McIntosh Tosses No-Hitter To Lead UAlbany Softball to a Doubleheader Sweep of Manhattan

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Riverdale, N.Y. – Leah McIntosh took a perfect game into the seventh inning of game one to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Manhattan in non-conference softball action on Wednesday, April 30. McIntosh’s second no-hitter of the season gave the Great Danes a 4-0 win in the early game, while Marissa Powell tossed a complete-game in the nightcap, leading UAlbany to a 7-2 victory.

McIntosh, who pitched to one hitter over the minimum, established the program’s Division I record by fanning 18 batters to improve to 13-5 on the season and record her fifth shutout. Andee Lindgren held the previous standard with 15 strikeouts against Vermont on April 30, 2003.

UAlbany (29-15) scored its first run of the game in the third inning, as Jess Bergin, who reached on a Manhattan error, was driven home on a ground out by Kristine Bill. The Great Danes added three runs in the top of the fourth, as Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) drew a lead-off walk. Meagan Butsch followed with a single and advanced to second to put runners in scoring position. First baseman Gina Mason knocked a triple to plate a pair of runs before Nicole Kothe drove her in on a ground out to short.

Ashley Rampino took the loss in the circle for Manhattan, striking out two over five innings. Allison Smith tossed the final two innings in relief, fanning two opposing batters.

In game two, UAlbany recorded a four-run second inning to take the early advantage. The Great Danes had four consecutive singles, with Kothe driving in one run and Bergin sending two runs home. Left fielder Amber Maisonet knocked a single to score Bergin and give her team a 4-0 advantage.

The Great Danes added two runs in the third, as Connors belted a lead-off double and was driven home on a Butsch single. Butsch and Mason completed a double steal to advance on the basepaths, but Butsch was called out at the plate on a fielder’s choice that put Kothe on base. Mason and Kothe then pulled a double steal, with Mason crossing home plate.

UAlbany added a final insurance run in the top of the seventh, with Butsch recording an RBI double that scored Connors, who reached on a single to start the frame.

Manhattan (10-31) was able to avoid the shutout, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jaclyn Churilla led off with a single and advanced on a base hit by Kaitlin Rodriguez. After Kara Cokely drew a walk to load the bases, Lyndzie Phillips recorded an RBI single to score Churilla. Powell walked Nicole Michel to score the Jaspers’ second run before inducing a fly out by Jaci Rahey to end the game.

Powell finished with five strikeouts and scattered seven hits in her complete-game performance. Smith took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs in two innings of work. Rampino fanned three over five innings in the circle.

UAlbany will return home to host America East Conference-rival Boston University in the final league series of the regular season over the weekend, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany 001 300 0 - 4 6 1

Manhattan 000 000 0 - 0 0 1

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.

Manhattan: Ashley Rampino, Allison Smith (6) and Amanda Genovese.



UAlbany (29-15) 042 000 1 - 7 11 0

Manhattan (10-31) 000 000 2 - 2 7 2

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

Manhattan: Allison Smith, Ashley Rampino (3) and Amanda Genovese.

UAlbany Places Seven Players on All-America East Conference Men's Lacrosse Squad

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Jordan Levine leads a group of seven players who were voted to the 2008 America East All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Team, as announced on Wednesday, April 30 by the conference office at the tournament championship banquet. Levine became the third UAlbany player to be named to the all-league first team in three consecutive seasons.
Levine, a senior midfielder, is third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 17 assists. He ranks 23rd nationally in ground balls at 4.57 per game. Levine, who has seven multi-point games this season, has accounted for 109 points (56 goals, 53 assists) and 313 ground balls during his career. He was named to the USILA All-America second team as a junior.

Defenseman Craig McDonald makes his third consecutive appearance on the all-conference squad, and is a member of the first team for the second year in a row. McDonald, who usually marks the other team’s top attacker, leads a unit that is ranked eighth among the NCAA Division I leaders in scoring defense (7.14 goals/game). Brian Caufield is the first UAlbany freshman to earn first-team all-conference recognition. He is 22nd nationally in scoring at 3.36 points per game. Caufield, who also was named to the America East all-rookie squad, has 23 goals and 17 assists heading into the postseason.

Goalkeeper Brett Queener is among four players who were named to the all-conference second team. Queener is ranked among the nation’s leaders in goals against average (7.20) and save percentage (.588). He stopped a season-best 15 shots in last Saturday’s regular-season finale, his 25th game with double-figure saves as a collegian. Queener, a three-time all-league selection, was an USILA honorable mention All-America choice one year ago.

Steve Ammann, Corey Small and Chris Schongar were also on the All-America East second team. Ammann, a senior midfielder who is on the all-league team for the second straight year, had a career-best 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) this season. Corey Small, a junior attacker, led the team in scoring for most of the year until an injury forced him to miss three games. Small accounted for 28 goals and eight assists. Schongar, a junior long-stick midfielder, collected 45 ground balls.

Defenseman Mike Banks and attackman Joe Pompo join Caufield on the America East all-rookie team. Ammann, who has a 3.86 grade points average in business administration, earned a spot on the conference’s all-academic squad.

UAlbany has produced 30 all-league players since joining the America East Conference in the 2002 season. Levine joins Luke Daquino and Frank Resetarits as three-time first-team selections.

University of Albany Athletics Continues Its Dominance Over Siena College

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Meagan Butsch's Three-Run Homer Leads UAlbany Softball Past Siena, 7-3




University of Albany Athletics Continues Its Dominance Over Siena College

2008 Head to Head Competition
TOTAL: UAlbany 6 Siena 0

UAlbany 7 Siena 3 - Women's Softball: April 29
UAlbany 6 Siena 1 - Women's Tennis: April 16
UAlbany 13 Siena 6 - Men's Lacrosse: April 2
UAlbany 2 Siena 1 - Women's Softball: March 27
UAlbany 3 Siena 2 - Women's Softball: March 27
UAlbany 18 Siena 8 - Women's Lacrosse: March 3


Albany, N.Y. – Third baseman Meagan Butsch knocked a three-run homer to left field in the sixth inning to lead UAlbany to a 7-3 win over crosstown-rival Siena in non-conference softball action at Albany Field on Tuesday afternoon. The game, originally scheduled to be played at Siena, was moved to UAlbany’s campus due to unplayable field conditions at the Saints’ home field.

Siena (15-30) took an early lead when third baseman Jennifer Granato knocked a solo home run over the left field fence. The Saints doubled their lead in the third, as Ranee Clavette doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a Jenny McNulty’s sacrifice bunt. Granato recorded her second base hit of the game, singling up the middle to score Clavette.

The Great Danes tied the game by scoring two runs in their half of the fourth inning. Jess Bergin and Kat Smith recorded back-to-back singles before Nicole Kothe cracked a two-out triple to centerfield, scoring both base runners.

UAlbany (27-15) increased the lead with a four-run fifth inning. Shortstop Andrianna Walraven drew a lead-off walk and Michelle Connors was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on the base paths. Butsch drove her seventh home run of the season over the left-field fence to give the Great Danes a 5-2 advantage. First baseman Gina Mason followed with a solo shot to left center to tack another run on the scoreboard, before Siena pitcher Courtney Brinkman recorded a strikeout and induced a pop out to end the at-bat.

UAlbany would add a single run in the top half of the seventh frame, as Smith drove in Bailey Van Deest with a base hit up the middle.

Marissa Powell earned the win for UAlbany, striking out four in five innings of work to improve to 11-9 on the season. Brittany Rose (Schenectady) tossed two innings in relief, fanning three. Brinkman took the loss in the circle for Siena, striking out four opposing batters over five innings. Lauren Shaheen struck out three in two innings of work.

UAlbany will visit Manhattan on Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany (27-15) 000 240 1 - 7 8 0

Siena (15-30) 101 010 0 - 3 7 2

UAlbany: Marissa Powell, Brittany Rose (6) and Kat Smith.

Continually Voice Your Support for Equal Funding Among SUNY University Centers

The question that the University of Albany, UAlbany alumni, the Capital District, and the City of Albany should be asking: How long will we tolerate the disproportionate funding among the SUNY University Centers by the state legislators? There is quite a bit of unfair play and manipulation going on in the SUNY system and the state government, and it needs to stop.

There was major concern reviewing the governor’s State of the State Address, and his Speech concerning SUNY future. The disgraced ex-governor Spitzer formed the commission on higher education. He and his commission were pushing for the creation of two flagship universities in the SUNY system, but the University of Albany was not one of them. Instead of favoring university centers based on merit, the ex-governor was targeting Buffalo and Stony Brook because of their need for economic and community revitalization.

