UAlbany Cruises Past Siena For An Easy Win @ a frigid John Fallon Field

UAlbany showed its dominance over Siena once again. Mid way through the final quarter, with a 12-3 lead, UAlbany was able to coast to the finish.

Albany, N.Y. – Corey Small matched a season-high with four goals, including two in each half, as UAlbany upended Siena, 13-6, in non-league play on Wednesday, April 2 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes have won all six meetings since both teams have competed as Division I programs.

UAlbany (3-5) wiped out an early 1-0 deficit with four unanswered in the opening quarter. Freshman Kyle Crotty converted a drive from the right point as his team scored three times in a two-minute-and-39 second span. Small cut to the top of the crease in connecting off Alpizar’s pass from behind, before Brian Caufield sent a low shot into the net with 20.6 seconds left in the period on a transition play that started with a Siena turnover.

The Great Danes tallied three more goals in the second quarter in building a 7-2 halftime margin. Alpizar scored from left of the crease off a spin move. Nate Sullivan, who had a career-best three goals, found the cage on the man-advantage with 10:02 remaining in the stanza. Steve Ammann, who had a career-high point total with two goals and three assists, sent a long crossing pass to the right side that put Small one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

UAlbany used a five-goal third period to put together a commanding 12-3 lead. Small, who has 18 goals this year, scored twice in that outburst. He finished off a fastbreak after gathering in Alpizar’s short crossing pass and later spun to his right shoulder to score from the middle of the zone. In between, freshman Derek Kruezer drilled an underhanded shot and Ammann converted a drive from the right side.

“We were fortunate to get up on them early,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team has won its last three after opening the season with five losses. “The man-up and fastbreak goals got us going and we used that fact that we are a little bigger and stronger to our advantage. This is a great rivalry for area lacrosse fans.”

Siena (6-4) responded in the final quarter with three consecutive goals, including a pair by sophomore midfielder Matt Leithead. Matt Girsh, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference preseason player of the year, added an extra-man goal, his second of the game. Brent Herbst, who ranks second nationally among the Division I leaders in save percentage, made 13 stops in the Saints’ cage. UAlbany’s Alpizar and Caufield each scored once and handed out two assists.

“We knew we had to match their intensity,” said UAlbany goalkeeper Brent Queener, who made 10 saves and moved into fifth place on the school’s all-time list with 382. “We gave our best effort because this game is about bragging rights and we are trying to build up after a slow start (to the season).”