education July 2004)
#4 Information Technology and Management - (US News 2006)
#5 Social Welfare - (Academic Analytics 2006)
#6 Public Administration and Management - (US News 2006)
#7 Educational Administration - (Academic Analytics 2006)
#9 Public Finance and Budgeting - (US News 2006)
#10 Public Policy - (US News 2005)
#13 Educational and Counseling Psychology - (US News 2006)
#15 Library Science - (US News 2006)
#25 Public Policy Analysis - (US News 2006)
#25 Sociology - (US News 2006)

Atmospheric Sciences: ranked in the first quartile of NSF rankings in total federal R&D expenditures.

Chronicles of Higher Education ranks the doctoral programs in criminal justice, educational administration, and social welfare in their "Top 10" list nationally in their respective disciplines.

When medical schools are excluded from NSF funded research national rankings, the University of Albany is ranked 38th nationally. The University ranks 77th nationally in NSF funded research, behind Carnegie Mellon 76th when medical school funding is included when ranking the universities.

A recent ranking of the world's universities by the Institute of Higher Education: Shanghai Jaio Tong University Shanghai, China, which is a participant in the International Expert Group Created to Improve Higher Education Rankings, ranked University of Albany 89th in the nation.

According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, it is a Public Ivy.
Rankings-Courtesy: WKPD

If flagship designation is made, it should be given to all four university centers. Any given university center is too important to be pushed aside. Without equal funding and attention, a university can lose all momentum, and begin to degrade. After a decade's time, it will be evident which universities were foresaken.

***************

LET YOUR VOICE AND THOUGHTS BE HEARD NOW. CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO BE GRANTED FLAGSHIP STATUS. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO BE FUNDED EQUALLY TO THE OTHER THREE UNIVERSITY CENTERS IN THE SUNY SYSTEM. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO UPGRADE ITS ATHLETIC FACILITIES AS WELL, INCLUDING THE REQUESTED FUNDS FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM.

CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL NOW. CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THE STATE GOVERNMENT BEGINS BUDGET NEGOCIATIONS FOR SUNY FUNDING. STATE DEADLINE FOR BUDGET: END OF MARCH.

UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip
presmail@uamail.albany.edu

UAlbany Interim Provost Susan D. Phillips
sdphil@uamail.albany.edu

Governor Patterson:

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari:
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco:
tediscj@ assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Neil Breslin
breslin@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno:
bruno@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcom Smith:
masmith@senate.state.ny.us

City of Albany: Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us

President of The University of the State of New York (USNY) and Commissioner of Education: Richard P. Mills

Interim SUNY Chancellor: Dr. John B. Clark

NYS Commission on Higher Education
hecomm.sm.web@nysemail.state.ny.us