The commission's responsibility and purpose was to research SUNY's current position and to recommend how New York’s State University System can improve and become more nationally competitive. Conveniently, SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook both had their University Presidents on this commission. Due to this unfair and manipulative representation, the other university centers were neglected. These university presidents, presiding on the commission, persuaded the group to single out their universities by suggesting they become flagships of SUNY. Fortunately, Governor Spitzer humiliatingly resigned and his obsession is no longer in play. But, the university centers are not funded proportionately, and things need to change.

Due to the current absence of a University President, the University of Albany is not being represented in key negotiations throughout the State process. UAlbany was certainly not represented during the commission’s review of SUNY. UAlbany was certainly not represented when omitted from flagship status recommendations. Representation is vital to our uiversity throughout the state process. It has been almost two years since our university has had a president, since the untimely death of Kermit Hall. The other SUNY University centers are taking advantage of our predicament.

Flagship status means huge investment into the ‘flagship’ schools. Unfortunately, funding is enormously disproportionate to these schools. Little investment and attention is given to other campuses. 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 facilities.

Regardless of flagship status or not, the University of Albany is not receiving proportionate funding as other university centers. Students, alumni, and capital district residents need to fight for their university and equal state funding.

UNFAIR REPRESENTATION WITHIN SUNY – UNIVERSITY PREFERENCE GIVEN BY NY STATE LAWMAKERS

Facility 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 turned its back on the University of Albany. He excluded the stadium funding in his budget proposal, which has been passed on to the State legislature. The assembly saw the importance of improving facilities at the UAlbany campus, and saw the benefits it would have on the community and the State University System. Unfortunately, none of our State Senators would support the University’s request for stadium funding, and the hope for funding fizzled away quietly. And ultimately, the funding was never put in the budget that was passed.

After speaking with someone in the NY Budget Office, it seems having a champion in the NYS Senate and having someone sitting on the higher education committee really goes a long, long way in getting excessive amounts of funding for a particular university.

Stony Brook seems to undeservedly reap the rewards from the manipulation of Ken LaValle, a Stony Brook alumnus, and chairman of NY State Senate’s committee of higher education. He seems to keep Stony Brook under his wing, and manipulates negotiates to get as many extra dollars for his former university, whenever the opportunity arises.

Although Stony Brook was funded 20 million dollars for its football stadium earlier this decade, he was able to throw the University another 10 million dollars to upgrade this stadium. These funds were granted in this year’s budget.

Not only did they receive funds for the stadium expansion, they also receive funds in the amount of 10 million dollars to upgrade its basketball arena. This was a direct result of Ken LaValle’s insistence to funnel funds only to Stony Brook, which seems to be a manipulation of his power in the Senate’s committee of higher education.

The governor even 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.

If SUNY is to gain more national recognition, which is important for everyone in the State of NY, the university centers need their facilities to mirror the success and quality of its programs. UAlbany is the most successful in terms of athletics, winning 27 conference championships and earning 13 NCAA tournament appearances in only 8 years of Division I competition. The University needs a stadium, period.


THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FLAGSHIP LABEL AND/OR DISPROPORTIONATE FUNDING

The flagship label is not just a frivolous title. A flagship campus is by definition the best. Flagship universities are the showcase universities of that specific state university system. The flagship campuses gain national recognition, and all others wither into mediocrity.

By design, the flagship campus or campuses are the largest within any given state university system. These flagship universities are the best funded. Disproportionate spending on flagship campuses, including massive spending on educational and athletic facilities, and higher quality and more numerous professors, 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.

There is much more at stake here than the future of UAlbany. If the University does not acquire the flagship status, and others do, 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.

2008/2009 SUNY STATE FUNDING

In this year’s NY State budget, SUNY Buffalo and Stony Brook are receiving much, much more than Albany and Binghamton.

Total university center budget allocations:
Passed Budget Bill - http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A09803&sh=t
Pages 740's - 800

CAPITAL PROJECTS
Albany: Campus-wide critical maintenance: 33,755,000
Binghamton: Campus-wide critical maintenance 32,568,000
Buffalo: Campus-wide critical maintenance projects: 64,027,000
Stony Brook: Campus-wide critical maintenance projects: 72,893,000

Albany:
Construct Business School: 54,000,000
Campus Center Expansion:30,000,000
Campus Revitalization: 5,000,000
Total: 89,000,000

Binghamton:
Law School: 3,000,000
Center for Excellence: 15,000,000
New Athletics Fields: 5,000,000
Upgrade to Events Center: 1,000,000
Total: 24,000,000

Buffalo University
UB Gateway: 32,000,000
Clinical Research Facility: 100,000,000
UB Gateway, Phase IV ............ 6,000,000
Total: 138,000,000

Stony Brook
Student Recreation Center:18,000,000
Computer ScienceBuilding: 40,800,000
Monorail Feasibility Study: 5,000,000
Southampton-Student Center:.7,500,000
Marine Science Bldg: 6,900,000
LI State Veteran`s Home: 5,000,000
Center of Excellence: 2,000,000
CPEP Unit: 3,000,000
Planning of Law School: 250,000
Stadium Expansion: 2,700,000
Stony Brook Law School Project: 45,000,000
University/Basketball Arena: 12,300,000
Total: 148, 450,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS - REAPPROPRIATIONS 2008-09

Albany
Medical Research Facility: 42,000,000

Stony Brook
Intensive Care Building Design and Construction
Hospital Rehabilitation : 150,000,000

Albany
Campus-wide critical maintenance projects: 5,988,000
Binghamton
Campus-wide critical maintenance projects: 5,766,000
Buffalo University
Campus-wide critical maintenance projects:11,004,000
Stony Brook
Southampton Campus Renovations:.20,800,000 and
LI Veterans Home: 1,000,000 and
Campus-wide critical maintenance projects: 13,267,000 =
Stony Brook Total: 35,067,000

Albany - Campus Revitalization Project .... 25,000,000
Binghamton - Engineering Science Research: 60,000,000
Buffalo University - School of Engineering: 24,600,000
Stony Brook
Southampton Renovations: 10,000,000
Stadium: 3,000,000
Gyrodene – Upgrade: 6,000,000
Basketball Arena: 8,000,000
Cellular Therapy Facility: 400,000
Stony Brook Total: 27,000,000

Albany: Power Substation: 5,000,000
Buffalo University: Pharmacy School: 27,000,000

Albany
Cancer Center: 25,000,000
University at Buffalo
School of Engineering: 25,000,000
Binghamton
Nanotech Center: 6,000,000
Athletic Fields: 5,000,000
Downtown Campus: 4,000,000

Stony Brook
Student Recreation Center: 19,500,000
Athletic Department: 1,500,000
Computational {Neuroscience Building}: 22,200,000
Cancer Center: 5,000,000
Southampton Acquisition: 35,000,000
Stonybrook HSC
Cancer Center: 23,000,000
Stony Brook Total: 123,600,000

Stony Brook: Energy research center – urban investment: 10,000,000

Advance for alterations and improvements

Albany ...... 78,849,000
Binghamton ...... 120,689,000
Buffalo ...... 178, 214,000
Stony Brook ...... 172,258,000

It is obvious that certain lawmakers implanted in the New York State government, sitting on key higher educational seats, are funneling disproportionate, excessive amounts of funding to only two university centers.

WORLD CLASS RESEARCH - SUNY IDENTITY – UALBANY

Governor Spitzer had 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.

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.

To view the dozens of other top research initiatives at the University of Albany,
Please visit: http://www.albany.edu/research/CentersInstitutesLabs.htm

TOTAL ANNUAL R & D $ AT 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

Albany is the capital of New York State.
Albany is home to the New York State government.
Albany is also home to the University of Albany, establish in 1844.

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.

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.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY RANKING: NATIONAL TOP 25 PROGRAMS

The University of Albany is well positioned to be the leader of SUNY. UAlbany has become one of the top universities in the nation, with outstanding programs throughout. This is evident through the following national 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

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD NOW – SUPPORT UALBANY

CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL NOW. CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY.

ASK FOR:
*EQUAL FACILITIES
*EQUAL FUNDING
*EQUAL INVESTMENT
*EQUAL GROWTH

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

U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty Reflects on Life of Public Service at UAlbany's Annual Burton Lecture

Michael R. McNulty, U.S. Representative, will deliver the 24th Annual Burton Lecture at the University at Albany's Page Hall (downtown campus) on April 28. The address, entitled "My Reflections on 39 Years of Public Service," highlights the program, which also includes the annual Distinguished Public Service Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Contributions to Public Service, honoring notable individuals who have dedicated their careers to serving the people of New York. The honorees are Edwin D. Reilly Jr., UAlbany professor emeritus and former Niskayuna supervisor; Jamie Fellner, senior counsel, United States Program of Human Rights Watch; Dennis P. Whalen, deputy secretary for Health and Human Services, New York State Office of the Governor; Ward B. Stone, director, Wildlife Pathology Unit, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Harry Rosenfeld, editor-at-large, Times Useless.
The Burton Lecture is named for John E. Burton, who served as New York's budget director under Governor Thomas E. Dewey from 1943 to 1950. Burton, who was credited with modernizing the state's budget process, was a key member of the special committee that recommended the creation of the State University of New York System. He also chaired the committee that created the first public administration degree-granting program at UAlbany.

The event, which will be hosted by UAlbany Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Susan Phillips, will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the Page Hall auditorium.

After nearly 40 years in elective public office, McNulty will retire at the end of his term, leaving a legacy of extensive service at the local, state and national levels. First elected to public office in November 1969 as town supervisor of Green Island, McNulty became the youngest town supervisor in New York State at the age of 22. After serving eight years as supervisor, he was elected mayor of the Village of Green Island and served in that capacity until he was elected to represent New York's 106th Assembly District in 1982.

In 1988, McNulty was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently in his tenth term in office, longer than anyone has served in that seat, he represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties, and portions of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties. This year, McNulty began his 15th year of service on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxation, international trade, health care, human resources and Social Security. He serves on numerous other influential committees and commissions, and chairs the Subcommittee on Social Security. After having served as Freshman Majority Whip and Majority Whip-at-Large, he now serves as At-Large Whip.

UAlbany's Daniel Avery Named America East Conference Track Performer of the Week

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Daniel Avery has been named the America East Conference men’s outdoor track performer of the week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, April 29.

Avery, a freshman from Cooper City, Fla., raced to an IC4A-qualifying time of 14.31 seconds to finish 18th in the 110-meter hurdles at the 114th annual Penn Relays Carnival on Friday, April 25 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Avery, who is receiving his second America East honor of the season, anchored the shuttle hurdle relay team to a first-place finish in the IC4A division, and fourth place overall, in a school-record time of 57.83 seconds. The performance eclipsed the previous school record of 58.62 seconds set in 1995.

The Great Danes return to the track on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 in Orono, Maine for the America East Conference Outdoor Championships.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany's Brett Queener Selected America East Conference Lacrosse Player of the Week

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Brett Queener has been chosen America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced by the conference office on Monday, April 28. He is the second UAlbany player to be recognized this season.

Queener, a senior goalkeeper from Penn Yan, N.Y., made 10 of his season-high 15 saves in the first half and scored a second-quarter goal in last Saturday’s 10-7 conference triumph over Stony Brook. Queener, who was making his final home appearance at John Fallon Field, stopped double-figure shots for the eighth time this year and third game in a row. His goal tied the contest at five apiece with 1:25 left before halftime and was his first with a goalie stick since March 11, 2006. Queener started the transition play with a ground ball near his crease and finished it off with a shot between the visiting goalkeeper’s legs.

Queener is among the NCAA Division I leaders in goals against average (7.20) and save percentage (.588). An honorable mention All-American last year, he has made double-digit saves on 25 occasions as a collegian.

UAlbany (7-7, AE 4-1) is seeded second for this week’s America East Conference Championship and meets Stony Brook in the semifinal round on Thursday, May 1 at UMBC Stadium in Baltimore, Md.

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Seeded Second for America East Conference Championship Tournament

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- UAlbany has earned the second seed for this week’s America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The Great Danes, who are making their seventh consecutive conference postseason tournament appearance, defeated Stony Brook, 10-7, in last Saturday’s regular-season finale to finish second in the America East standings.

UAlbany (7-7, AE 4-1) tangles with third-seed Stony Brook (7-6, AE 3-2) in the semifinal round at UMBC Stadium in Baltimore, Md. on Thursday, May 1 at 4:00 p.m. The two programs will meet in the A-East semifinals for the third straight year. The championship is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m.

UMBC (10-3, AE 5-0) captured the regular-season crown by defeating Vermont last Saturday to record a program-record ninth consecutive win. The Retrievers, the top seed for the second time in the last three years, are ranked No. 5 nationally in the USILA coaches’ poll and No. 7 by Inside Lacrosse. Binghamton (4-7, AE 2-3) won two of its last three games to make the tournament field and will face UMBC in Thursday’s second semifinal at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the America East Men’s Lacrosse Championship are $15.00 for an adult all-session pass. America East students with a valid ID card and youths (14-under) can acquire all-session tickets for $4. Individual tickets will be $8 for adults and $2 for youths and America East students. Contact the UMBC Ticket Office, at 410-455-2205, for more information.

UAlbany has captured America East Conference tournament titles in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The Great Danes have relied on a solid defense that ranks eighth among the Division I leaders in goals allowed at 7.14 per game. Goalkeeper Brett Queener, who has a 7.20 goals against average and a .588 save percentage, and first-team all-conference defenseman Craig McDonald lead that unit. Brian Caufield, a freshman attacker, is the top scorer with 23 goals and 14 assists. All-America midfielder Jordan Levine adds 12 goals and 17 assists.

*********

2008 America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Championship

(played at UMBC Stadium, Baltimore, Md.)

Thursday, May 1 – Semifinal Round

No. 2 UAlbany (7-7, AE 4-1) vs. No. 3 Stony Brook (7-6, AE 3-2), 4:00 p.m.

No. 1 UMBC (10-3, AE 5-0) vs. No. 4 Binghamton (4-7, AE 2-3), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3

Championship, 7:30 p.m.

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Upends Stony Brook, 10-7, in Regular Season Finale

Albany, N.Y. – Senior goalkeeper Brett Queener made a season-high 15 saves and scored a second-quarter goal in leading UAlbany to a 10-7 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday, April 26 before 1,247 fans at John Fallon Field. The two squads will meet again in six days at the conference postseason tournament.

Stony Brook (7-6, AE 3-2) leaped to 4-0 lead early in the second period. Freshman Jordan McBride had three of his four goals in that outburst. He netted an underhanded shot with 10 seconds elapsed in the contest after teammate Adam Rand won the opening faceoff. Rhys Duch, who had one goal and two assists, moved around a defender from the left side for his team’s second tally. McBride, who has 43 goals on the year, added a pair in man-up situations, including another underhand blast then went low inside the far post.

The Seawolves, who own the nation’s sixth-best scoring offense in Division I, still led 5-2 midway through the second stanza when Bo Tripodi connected off a pass from Timmy Trenkle, who worked around a screen. UAlbany (7-7, AE 4-1) stormed back with three unanswered before the break. Nate Sullivan tallied his league-leading eighth man-up goal of the season, before Jordan Levine hit the top left corner off John Alpizar’s feed. The Great Danes drew even at five apiece with 1:25 left in the quarter. Queener cleared the ball after collecting a ground ball near his crease. The senior netminder then came up field, took a pass from Levine, and sent a shot through the Rob Camposa’s legs from right of the crease with his goalie stick. The scoring play was Queener’s first as a goalkeeper since March 11, 2006.

UAlbany’s defense dominated the third quarter by holding the visitors to four shots. Steve Ammann, one of 11 seniors making their final home appearance, put his team ahead 45 seconds into the half with his second goal by spinning from the right to the middle of the field. Mark Cometti then cut to the top of the crease to finish off Brian Caufield’s pass from behind the cage for a 7-5 advantage with 4:18 remaining.

Tripodi sliced that deficit in half with just 10 seconds gone in the final quarter. He picked up a ground ball that traveled into the UAlbany defensive end following a face-off to start the period and netted his 27th of the season. Joe Pompo helped the Great Danes pull away with a pair of goals 54 seconds apart. Levine, who totaled one goal and a career-high four assists, drove to the right of the crease to find the freshman attack who buried a shot into the top corner from the middle of the zone. Defenseman Craig McDonald then gathered in a Stony Brook turnover to start a transition play that Pompo finished off from the right side.

“Our defense responded after that first quarter,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team earned the second seed for next week’s conference championship. “(Defenseman) Craig McDonald and Greg Shondel stepped up their play. We have some momentum; it’s good to be going into the playoffs on a positive note.”

Pompo equaled a career-high with three goals for the second straight game, while Caufield finished with one goal and three assists. Queener, who recorded his first point of the season despite also playing on the extra-man unit, kept his team close early in the contest by stopping 10 shots in the opening two periods. Stony Brook’s Camposa made 10 saves.

“We matched their intensity on defense and we got a sense of what they were trying to do from a strategy standpoint,” said Queener, who has scored three goals as goalkeeper during his collegiate career. “It was just a transition play where I moved the ball. I saw an opening, made a cut, and just tried to get it (the shot) on the cage.”

UAlbany 10, Stony Brook 7

Stony Brook – Scoring: Jordan McBride 4-0, Bo Tripodi 2-0, Rhys Duch 1-2, Ryan Hughes 0-1, Kevin Crowley 0-1, Timmy Trenkle 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Rob Camposa (60:00, 10 saves, 10 GA).

UAlbany – Scoring: Joe Pompo 3-0, Steve Ammann 2-0, Jordan Levine 1-4, Brian Caufield 1-3, Brett Queener 1-0, Nate Sullivan 1-0, Mark Cometti 1-0, John Alpizar 0-1, Mike Ammann 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (55:35, 15 saves, 7 GA), Dan McKeon (4:25, 2 saves, 0 GA).

UAlbany Rallies to Split America East Conference Doubleheader With Vermont

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Freshman David Kubiak tossed a complete game and senior Mike Konstanty drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth to lead UAlbany to an America East Conference baseball doubleheader split with Vermont on Saturday, April 26 at Varsity Field. Vermont rallied for a 6-5 win in nine innings in game one, while the Great Danes rallied for a 6-4 win in seven innings in the nightcap.

In game two, the Catamounts opened a 4-0 lead through four innings. In the second frame, Jeff Nolet reached on an infield single. Following two outs, Nolet scored as Brad Currier reached on a throwing error. Justin Milo and Matt Duffy doubled around a pair of outs to score a run. The Catamounts tallied their final two runs in the fourth inning. Kyle Massie, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, tallied the first run on a passed ball. Milo then recorded a run-scoring triple to plate Currier, who reached on the passed ball on a swinging third strike.

UAlbany (11-30-1, AE 6-9) responded by scoring six times over its next three at-bats. Konstanty singled and Ryan Gugel walked to lead off the fourth inning. Following a successful sacrifice bunt by Gary Pitcheralle and a strikeout, senior Tom Zink lined a two-run single to left field to score Konstanty and Gugel. In the fifth, junior Dave West reached on a throwing error to open the inning. Konstanty then doubled down the right field line to plate West, who had advanced to third on a groundout and a passed ball.

The Great Danes took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Sean Donovan reached on an error and West singled with one out to start the rally. Sophomore Brendan Rowland followed with a single down the right field line to plate Donovan. As Konstanty reached on a fielder’s choice, West raced home from third with the go-ahead run. Gugel then laced a triple down the right field line to drive in Konstanty.

In game one, the Great Danes tallied two runs in the first inning and built a 5-1 lead through six innings. Gugel singled up the middle with one out to plate West, who singled and stole second. Following a wild pitch, Konstanty recorded a sacrifice fly down the right field line to knock in Rowland, who walked following West’s single. UAlbany tacked on its third run of the contest in the fifth inning. Freshman Kyle Crean was hit by a pitch to open the frame and moved to third on a sac bunt and a passed ball. West then singled to center to drive in Crean.

Vermont (19-16, AE 5-6) broke through in the sixth with a run on two hits. Mark Micowski and Justin Milo each singled with one out. Miguel Magrass then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Micowski. The Great Danes answered back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gugel was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and stole third to start the frame. Konstanty followed with a double to left center to score Gugel. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Konstanty scored three batters later as Crean registered a sac fly down the right field line for a 5-1 lead.

The Catamounts rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Ethan Paquette and Kyle Henry hit back-to-back doubles to open the frame. Following consecutive strikeouts and a wild pitch, Currier singled through the left side to score Henry and cut their deficit to 5-3. After Dave Noble took over on the mound for starter Josh Willimott, Milo singled to center to drive in Frank Petroskey, who pinch ran for Currier. Magrass then greeted Sean Gregory with a single to center to score Micowski, who walked before Milo’s single, with the game-tying run. UAlbany loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning on singles by Donovan and Rowland and an intentional walk to Konstanty, but could not produce a run, forcing extra innings.

Vermont scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning on two hits and an error. Milo singled up the middle with one out. After another UAlbany pitching change, Magrass singled though the right side. Two batters later, Paquette reached on a fielding error, allowing Milo to cross the plate from second.

Gregory suffered the loss for the Great Danes, allowing an unearned run over 1.2 innings. Willimott tossed the first 6.2 innings, striking out six, while allowing four runs. Tom Kelly picked up the win for Vermont, pitching three scoreless innings of relief. Kubiak earned his second win of the season in the nightcap, yielding four runs (one earned), while striking out four in his complete-game effort. Kelly took the loss for the Catamounts, giving up three unearned runs in 1.1 innings. UAlbany and Vermont close out the four-game series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.


-agate-
Game One
Vermont (19-15, AE 5-5) 000 001 401 - 6 13 3
UAlbany (10-30-1, AE 5-9) 200 012 000 - 5 7 3

Vermont: Keith Rakus, Tom Kelly (7, W) and Jason Leclerc, Jeff Nolet (7).
UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Dave Noble (7), Sean Gregory (7, L, 3-5), Casey Walsh (9) and Ryan Gugel.

Game Two
Vermont (19-16, AE 5-6) 011 200 0 - 4 8 2
UAlbany (11-30-1, AE 6-9) 000 213 X - 6 8 1

Vermont: Eric Thompson, Tom Kelly (5, L) and Jeff Nolet.
UAlbany: Dave Kubiak (W, 2-0) and Tom Zink.

UAlbany Men's Track Records Pair of Fourth-Place Finishes at 114th Penn Relays Carnival

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – UAlbany’s 4x200-meter relay team and Luke Schoen recorded fourth-place finishes to highlight the Great Danes’ performance on the final day of the 114th annual Penn Relays at Franklin Field on Saturday, April 26.

The quartet of Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Drew Harrison, Torshiro Jenkins and Jeffery Barnes raced to a time of 1:27.21 to finish fourth in the IC4A final of the 4x200-meter relay. In the pole vault championship, sophomore Luke Schoen finished fourth by clearing the bar at an IC4A and NCAA East Regional-qualifying height of 16-feet, 6.75-inches, tied for the third-best height in the program’s history. Freshman Wilfredo de Jesus Elias turned in a ninth-place performance in the hammer throw with an IC4A-qualifying toss of 177-feet, 7-inches.

The Great Danes return to action in Orono, Maine on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 for the America East Championships.

-agate-
Men’s Results
IC4A 4x200-meter Relay: 4. Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Drew Harrison, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes 1:27.21. 4x800: 29. Andrew Overbaugh, Bryan Lasky, Tyler Fogarty, Joe Belokopitsky 7:56.28. Hammer Throw: – 9. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 177-7, 19. Will Anger 169-6. Pole Vault Championship: – 4. Luke Schoen 16-6.75.

UAlbany Softball Splits America East Doubleheader With Stony Brook

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Sophomore hurler Leah McIntosh tossed her 15th complete game of the season to lead UAlbany to a 5-1 win over Stony Brook in the first game of an America East Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at University Field. The Seawolves won the second game, 4-0.

The early game was scoreless through three innings before UAlbany scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. The Great Danes received three consecutive singles, with two runs scoring on a base hit to left field by designated player Gina Mason. Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) and Meagan Butsch scored on the play.

UAlbany (26-14, AE 13-4) doubled its advantage in the fifth frame, on a two-run homer by right fielder Jessica Bergin. Stony Brook (25-18-1, AE 10-7) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Kelly Oberto that scored Vicki Kavitsky, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. The Great Danes added an insurance run in their half of the sixth as centerfielder Nicole Kothe knocked an RBI single to score Connors, who hit a double down the left field line to reach base.

Stony Brook was able to get runners in scoring position in each of the final two innings, but UAlbany’s defense held the Seawolves scoreless to seal the win. McIntosh struck out four opposing batters and allowed just three hits in her complete-game performance. Alyssa Struzenberg took the loss for Stony Brook, fanning six over 5.2 innings of work. Casey Jacobs struck out three for the Seawolves over the final 1.1 innings.

Jacobs earned the complete-game, shutout win in the nightcap, fanning six UAlbany batters while scattering five hits. Stony Brook took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, as Kelsi Fanelli smashed a two-run homer to score Westphal, who hit a lead-off single to start the game. Marissa Fleury followed with a double and scored on a ground out to short by Molly Kestranek.

The Seawolved added a single run in the bottom of the second, as Kavitsky knocked an RBI single to score Crista Cerrone, who reached on an error before stealing second. UAlbany got runners in scoring position in the third, but Stony Brook turned a double play to end the inning and hold the Great Danes scoreless.

UAlbany’s Marissa Powell took the loss in the circle for the Great Danes, who were unable to take advantage of baserunners in both the fifth and sixth innings. Powell fanned six and issued five walks in her complete-game performance.

The series finale between the two teams will take place on Sunday at 12 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany 000 221 0 - 5 7 1

Stony Brook 000 010 0 - 1 3 0

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.

Stony Brook: Alyssa Struzenberg, Casey Jacobs (6) and Jade Clare.



UAlbany (26-24, AE 13-4) 000 000 0 - 0 5 3

Stony Brook (25-18-1, AE 10-7) 310 000 x - 4 6 2

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

Stony Brook: Casey Jacobs and Jade Clare.

UAlbany Tennis Wraps Up America East Tournament Play With Win Over Hartford

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New Haven, Conn. – Charlotte Tatler and Kim Weltman each recorded straight-set victories in singles competition and teamed up for a victory at No. 3 doubles to lead fifth-seeded UAlbany to a 4-0 win over No. 6 Hartford in the consolation round of the America East Conference Women’s Tennis Championship on Saturday afternoon at Yale Tennis Center. The match ended after UAlbany achieved the four points needed to determine the winner.

Weltman recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win over Hartford’s Nikki Haynal at No. 3 singles while Tatler defeated Hali Dorfman, 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 4 position. The two teamed up to post an 8-0 victory over Jessica Ruggles and Michelle Tafur in doubles action.

UAlbany’s Aimee Kern and Susan Ma defeated Raquel Casino and Kasey Michaels, 8-1, at the top doubles spot, while Amanda Hall and teammate Laine Mackey defeated Haynal and Dorfman, 8-1 in the No. 2 doubles match. Hall recorded a 6-0, 6-0 decision over Tafur at No. 6 singles to win the final point needed for the Great Danes to secure the match win.

UAlbany finishes the season with an 18-7 record in match play, setting a new program record for wins.

-agate-

America East Conference Women’s Tennis Championship

(Yale Tennis Center, New Haven, Conn.)

#5 UAlbany 4, #5 Hartford 0

Singles (one team point for each win)

Aimee Kern (UA) led Raquel Casino (UH), 6-0, 3-0, DNF

Susan Ma (UA) led Kasey Michaels (UH), 6-0, 2-1, DNF

Kim Weltman (UA) def. Nikki Haynal (UH), 6-0, 6-0

Charlotte Tatler (UA) def. Hali Dorfman (UH), 6-0, 6-0

Laine Mackey (UA) vs. Jessica Ruggles (UH), DNS

Amanda Hall (UA) def. Michelle Tafur (UH), 6-0, 6-0



Doubles (one team point for best two-of-three)

Kern/Ma (UA) def. Casino/Michaels (UH), 8-1

Hall/Mackey (UA) def. Haynal/Dorfman (UH), 8-1

Weltman/Tatler (UA) def. Ruggles/Tafur (UH), 8-0

Northeast Conference Earns Automatic Access to Division I FCS Post-Season Bracket in 2010

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. — As a result of the NCAA Board of Directors’ approval of a new budget that allows for the expansion of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision post-season bracket, the Northeast Conference will gain automatic access into the Division I Football Championship beginning in 2010. NEC Football is also eligible for automatic qualification into the championship bracket during the 2008 and 2009 seasons if its champion meets specifications of the bridge program.

“This is great for the NEC and its student-athletes,” commented league commissioner Brenda Weare. “It provides greater opportunity for our league on numerous levels. It should bolster our recruiting efforts and overall competitiveness, while also helping us brand our league.”

The recently-approved budget contained a proposal from the Division I Football Championship Committee calling for an increase in the number of FCS playoff participants to 20, a 25 percent rise from its current 16-team format. The NEC will acquire one of the four added berths and be guaranteed an opportunity to play for the 2010 FCS Championship.

Currently, the playoff bracket grants eight FCS leagues an automatic qualifier while awarding eight additional schools with at-large bids. The expanded format maintains the 1-to-1 ratio of automatic qualifiers and at-large teams. In addition to the NEC, the Big South, which will be a championship eligible conference by 2010, will gain automatic access.

“This is great news for NEC Football,” stated Monmouth’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil, who serves as the chair of the NEC Athletic Directors. “I applaud the NCAA and its Presidents for a decision that will further the opportunity of our student-athletes. I thank Commissioner Weare for the tremendous work she has done in spearheading this expansion effort.”

The NEC’s automatic access could come sooner than 2010 if its champion meets each of three specified criteria. The Football Championship Committee has determined to award a guaranteed at-large position to any conference champion team that: 1) accrues at least eight Division I victories, 2) wins a minimum of two non-conference games against Division I teams from a league that has earned an automatic berth in that given year, and 3) ranks 16th or higher in an average of the last regular season media, coaches and/or computer polls.

The expansion of the football bracket is the first in 21 years. During that interval, sponsorship of the sport at the FCS level has increased by 28 teams.

“This is not just good news for the NEC, but it is good news for the entire landscape of FCS Football. It allows for more opportunities across the board and makes the championship stronger,” said Weare.

Founded in 1996, Northeast Conference Football has a current membership of eight teams including the addition of Duquesne for the imminent 2008 season. The league saw two of its teams, UAlbany and Central Connecticut State, crack both the Sports Network Top-25 Poll and the College Sporting News Top-25 Coaches’ Poll during the 2006 season. The NEC has yet to place a participant into the FCS playoffs, but numerous NEC teams have enjoyed other post-season opportunities throughout the years including the ECAC Bowl and the Gridiron Classic.

"This is significant for both the football program and athletic department," offered UAlbany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy. "This helps us in recruiting and scheduling, especially the non-conference portion of the season, and becomes a selling point to our alumni, students and fans. We will have to work hard to meet the requirements of the playoff model over the next two years, but the future is bright for UAlbany football."

Three UAlbany Relay Teams Break School Records at 114th Penn Relays Carnival

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – Three UAlbany track relay teams broke school records on the second day of the 114th annual Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field on Friday, April 25.

In the shuttle hurdle relay, Jean Juste, Nick Assini, Garrett Askew and Daniel Avery combined for a time of 57.83 seconds to win the IC4A race, and break the previous school record of 58.62 seconds set in 1995. The men’s 4x200-meter relay team of Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Drew Harrison, Torshiro Jenkins and Jeffery Barnes turned in the first record-setting performance of the afternoon. The quartet raced to an 18th-place finish in 1:26.47 to qualify for Saturday’s IC4A final and break the 14-year old record of 1:26.52 set in 1994.

Freshman Michael Dempsey took second in the eastern pole vault by clearing the bar at an IC4A-qualifying height of 15-feet, 9-inches. In the eastern long jump, sophomore Valete Graham placed third with an IC4A and NCAA East Regional-qualifying distance of 24-feet, 1.50-inches. Avery also turned in an IC4A-qualifying performance in the 110-meter hurdles, hitting the tape in 14.31 seconds.

The women’s 4x200-meter relay team also established a school standard on their way to a 28th-place finish. Kamilah McShine, Melissa Lee, Jenn Gurrant and Ashley Vives finished in 1:40.67, topping the previous record of 1:42.42 established in 1999. Senior Arina Gerasimova took 12th in the triple jump championship with an ECAC-qualifying leap of 40-feet, 0-inches, while Gurrant placed fourth in the eastern triple jump with an ECAC-qualifying leap of 39-feet, 8.75-inches.

The Great Danes wrap up competition at the 114th Penn Relays on Saturday, April 26. In addition, UAlbany team members will compete at the Union Invitational.

-agate-
Men’s Results
110 Meter Hurdles: 18. Daniel Avery 14.31 (IC4A). 4x100 Meter Relay: 33. Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Drew Harrison, Torshiro Jenkins, Barnes 41.74 (IC4A). 4x200 Meter Relay: 18.Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Drew Harrison, Torshiro Jenkins, Jeffery Barnes 1:26.47 (School Record). Shuttle Hurdle Championship of America: 4. Jean Juste, Nick Assini, Garrett Askew, Daniel Avery 57.83 (School Record). 4x400 Meter Relay: 49. Andrew Overbaugh, Jeffery Barnes, Torshiro Jenkins, Joe Greene 3:18.85. Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America: 13. Raphael Jean-Baptiste, Jeffery Barnes, Drew Harrison, Tyler Fogarty 3:23.36. Shot Put: 23. Renauld Buck 44-3. Long Jump Eastern: 3. Valete Graham 24-1.50 (IC4A, NCAA East Regional), 18. Kyle Nadler 22-1.50. Pole Vault Eastern: 1. Michael Dempsey 15-9. Discus Throw: 29. Will Anger 137-5.

Women’s Results
4x200 Meter Relay: 28. Kamilah McShine, Melissa Lee, Jenn Gurrant, Ashley Vives 1:40.67 (School Record). Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America: 25. Kamilah McShine, Ashley Vives, Melissa Lee, Zuliana Fontanez 4:08.02. Triple Jump Championship: 12. Arina Gerasimova 40-0 (ECAC). Triple Jump Eastern: 4. Jenn Gurrant 39-8.75 (ECAC), 9. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-4.75.

Pitcheralle and Rowland Lead the University of Albany Over Vermont, 10-4, in America East Baseball Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Gary Pitcheralle and Brendan Rowland combined for six hits and seven runs batted in to lead UAlbany to a 10-4 America East Conference baseball win on Friday, April 25 at Varsity Field.

Vermont (18-15, AE 4-5) opened the game with a run on three hits in the first inning. Matt Duffy doubled with one out and scored two batters later on a single up the middle by Justin Milo. UAlbany answered back in the bottom of the second with two runs. Senior first baseman Mike Konstanty led off the frame with a blast over the wall in left field. Sophomore third baseman Pete Eichner then drew a walk and scored after a pair of outs on a single through the left side by Pitcheralle.

The Catamounts regained the lead in the top of the fourth with two unearned runs. Mark Micowski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in Jeff Nolet, who reached on a leadoff single. Duffy followed with a groundout to score Corey Moylan, who drew a walk to reach base. The Great Danes responded again with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Junior catcher Ryan Gugel and Konstanty started the frame with consecutive singles. After a strikeout, senior Tom Zink singled through the left side to plate Gugel. With the bases loaded following a walk, Pitcheralle was hit by a pitch to force home Konstanty.

Vermont knotted the score at four apiece in the sixth with an unearned run. With one out, Kyle Massie reached on a throwing error, stole second and advanced to third on another throwing error. Brad Currier then singled up the middle to tie the game. UAlbany took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Following back-to-back singles to right field by Zink and freshman second baseman Kyle Crean, Pitcheralle laced a double down the left field line to clear the bases.

UAlbany (10-29-1, AE 5-8) tacked on four runs over the last two innings to put the game out of reach. In the seventh, Rowland doubled down the left field line to open the inning. After a fly and a walk, Eichner reached on a fielding error to allow Rowland to race home from second. Rowland capped the game’s scoring in the eighth inning with a three-run homer over the left field fence in left.

Junior southpaw Cory Warrings tossed the opening 5.2 innings for the Great Danes, allowing four runs (one earned) and striking out four. Junior Sean Gregory picked up his third win of the season by retiring all ten batters he faced, including three by strikeout. Joe Serafin took the loss for the Catamounts, yielding seven runs (six earned) over seven innings.

The Great Danes and the Catamounts resume their four-game series on Saturday at 12:00 with a pair of seven inning contests.
-agate-
Vermont (18-15, AE 4-5) 100 201 000 - 4 6 1
UAlbany (10-29-1, AE 5-8) 020 202 13X - 10 13 3

Vermont: Joe Serafin (L, 4-3), Nate Matusick (8) and Jeff Nolet.
UAlbany: Cory Warrings, Sean Gregory (W, 3-4) and Ryan Gugel.

University of Albany Track Star Joe Green Returns For The Penn Relays

University of Albany track All-American Joe Greene will return to action today after missing 2 1/2 months with a high hamstring strain.

Greene, a junior, will compete on UAlbany's 1,600-meter relay team at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this afternoon. Then he'll run in the 400 hurdles at the Union College Invitational in Schenectady on Saturday.

Greene finished fourth in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships last June in a time of 49.92 seconds. UAlbany track coach Roberto Vives said Greene still has time to qualify for the NCAAs and a shot to win the school's first Division I national championship.

"That's still not out the window," Vives said. "He comes back quickly (from injury). He's a little behind this year, but he's more experienced, too." This year's championship is June 11-14 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Greene injured his right leg during indoor track season at Boston University's Valentine Invitational on Feb. 9. "It'll take time to get the timing and rhythm," Vives said. "Everything will feel like new again."

Greene simply needs to post a time at Union on Saturday to qualify for the America East Conference championship May 3 and 4. He is the league's defending champion in the 400 hurdles. The ultimate goal, according to Vives, is to have Greene ready for the Olympic trials in Oregon, June 27-July 6.

"Hopefully, he'll be peaking at the right time," Vives said. "In reality, he's probably an Olympics away (2012), if he decides to stay in the sport."

Women's Lacrosse Falls to Defending Champion Boston University

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. -- Traci Landy equaled a career-high with four goals, including two in each half, and Lauren Morton added three in leading top-seed Boston University to a 17-6 victory over UAlbany in the semifinal round of the America East Conference Tournament on Friday, April 25 at Nickerson Field. The Terriers, who are ranked No. 8 nationally by the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse, posted their 12th consecutive win.

Boston U. (15-2) leaped to a 3-0 lead over the opening six minutes by dominating the draw. Landy, a sophomore midfielder, struck from the middle of the zone, before McKinley Curro scored from left of the cage to complete a wrap-around move. Sarah Dalton, the conference’s player of the year who had two goals and one assist, completed the outburst when she cut into the middle and connected inside the far post off Xan Weitzel’s feed.

Weitzel, a sophomore who tied a career-best for points with two goals and three assists, gave her team a 6-0 advantage with 18:39 remaining in the period. She worked her way around the net to place a low shot from the left past goalkeeper Katie Neer. UAlbany (8-9) got on the scoreboard when defender Tricia Primomo picked up a turnover in her defensive half of the field. Following a restart, Rory Redmond carried the ball up the left sideline and found freshman Jodi Battaglia who drove to net for the first of her two goals.

The Terriers, who have won the previous three America East tournament championships and made three straight NCAA appearances, tallied four unanswered to post a 10-1 margin. During that stretch, Steph Walker connected on a shot that went off the right post to finish a successful clearing attempt. Dalton cut to the middle to score off a pass from behind from Curro, who totaled two goals and two assists. Weitzel converted Landy’s pass in a free-position situation with 1:25 left in the period.

“The draw controls were huge,” said UAlbany coach Lindsey Hart, whose team lost 19 of 25 draws during the contest. “We knew we would have to win those and score on a large majority of our possessions. Boston U. is tenacious and aggressive and so experienced. They play with their heads and their bodies; their feet are always moving.”

The Terriers, who defeated UAlbany in last year’s championship final, led 11-2 at halftime, but then reeled off four straight goals to begin the second half. Molly Collins and Landy found the net nearly one minute apart after their squad won consecutive draws. UAlbany’s Kayla Best ended that run by connecting on a hard angle from the left side. She extended her goal-scoring streak to 30 consecutive games, the fifth-best mark among current Division I players. Meghan Merriam and Redmond would add second-half goals for the Great Danes, who dropped all 10 meetings in this series, including three league postseason games.

“They can receive and pass from anywhere in the eight-meter zone,” explained Best, who was named to the all-conference first team on Thursday. “If we want to challenge them in the future, we need to become more disciplined like them, run in the midfield and in transition, and finish shots.”

***********

America East Conference Tournament - Semifinal Round

#8 Boston U. 17, UAlbany 6

UAlbany – Scoring: Jodi Battaglia 2-0, Rory Redmond 1-0, Kayla Best, Molly Ortolano 1-0, Meghan Merriam 1-0, Stacey Brown 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 4 saves, 17 GA).

Boston U. - Scoring: Traci Landy 4-1, Lauren Morton 3-0, Xan Weitzel 2-3, McKinley Curro 2-2, Darah Dalton 2-1, Steph Walker 2-0, Molly Collins 1-0, Alyssa Kovach 1-0, Jenny Taft 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Rachel Klein (60:00, 5 saves, 6 GA).

University of Albany Women's Track: Two Relays Qualify for ECAC Meet at 114th Penn Relays Carnival

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – Jenn Gurrant and Ashley Vives led a pair of UAlbany women’s track relay squads to ECAC-qualifying marks at the 114th annual Penn Relays Carnival on Thursday, April 24 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field.

In the 4x100-meter relay, the team of Gurrant, Vives, Kamilah McShine and Christen Griffin raced to an ECAC-qualifying time of 48.28 seconds, the fastest time of the year in the event by the Great Danes. Gurrant and Vives later combined with Zuliana Fontanez and Melissa Lee in the 4x400-meter relay. The quartet turned in a season-best time of 3:50.87 to qualify for the ECAC meet in May. Gurrant also registered a season-best leap of 18-feet, 1-inch in the eastern long jump. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, junior Laura Cummings placed third in her section with a time of 10:50.46, the third-fastest time in the program’s history.

In the eastern shot put, Ritshell Verdier placed 14th with a season-best toss of 41-feet, 8.75-inches, while Kadine Johnson finished 16th with a distance of 41-feet, 3-inches. Verdier also recorded a 13th-place finish in the discus throw with a distance of 137-feet, 9-inches. Senior Brenna Militello placed 17th in the eastern high jump with a height of 5-feet, 3.25-inches.

The Great Danes continue competition at the 114t annual Penn Relays on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26.

Women’s Results
4x100 Meter Relay: 59. Kamilah McShine, Christen Griffin, Jenn Gurrant, Ashley Vives 48.28 (ECAC). 4x400 Meter Relay: 46. Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Ashley Vives, Melissa Lee 3:50.87 (ECAC). 3,000-meter Steeplechase Championship: 3. Laura Cummings 10:50.46. Shot Put Eastern: 14. Ritshell Verdier 41-8.75, 16. Kadine Johnson 41-3. High Jump Eastern: 17. Brenna Militello 5-3.25. Discus Throw: 13. Ritshell Verdier 137-9. Long Jump Eastern: Jenn Gurrant 18-1.

University of Albany's Kayla Best & Nikki Branchini on America East All-Conference Women's Lacrosse Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Kayla Best and Nikki Branchini have been named to the 2008 America East All-Conference Women’s Lacrosse Team, as announced on Thursday, April 24 at the championship tournament banquet. Best and Branchini were first-team selections.

Best, a sophomore midfielder, makes her second consecutive appearance on the all-conference team after earning second-team recognition last year. She leads the team in scoring with 44 goals and seven assists. Her goal total ranks sixth on the program’s single-season chart.

Best has scored at least one goal in 29 consecutive games, the fifth-best streak among current Division I players. She netted four or more goals against seven opponents, including a career-high six against UMBC on March 26.

Branchini, a freshman midfielder/defender, was also chosen to the America East All-Rookie Team. She is fourth among the league leaders in both draw controls (2.75 pg) and ground balls (2.69 pg). Branchini, the Capital Region’s top defensive player on the high school level last year, added nine goals, two assists and 17 caused turnovers.

Rory Redmond and Katie Neer were voted to the America East women’s lacrosse all-academic team. Redmond, a junior midfielder with a 3.58 cumulative grade point average in communication, accounted for five goals, three assists, 28 draw controls and 26 ground balls as a starter in 14 of 16 games. Neer, a junior goalkeeper who has a 12.02 goals against average with 136 saves, posted a 3.61 GPA in political science.

UAlbany (8-8) begins America East postseason play on Friday, April 25. The Great Danes meet top-seed Boston University, the nation’s eighth-ranked team, in the semifinal round at 1:00 p.m. The winner advances to the championship on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

University of Albany Field Hockey's Andy Thornton Named Assistant Coach of US National Indoor Squad

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany assistant field hockey coach Andy Thornton has been selected to be an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Indoor team. The team, which is comprised of players from across the United States, will begin training to compete in the 2008 Pan American Games in Argentina in November.

Thornton, who will enter his fifth season as an assistant coach with the UAlbany program this fall, has won seven National Indoor titles and played in seven Indoor European Cups, playing for his native Scotland. With his wealth of indoor field hockey experience, Thornton also brings several years of outdoor coaching experience to the table. Thornton was named the 2004 Scottish Coach of the Year for youth boys and was the 2003 Scottish Grass Roots Coach of the Year.

University of Albany @ America East Conference Women’s Tennis Championship

April 25-27, Yale Tennis Center-- New Haven, Conn.

Friday, April 25
Match 1 -- Opening Round #4 Stony Brook vs. #5 Albany, 1 p.m.
Match 2 -- Opening Round #3 Binghamton vs. #6 Hartford, 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 26
Match 3 -- Loser of Match 1 vs. Loser of Match 2, 1 p.m.
Match 4 -- Winner of Match 1 vs. #1 Boston U., 1 p.m.
Match 5 -- Winner of Match 2 vs. #2 UMBC, 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 27
Match 6 -- Winner of Match 4 vs. Winner of Match 5 (Championship), 11 a.m.*

University of Albany @ America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Courtesy: America East Communications

The 2008 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the University of Maine in Orono on May 3-4. Albany's men and women swept the titles at the 2007 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

2008 OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY - Day One
10:00 a.m. Decathlon
*Men’s 100 Meter
*Men’s Long Jump
*Men’s Shot Put
*Men’s High Jump
*Men’s 400 Meter

10:30 a.m. Heptathlon
*Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles
*Women’s High Jump
*Women’s Shot Put
*Women’s 200 Meter

2:00 p.m. Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles Trials
2:10 p.m. Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles Trials
2:30 p.m. Women’s 400 Meter Trials
2:40 p.m. Men’s 400 Meter Trials
2:50 p.m. Women’s 100 Meter Trials
3:00 p.m. Men’s 100 Meter Trials
3:20 p.m. Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles Trials
3:30 p.m. Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles Trials
3:45 p.m. Women’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase Finals
4:05 p.m. Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase Finals
4:20 p.m. Women’s 200 Meter Trials
4:35 p.m. Men’s 200 Meter Trials
4:50 p.m. Women’s 10,000 Meter Finals
5:35 p.m. Men’s 10,000 Meter Finals

10:00 a.m. Men’s Hammer Throw Finals
11:00 a.m. Women’s Javelin Throw Finals
12:00 p.m. Women’s Hammer Throw Finals
1:00 p.m. Women’s Pole Vault Finals
1:00 p.m. Women’s Long Jump Finals
1:30 p.m. Men’s Javelin Throw Finals
3:00 p.m. Men’s Long Jump Finals
3:30 p.m. Men’s High Jump Finals
3:30 p.m. Men’s Pole Vault Finals

*Event will start no sooner than 30 minutes following the conclusion of the previous decathlon/heptathlon event.

SUNDAY - Day Two
9:00 a.m. Decathlon
*Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles
*Men’s Discus Throw
*Men’s Pole Vault
*Men’s Javelin Throw
*Men’s 1500 Meter

9:00 a.m. Heptathlon
*Women’s Long Jump
*Women’s Javelin Throw
*Women’s 800 Meter

11:00 a.m. Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay Finals
11:10 a.m. Men’s 4x100 Meter Relay Finals
11:30 a.m. Women’s 1500 Meter Final
11:45 a.m. Men’s 1500 Meter Final
12:00 p.m. Women’s 400 Meter Final
12:05 p.m. Men’s 400 Meter Final
12:15 p.m. Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles Final
12:25 p.m. Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles Final
12:35 p.m. Women’s 800 Meter Final
12:45 p.m. Men’s 800 Meter Final
12:55 p.m. Women’s 100 Meter Final
1:00 p.m. Men’s 100 Meter Final
1:10 p.m. Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles Final
1:20 p.m. Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles Final
1:30 p.m. Women’s 200 Meter Final
1:35 p.m. Men’s 200 Meter Final
1:45 p.m. Women’s 5000 Meter Final
2:05 p.m. Men’s 5000 Meter Final
2:30 p.m. Women’s 4x800 Meter Relay Final
2:40 p.m. Men’s 4x800 Meter Relay Final
2:50 p.m. Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay Final
3:00 p.m. Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay Final

10:30 a.m. Men’s Discus Throw Finals
10:30 a.m. Women’s Shot Put Finals
11:00 a.m. Men’s Triple Jump Finals
11:00 a.m. Women’s High Jump Finals
1:00 p.m. Women’s Triple Jump Finals
1:00 p.m. Women’s Discus Throw Finals
1:30 p.m. Men’s Shot Put Finals

*Event will start no sooner than 30 minutes following the conclusion of the previous decathlon/heptathlon event.

University of Albany Softball Sweeps Vermont, 1-0 & 5-1, in today's America East Conference doubleheader

UAlbany Softball Sweeps the University of Vermont, 1-0 & 5-1, in today's doubleheader More to come...

UAlbany Sends 38 Student-Athletes to 114th Penn Relays Carnival

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany’s track and field program will send 38 student-athletes, including 24 men and 14 women, to the 114th annual Penn Relays Carnival on April 24-26 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tyler Fogarty, who was named the most outstanding male performer at last Sunday’s New York Relays, will compete on the 4x800-meter and sprint medley relays. Fogarty posted an IC4A and USA Junior Nationals-qualifying time of 1:51.65 in the 800-meter run last week. He is joined by Bryan Lasky, Joe Belokopitsky and Jared Jupin on the 4x800 squad, which won the event at the New York Relays.

Jeffery Barnes and Torshiro Jenkins are members of four relay squads, including the 4x100-meter relay that turned in an IC4A-qualifying performance at the New York Relays. Raphael Jean-Baptiste joins the duo in the 4x100 and 4x200, while Dieuseul Joseph rounds out the 4x100 team and Drew Harrison completes on the 4x200 squad. Junior All-America Joe Greene will make his outdoor season debut as a member of the 4x400-meter relay.

Sophomore Luke Schoen, who placed third at the Penn Relays as a freshman, is entered in the championship portion of the pole vault. He recorded a height of 16-feet, 4.75-inches at the New York Relays, the fourth-best vault in school history. He was named the America East Conference men’s field performer of the week for his effort. Freshman Daniel Avery, who ran the fastest 110-meter hurdle time in the school’s Division I history at the Florida Relays earlier this month, is entered in the 110- hurdles and the shuttle hurdle relays.

Ashley Vives and Jenn Gurrant are each slated to compete in three events, including the 4x100-meter relay. Vives is also a member of the 4x400 and sprint medley squads, while Gurrant is competing in the eastern long jump and eastern triple jump, a pair of events that she recorded the second-longest distance in program annals last week. Kamilah McShine will join the duo in the 4x100 relay and will also compete on the sprint medley team. Senior Arina Gerasimova, who recently established a school record in the triple jump with a distance of 41-feet, 10.75-inches, is entered in that event’s championship division.

Laura Cummings will race in Thursday’s 3,000-meter steeplechase competition. The junior posted a time of 10:40.49 in the event at the Duke Invitational on April 5, the second-fastest time in the program’s history. Kadine Johnson and Brenna Militello, who each registered first-place finishes at the New York Relays, are in the shot put and high jump fields, respectively.

University of Albany Track's Schoen and Gerasimova Honored by America East Conference

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen and Arina Gerasimova have been named America East Conference men’s and women’s outdoor field performers of the week, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., has been chosen as the men’s field performer of the week. Schoen won the pole vault with an IC4A-qualifying and season-best height of 16-feet, 4.75-inches to lead the Great Danes to a first-place finish at the 13-team New York Relays on Sunday, April 20 at Icahn Stadium in New York City. The height also marked the fourth-best leap in the program’s history.

Gerasimova, a senior from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, has been selected as the women’s field performer of the week. Gerasimova won the triple jump with a school-record setting and ECAC and NCAA East Regional-qualifying leap of 41-feet, 10.75-inches to lead UAlbany to a first-place finish at the 11-team New York Relays. The leap surpassed the previous school standard of 41-feet, 2.25-inches set by Sarah Charles at the 2007 UAlbany Classic. Gerasimova also finished second in the long jump with a distance of 17-feet, 6-inches en route to being named the meet’s most outstanding female performer.

The Great Danes are in competition at a pair of meets this weekend, at the 114th Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. on April 24-26 and the Union Invitational in Schenectady, N.Y. on April 26.

UAlbany Field Hockey to Host 4th Annual Alumni Game

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - The University at Albany field hockey team will host the Fourth Annual Alumni Game on Saturday, April 26. The game, which will start at 1 p.m., will take place on Alumni Turf Field. Head coach Phil Sykes and the current members of the Great Danes' field hockey program welcome all alumni to participate in the game. Contact Coach Sykes for more information.

US Senator Schumer Announces Landmark Agreement that Forges First-Ever Federal Partnership with the University of Albany

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced a landmark agreement that will create the first-ever partnership between the federal government and University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) that will bring federal research expertise and resources to the nanoscale campus. In the wake of securing nearly $900,000 for the Center for National Competitiveness in Nanoscale Characterization (NC3) , which triggered an additional investment of nearly $15 million dollars, Schumer today announced he brokered an agreement between the Center and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) which will help further advance the already successful collaboration between NIST and CNSE by providing the framework for both organizations to share research, equipment, staff and other key resources.

This agreement marks the first formal partnership between the Albany Nano Campus and the Federal Government and is expected to help both organizations tackle some of the most critical challenges facing the nanotechnology industry, including obtaining precise measurements at the atomic and sub-atomic levels. As chips become smaller and smaller, this challenge grows.

Schumer, standing with Dr. James Turner, the head of NIST, Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, and George Philip, Interim President at the University of Albany, announced the deal as the latest in efforts to ensure the Capital Region remains the driving force behind keeping the United States at the forefront of nanotechnology across the globe.

"This groundbreaking agreement will propel the Capital Region and our entire nation into the epicenter of an increasingly global nanotechnology sector," said Schumer. "This is a win-win for Tech Valley. The research will help keep the United State competitive in the global technology marketplace and it will help deliver federal funding and more private investment to the Albany area. After securing the initial money, we saw the great ability of UAlbany's Nano Center to grow as investments in their exciting research swelled to over $15 million. The partnership with NIST will allow UAlbany to combine the region's dynamic workforce and already cutting-edge research with federal expertise and resources that will solidify its spot as one of the best nano campuses in the world."

Dr. James M. Turner, the Deputy Director of NIST, said, "Our shared aim is to develop the measurement science infrastructure that is absolutely essential to U.S. innovation and economic competitiveness in nanotechnology. NIST is eager to forge a productive collaboration that leverages this impressive collection of intellectual and physical resources."

University at Albany Interim President George M. Philip said, "The creation of the New York Center for National Competitiveness in Nanoscale Characterization at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering further enhances the fast-growing global recognition of the University at Albany as a world leader in nanotechnology education and research. We are pleased to know that this initiative will provide still another critical resource for students and faculty at the University."

Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of CNSE, said, "We
are grateful to Senator Schumer, who continues to demonstrate his outstanding leadership and steadfast support for the educational and research programs at the UAlbany NanoCollege by securing funding for this world-class collaboration. We are privileged to work in partnership with our colleagues from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop metrology innovations that will address the critical challenges facing nanoelectronics research and development, further establishing NIST, CNSE and New York State as global leaders in high-tech innovation and commercialization."

Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. Prior to the creation of NIST, lack of standardized measurements complicated commerce in this country. For example there were several definitions for a liquid gallon and in Brooklyn alone there were four separate measurements for a foot. Standardization of those measurements and thousands of others has simplified commerce, improved products and brought reliability and integrity to our economic system.

In much the same way as it did one hundred years ago with a gallon of milk, today NIST is addressing the issues of standardization and precision in groundbreaking nanotechnology.

Companies from around the globe have come to UAlbany under Dr. Kaloyeros's leadership to do cutting-edge research in order to develop computer nanochips that are smaller, faster, better performing and more energy efficient. Partnering with NC3 will allow NIST to further develop measurement standards and tools that are critical to the United States's ability to compete in the global marketplace.

Schumer, teaming up with NIST and UAlbany, today announced a new partnership to enable a world-class research and development collaboration that is designed to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nanoelectronics innovations and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in the global high-tech economy.


In December, Schumer announced that he had secured $893,000 to establish NC3, and in the months since he has brokered an agreement resulting in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIST and NC3. Working alongside University and industry researchers, NIST will help develop measurement standards and tools that are critical to the United States's ability to compete in the global marketplace


The initial seed money that formed the basis of the partnership between NIST and NC3 has already successfully leveraged $15 million in additional research, development and technology funding for CNSE and its university partners across the country. These investments include $4.0 million to the CNSE-based Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery and Exploration awarded by the Nanoelectronics Research Initiative to which NIST belongs; $2.25 million from New York State; and, $7.75 million from six of the world's leading nanoelectonics corporations.

The MOU signed today will help further advance the already successful collaboration between NIST and CNSE by providing the protocols for both organizations to share research, equipment, staff and other key resources. Through NIST's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and NC3, leading scientists will work collaboratively to formulate and deploy pioneering techniques for the measurement of materials at the nanoscale - a critical element in the development of smaller and faster computer chips that offer higher performance and reduced power consumption for use in a wide range of industries, from health care, energy and telecommunications to military, aerospace and transportation.


The UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. In May 2007, it was ranked as the world's number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology in the Annual College Ranking by Small Times magazine. CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex is the most advanced research facility of its kind at any university in the world: a $4.2 billion, 450,000-square-foot complex that attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience.

The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. More than 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex, from companies including IBM, AMD, SEMATECH, Toshiba, ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, Vistec Lithography and Freescale. An expansion currently underway will increase the size of CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex to over 800,000 square feet, including over 80,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanroom space, to house over 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty by mid-2009.

Senator Schumer's Contact: