UAlbany & UMBC Tangle in America East Conference Regular-Season Basketball Finale

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. -- America East Conference opponents UAlbany and UMBC tangle in the regular-season finale for both teams on Sunday, March 1 at Retriever Activities Center. UMBC will honor three seniors in a pre-game ceremony. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Jon Phelps calling the action. Tip-off is 2:15 p.m.

UMBC (12-16, AE 6-9) can finish as the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed for the upcoming America East postseason tournament at UAlbany’s SEFCU Arena on March 6-8. Darryl Proctor is one of the league’s top players. He is second in the conference in scoring at 20.2 points per game and is third in rebounding (8.7 pg). A first-team all-conference player last year, Proctor has recorded 11 double-doubles this season. Jay Greene, another all-league performer, leads the America East in assists (6.1 pg) and scores at a 12.1 clip. The Retrievers won their first-ever conference championship in 2008.

UAlbany (14-14, AE 6-9) went through a tough month of February by losing six of seven games. The Great Danes can secure the sixth seed for next weekend’s conference tournament with a victory against UMBC. Sophomore Tim Ambrose, who leads the team in scoring with a 13.9 average, has reached the 20-point mark on seven occasions this season. Will Harris, a 6-foot-6 junior, adds 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds off the bench. Jerel Hastings is contributing 13.0 points per game over his last three starts.

New Hampshire Uses Late Runs in Each Half to Edge Women's Basketball, 66-62, on Senior Day

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Candace Williams posted 22 points, including nine in the last nine minutes, to lead New Hampshire over UAlbany by a score of 66-62 in America East Conference women’s basketball action at SEFCU Arena on Saturday, Feb. 28. Trailing by 14, the Wildcats scored 11 consecutive points to close out the first half and reversed a nine-point deficit midway through the second stanza to pull away from the Great Danes at the end.

UAlbany (4-23, 2-12 AE), which honored seniors Amira Ford and Tiffanie Johnson prior to the contest, had a 52-43 advantage with 10:18 remaining in the game before New Hampshire rattled off 12 consecutive points to go ahead by three. A three-point field goal by Chrissy Hall at the 6:51 mark gave the Wildcats a 53-52 lead.

On the Great Danes’ next possession, Janea Aiken had a chance to put her team back on top at the free throw line. Her shot rimmed out, and Williams came back the other way and converted a layup to put UNH ahead by three.

UAlbany brought the lead down to two points on four more occasions. However, two field goals and two free throws by Williams and a layup by Rachel Fowler kept the Wildcats ahead. A three-point field goal by Charity Iromuanya with five seconds remaining sealed the four-point decision.

“We came out flat in the second half,” said co-captain Britney McGee after the Great Danes fell to 0-8 in games decided by five points or less and 3-10 when leading or tied at halftime. “They came out ready to play, and we were not ready for the run that they made. I think we can get down on ourselves too much. We just have to start believing in ourselves and give that extra effort that’s needed (down the stretch).”

Led by Kate Early, New Hampshire (8-20, 6-8 AE) scored eight of the first 10 points to open the game. However, the Great Danes clawed back and took their first lead, 12-10, on one of McGee’s four shots from behind the arc. After Williams hit a jumper to knot the score at 12, UAlbany recorded seven consecutive points to take a 19-12 advantage.

The Great Danes scored nine consecutive points to make it 32-18 with 4:23 left in the half, forcing the Wildcats to call a timeout. McGee and Johnson each made shots from behind the arc, while Aiken converted a conventional three-point play during the stretch. However, New Hampshire responded with 11 straight points to close out the half and trailed just 32-29.

The Wildcats picked up where they left off to start the second half, scoring six straight points to cap a 17-0 run dating back to the first frame. Sparked by a three by McGee, UAlbany battled back by scoring the next eight points to take a 40-35 advantage. A long jumper by McGee put the Great Danes up by double figures before a layup by Aiken made it 52-43 with 10:18 on the clock. However, UNH scored the next 12 points and never trailed the rest of the way.

McGee led the way for the Great Danes with 16 points and five rebounds, while Johnson added 15 points and a team-best seven rebounds in her final game at SEFCU Arena. Aiken finished with 12 points and five assists.

In addition to scoring a game-high 22 points, Williams grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Wildcats. Amy Simpson contributed 17 points, and Early added five points, nine rebounds and three steals.

“I would have liked for our seniors to go out with a win,” said head coach Trina Patterson, whose team will visit Stony Brook on Wednesday, Feb. 4. “We outrebounded them and shot the ball better than they did, but we had too many turnovers. It was one of those evenly played games where the small things mattered, and the small things were turning the ball over. That was the difference in the game.”

UAlbany outshot New Hampshire from the field, 42.3 percent (22-52) to 41.8 percent (23-55) and 31.6 percent (6-19) to 30.8 percent (4-13) from behind the arc. UNH held the advantage at the free throw line, 76.2 percent (16-21) to 63.2 percent (12-19).

University of Albany's Jean Juste and Luke Schoen Break School Records at NYU Fastrack Invitational - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New York, N.Y. – Jean Juste reset his own school record in the 60-meter high hurdles and Luke Schoen eclipsed his program standard in the pole vault to pace the UAlbany men's and women's indoor track and field teams at the NYU Fastrack Invitational on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Armory Track and Field Center. Heading into next weekend's IC4A and ECAC championships, the two programs have combined to break school records in 14 different events this winter.

Schoen provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship and reset his own school record for the third time this winter, clearing 17-feet, 9-inches in the pole vault. Juste recorded a second-place time of 7.96 seconds in the 60-meter high hurdles, bettering his school record of 8.02 last year. After falling short by .01 seconds on two occasions in the event, Garrett Askew qualified for the IC4A championship for finishing fourth in 8.25.

The Great Dane men also had a pair of IC4A qualifying performances in the weight throw, and another in the long jump. Wilfredo de jesus Elias, who broke his own school record in the event earlier this winter, finished second with a toss that sailed 59-2.25. Will Anger recorded a personal-best mark of 58-5.75 which placed him fourth, while Valete Graham fell two inches shy of matching his school record in the long jump. His second-place mark was 24-3.

The women’s team had its best set of performances come in the triple jump. Jenn Gurrant, who has already met the NCAA provisional mark in the event, finished second with a leap of 41-2.50. Tiffany Sprenkels recorded a sixth-place performance of 38-5, bettering the ECAC qualifying mark for the first time this year.


Feb. 27 - NYU Fastrack Invitational

UAlbany Men’s Results – 400-Meter Dash: 17. Andrew Overbaugh 50.66. 60-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 3. Jean Juste 8.08 (IC4A), 5. Garrett Askew 8.35. 60-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 2. Jean Juste 7.96 (IC4A, School Record), 4. Garrett Askew 8.25 (IC4A). Mile: 42. Jon Juleus 4:37.57. 3,000-Meter Run: 6. R.J. Sniffen 8:35.25 (U.S. Junior National). Long Jump: 2. Valete Graham 24-3 (IC4A), 16. Kevin O’Riley 21-3.25. Triple Jump: 6. Jordan Pollock 45-7.25. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-9 (NCAA Provisional, School Record). Weight Throw: 2. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias 59-2.25 (IC4A), 4. Will Anger 58-5.75 (IC4A).

Feb. 27 - NYU Fastrack Invitational

UAlbany Women’s Results – 60-Meter Dash (Prelims): 16. Quante Harris 8.05. 500-Meter Dash: 6. Octavia Clarkson 1:18.39. 3,000-Meter Run: 8. Ada Lauterbach 10:17.46. High Jump: T-5. Tiffany Bennett 5-1, T-10. Ashleigh Whitfield 4-11. Triple Jump: 2. Jenn Gurrant 41-2.50 (ECAC), 6. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-5 (ECAC). Pole Vault: T-9. Celine Cauderlier 10-5.50, T-13. Rebecca Power 9-11.75.

Baseball Opens 2009 Season at Western Kentucky

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Bowling Green, Ky. – Junior third baseman Wade Gaynor went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI to lead Western Kentucky to an 11-0 win over UAlbany in the Great Danes’ 2009 season opener at Nick Denes Field on Friday afternoon. The seven-inning game was part of a doubleheader moved to Friday due to impending weather.

The Hilltoppers scored runs in all but one inning. WKU tallied single runs in the first and second and added two in the third. All four runs were unearned off UAlbany starter Josh Willimott, who struck out five in his four innings of work. Willimott held the Hilltoppers hitless in the fourth frame, striking out his final batter faced to end his first outing of the season.

WKU added three runs in the bottom half of the fifth. The Hilltoppers started the rally as UAlbany reliever Ryan White hit senior outfielder Matt Hightower with a pitch. Hightower, who stole second and third, was driven home along with Chad Crager on a two-RBI single by Gaynor. Gaynor, who advanced to second on a throw to home after his single, stole third and scored on a single to right by Jared Andreoli. Freshman Travis Wilson, who relieved White on the mound, got Jeremy Coleman looking and induced a fly out to end the inning.

The Hilltoppers then exploded for four runs in the sixth inning. Wilson walked three of the first four batters faced before being relieved by senior Chris Ott. Catcher Matt Rice singled to score two runs for WKU, while Gaynor scored an unearned run on a fielding error by the Great Danes. Rice scored on a groundout by Kes Carter before Ott got Matt Payton to fly out to end the inning.

UAlbany (0-1) managed three hits in the game. Shortstop Sean Donovan recorded a double in his first at bat, while senior left fielder Gary Pitcheralle drove a triple to left centerfield in the third inning. Senior outfielder Dave West also added a single for the Great Danes. Right hander Matt Ridings went six innings on the mound for WKU (2-1), striking out eight and allowing UAlbany’s three hits.

UAlbany Hosts America East Men's Basketball Championship at SEFCU Arena on March 6-8

2009 America East Conference Men’s Basketball Championship
(University at Albany, Albany, N.Y.)

Friday, March 6, SEFCU Arena
Game 1 – First Round, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 7, SEFCU Arena
Game 2 – Quarterfinal #1, 12:00 p.m. (Time Warner Cable)
Game 3 – Quarterfinal #2, 2:30 p.m.* (Time Warner Cable)
Game 4 – Quarterfinal #3, 6:00 p.m. (Time Warner Cable)
Game 5 – Quarterfinal #4, 8:30 p.m.* (Time Warner Cable)

Sunday, March 8, SEFCU Arena
Game 6 – Semifinal #1, 2:00 p.m. (America East TV Network)
Game 7 – Semifinal #2, 5:00 p.m. (America East TV Network)

Saturday, March 14, Home Court of Higher Seeded Team
Game 8 – Championship, 11:00 a.m. (ESPN2)
*time approximate

... pairings will be announced following the completion of regular-season play on March 1 ...

America East Fan Fest (Physical Education Building, University Gymnasium)
Saturday, March 7 – 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 – 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Public Parking Information
SEFCU Arena (south of arena) - $5 per vehicle, no bus parking
Dutch Gold Lot (adjacent to tennis courts and west of arena) –
$5 per vehicle, $15 for buses, media permitted with valid parking pass

Ticket Information
Office - (518) 442-4683
Visa, MasterCard & Discover Accepted.
www.ualbanysports.com

Will Call available in Physical Education Ticket Office
Ticket Sales available in SEFCU Arena Ticket Office

All-Session Ticket Prices:
Chairback Seat ($55.00), Reserved Seat ($45), Child Seat ($20),
Student ($20, America East students only).

Individual Session Tickets Prices:
Chairback Seat ($18.00), Reserved Seat ($15), Child ($10, 12 & under),
Student ($10, America East students only).

Handicap Seating available on walking track behind sections 550 and 650

Men's Basketball Comes Up Short Once Again

Tyrece Gibbs had 20 points and New Hampshire broke away in the late stages of the game en route to a 64-56 America East Conference victory over UAlbany on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Lundholm Gymnasium. The Wildcats swept the regular-season series for the first time since 2005-06.

With the score tied at 49 apiece, New Hampshire (12-15, AE 7-8) sped away with seven consecutive points. Radar Onguetou, a 6-foot-5 junior, followed Alvin Abreu’s missed three-point field goal attempt from the left wing. After the Great Danes turned the ball over on a five-second call under UNH’s basket, Gibbs buried a fadeaway three-pointer from right of the key on his team’s next possession. Ongeutou, who totaled 12 points and nine rebounds, sank both ends of a one-and-one free throw opportunity with 1:36 remaining to close out that decisive run.

“Our energy was high and we competed in the first half,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team played with a short bench for the second straight game due to injuries and one suspension. “New Hampshire sagged off (Mike) Johnson and (Jerel) Hastings in the second half and took away our driving angles. Gibbs was great and we gave him too many three-point attempts. Their offensive rebounds led directly to baskets.”

In a first half that had four lead changes and four ties, UAlbany (14-14, AE 6-9) took a 14-9 lead when Mike Johnson, who had eight points and six rebounds, converted in the lane off a feed from the top by Billy Allen. The Wildcats wiped out that margin with seven straight points. Tyrone Conley tied the contest with a three-point field goal off a screen from the top of the arc and then gave his team the lead with a foul-line jumper.

Still trailing 19-17, the Great Danes went back in front for the rest of the period. Allen sank two foul shots, before Johnson connected in transition after Jimmie Covington started the break with a blocked shot. UAlbany extended its lead to 32-25 as Will Harris hit a slam dunk off a lob pass from Jerel Hastings, but Gibbs beat the halftime buzzer by making a 19-footer with a dribble move.

UAlbany posted its biggest lead at 34-27 early in the final period when Tim Ambrose, the lone Great Dane in double figures with 11 points, converted a back-door cut. But that advantage was quickly erased, as Gibbs hit two free throws to draw his team even at 37 apiece and Rony Tchatchoua hit a drive in the lane to put the Wildcats ahead.

The contest went back-and-forth over the next seven minutes despite the fact that the visitors made just 20.7 percent from the field after halftime on 6-of-29 shooting. Tchatchoua, who scored in twin figures for the fourth time this season with 12 points, delivered a crowd-pleasing, one-handed slam dunk in transition for a 46-43 lead. UAlbany’s Harris, who had nine points and five rebounds off the bench, sank two free throws to force the fifth tie of the period. Gibbs followed with a 22-foot three-pointer from the left side, before Johnson eventually made a driving layup in transition that evened the score at 49-all with 5:06 left.

“That’s the make-up of our team right now, we are not a jump-shooting team,” explained Brown, whose squad fell into a tie for sixth place in the conference standings. “We can’t stretch the defense. With (Anthony) Raffa and (Louis) Barraza out, we have to encourage Mike and Jerel to more aggressive.”

Brian Connelly and Hastings each finished with nine points for the Great Danes, who have dropped six of their last seven outings. Covington added eight points, his highest scoring total since Jan. 31, 2007, and grabbed five rebounds in his second consecutive starting assignment.

University of Albany Women's Soccer Signs 11 High School Standouts to National Letters of Intent - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head women’s soccer coach Mary-Frances Monroe announced on Wednesday that 11 student-athletes, who all hail from the state of New York, have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2009-10 academic year. The class features two forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and one goalkeeper.

“We are extremely excited about our incoming class,” said Monroe on her largest collection of signees which includes eight players who compete in their local Olympic Development Program (ODP) and four 2008 NSCAA/adidas regional All-America selections. “This is a very unique and highly talented group of student-athletes who are going to leave an everlasting impression on this program.”

Jessica Baccaglini (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) is a 5-foot-5 defender who led her high school team to three straight New York State Class A championships from 2005-07. As a senior captain, she led the Cyclones to the state finals. A two-time All-Nassau County selection, Baccaglini was also a member of her school’s National Honor Society and helped her club team, the Rockville Centre Tornados, advance to the Eastern New York State Cup championship game twice.

Danielle DelNero (Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott) is a 5-foot-4 midfielder who was named all-division three times and all-conference once. The five-year letterwinner helped her squad win three consecutive New York State Class AA Section IV championships and advance as far as the state’s title game. The National Honor Society member recorded 26 goals and 14 assists in her career and captained her team for two seasons while also leading the Syracuse Football Club to a pair of New York West State Cup championships.

Chelsea DeVerna (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) and Maggie DeVerna (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) are twin sisters and team captains who led their program to two straight league titles. Chelsea, a 5-foot-2 forward, was named the Suffolk County Player of the Year and an all-state first-team selection, while Lisa, a 5-foot-2 midfielder, was a member of the NYSSWA Class AA all-state fourth team. The sisters played club soccer with Baccaglini on the Rockville Centre Tornados. They are Region II All-Americans and participate in the Eastern New York State Olympic Development Program (ENYSODP).

Olivia Guy (Ontario, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) finished her four-year high school career with 76 goals and 41 assists. A 5-foot-11 forward, she led her team to the 2006 NYS Class AA Championship when she was named the game’s most outstanding player. She also helped the Rochester Junior Rhinos win the U.S. Soccer Club National Championship in 2007 and the New York State Cup twice. Guy was a two-time Region II All-American and is in the player pool for the Western New York State Olympic Development Program (WNYSODP). A team captain who was a fourth-team all-state selection as a senior, Guy also holds the state record in the long jump at 18-feet, 0.5-inches and currently ranks first in Section V in the long jump and triple jump.

Julianne Hayes (Northport, N.Y./Northport) led her high school team to four league championships and a combined record of 47-8-8 in that span. The 5-foot-4 defender and team captain was a four-time Scholar-Athlete Award winner and garnered all-league and all-conference honors as a senior after recording three goals and five assists from the backfield. She totaled 10 goals and 15 assists during her career and also played at the club level for Cold Spring Harbor ISA.

Lily Honor (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Beacon School) is a 5-foot-4 midfielder who earned three letters at The Beacon School and played at the club level for the Mamaroneck Junior Soccer Panthers. She is also a member of the ENYSODP. Off the field, she worked with the New York 2 New Orleans Coalition (NY2NO), a youth-led organization which works with people who have been affected by social, racial and economic inequities in both cities.

Breanna Maggio (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) was a five-year letterwinner and the first eighth grader to ever play at Wayne Central. She was also a four-time all-league selection and was named to the NYSSWA Class A all-state third team as a senior. The 5-foot-5 goalkeeper, who played in 100 matches, finished her career holding school records for shutouts (49) and goals against average (0.49). A volunteer for the Special Olympics, Maggio played her club ball for the Rochester Junior Rhinos, winning a national championship and two state titles. A WNYSODP member, she surrendered one goal in three games in the 2007 national tournament.

Casey Marks (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) is a 5-foot-9 defender who has the ability to play every position on the field. She led Cortland High School to a pair of NYS Class A Section III championships and played for the Syracuse Football Club. In addition, she was a Region II All-American and is in the WNYSODP player pool.



Regina Nowicki (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) was a four-time all-league selection and helped her high school win the 2008 Section V championship with a 19-3-1 ledger. A second-team all-state pick and member of the WNYSODP, the 5-foot-8 defender played on the Rochester Junior Rhinos’ back line which surrendered one goal in three games to claim the 2007 U.S. Club Soccer National Championship.


Despina Psomopoulos (Bayside, N.Y./Bayside) is a 5-foot-5 midfielder who led Bayside to a combined record of 66-4-2 over a four-year span. She was a two-time league MVP who has amassed 63 goals and 38 assists in her career and led the conference in goals and points as a freshman. A member of the ENYSODP and National Honor Society, Psomopoulos also helped the Albertson Soccer Club advance to the championship game of the New York State Cup and win the Northeast Region I championship.

-agate-

2009 University at Albany Women’s Soccer Signings

Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (High School/Club)

Jessica Baccaglini, Defender, 5-5, Rockville Centre, N.Y. (South Side / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Danielle DelNero, Midfielder, 5-4, Endicott, N.Y. (Union Endicott / Syracuse Football Club)

Chelsea DeVerna, Forward, 5-2, Setauket, N.Y. (Ward Melville / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Maggie DeVerna, Midfielder, 5-2, Setauket, N.Y. (Ward Melville / Rockville Centre Tornados)

Olivia Guy, Forward, 5-11, Ontario, N.Y. (Aquinas Institute / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Julianne Hayes, Defender, 5-4, Northport, N.Y. (Northport / Club Spring Harbor ISA)

Lily Honor, Midfielder, 5-4, Brooklyn, N.Y. (The Beacon School / Mamaroneck Junior Soccer Panthers)

Breanna Maggio, Goalkeeper, 5-5, Ontario, N.Y. (Wayne Central / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Casey Marks, Defender, 5-9, Cortland, N.Y. (Cortland / Syracuse Football Club)

Regina Nowicki, Defender, 5-8, Fairport, N.Y. (Fairport / Rochester Junior Rhinos)

Despina Psomopoulos, Midfielder, 5-5, Bayside, N.Y. (Bayside / Albertson Soccer Club)

UAlbany-New Hampshire pregame thoughts

With the Great Danes down to eight available players ...... head coach Will Brown said today having fewer players does simplify matters entering Thursday’s game at New Hampshire.

“It’s made my job easier because we basically have eight guys,” Brown said. “The guys we’re bringing off the bench, it’s actually unique the way it works. (Freshman forward) Billy Allen can play on the perimeter, or we can use him as an undersized 4-man (power forward), depending on who we play. (Junior forward) Will Harris can play on the perimeter and we’re playing him at the 4 some, too, and Brett Gifford and Jimmie Covington just rotate in and out at the 5 spot (center), so I think in the eight-man rotation, we have some flexibility coming off the bench where guys can play different positions.

“It’s made my job easier,” Brown repeated. “I don’t really have to think as much with these eight guys.”

Brown said it probably makes the players’ lives easier, as well.

“I’m sure,” he said. “When you don’t have a lot of options, the kids look at it as, `Hey, I’m going to get an opportunity to play, relax, go out and play and see what happens.’ When you have eight guys in uniform, as opposed to 11, 12 or 13, kids get the sense they’re going to get an opportunity, and hopefully they embrace that opportunity and run with it.”

Brown said he again won’t have freshman point guard Anthony Raffa (sprained toe) or sophomore guard Louis Barraza (Achilles’ tendinitis and bad back). Brown said Raffa had an X-ray today and won’t be able to practice until next Wednesday, at the earliest, which means he’ll miss the final two regular-season games. He might be done for the season.

Brown plans to start the same five as the Maine game with Jerel Hastings at small forward and Mike Johnson at the point. Both are known more for their defense than their outside shooting.

UAlbany sophomore guard Tim Ambrose said the lack of depth can also be a drawback.

“I like playing in general, but having a short bench means we’ve got to play a lot of minutes,” Ambrose said. “It can help us in the long run, or it can hurt us. But we’re in shape now. Coach Brown made sure of that. So we’re just going to go out there, and when you get tired, you ask for a sub.”

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

At least Ambrose is staying on the floor.

He played 32 minutes in Sunday’s win over Maine, in no small part because he didn’t pick up his first foul until 18:12 remained in the game. That was a change from his tendency to have two fouls before some fans settle into their seats.

“Just not reaching,” Ambrose explained. “Just playing people with my feet instead of my hands. I tend to reach every now and then and I get caught every time I do it.”

***********

The seeding implications of Thursday’s game weren’t lost on Ambrose as UAlbany is in a three-way tie for fifth in America East with UNH and UMBC.

A win would be a major step toward locking up the fifth seed in the conference tournament and likely playing Stony Brook in the No. 4-vs.-No.5 quarterfinal on March 7 at 2:30 p.m in SEFCU Arena.

“It’s a very important game,” Ambrose said. “I feel like if we win this game, we’ll be in fifth place, and we’ll have to play Stony Brook, and that’ll be a good game, even though they beat us twice in the regular season. Hey, anything’s possible. Just got to come out ready to play tomorrow.”

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

UNH is playing well lately, winning two of its past three games.

The Wildcats humbled UAlbany 10 days ago with a 78-59 victory that was UAlbany’s worst margin of defeat at home since SEFCU Arena opened in 1992.

Then the Wildcats beat Maine before taking America East co-leader Binghamton to overtime in a 70-69 loss on Sunday.

“Our guys, because we played (UNH) a week ago, understand their personnel and what they do and what we didn’t do,” Brown said. “I think the preparation aspect of it is fresh in their mind, and so is the beating we took.”

UAlbany shot 20-of-33 from the free-throw line in the first meeting.

“UNH is going to play us mostly man-to-man,” Brown said. “That helps Mike (Johnson), that helps Jerel (Hastings) on a consistent basis. We were very aggressive in the second half against UNH offensively and really got to the free-throw line but we didn’t make our free throws. I think we need to establish the inside game and be aggressive early on against UNH up there and we’ll see what happens.”

By Mark Singelais

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Pulls Out Win

Courtesy: UA Sports

Sophomore Joe Pompo scored the game-winning goal with 32 seconds elapsed in the second overtime, as UAlbany rallied for an 8-7 victory over crosstown-rival Siena on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Siena Turf Field. The Great Danes have won all seven meetings since both programs have competed at the Division I level, but this one was the most tightly contested.

Siena (0-2) broke a 5-5 deadlock midway through the fourth quarter when senior attack Chris Zarins rifled a shot into the net from the left side after collecting Chris Roth’s feed from behind the cage. The Saints then looked to take control when Ryan Duggan tallied his second goal of the game in man-advantage situation.

UAlbany (1-1) closed the gap to 7-6 with 3:40 left when freshman Joe Resetarits connected with a sidearm shot by reversing to his left shoulder. The Saints appeared to have thwarted any comeback attempt when goalkeeper Brent Herbst, who had 13 saves, stopped Resetarits from the left side of the cage with 12 seconds remaining. But defenseman Kyle Vercruysse’s clearing pass was picked by UAlbany goalie John Carroll and the freshman sent a desperation pass into the Siena zone. After several bounces in the box, Resetarits corralled the loose ball and put it in the back of the net from the top of crease with three-tenths of a second to play to force overtime.

“I knew I had a couple of seconds,” explained Resetarits, who netted a game-high four goals. “I was just trying to pick it up and shoot it. I didn’t think we would get the ball back (after Herbst’s save). There was a big scrum in front of me and I was more shocked that it bounced right to me.”

The Saints had two scoring chances in the first extra period. Carroll made one of his 12 saves on Chris D’Alberti’s high blast and Matt Leithead’s shot was wide with six seconds left in the stanza. However, Siena’s Roth was called for slashing as the overtime ended and the Great Danes started the second four-minute session with an extra attacker. Pompo then sent his game-winner from the right point into the upper left corner off a pass from Brian Caufield.

“I was the third option on that play,” said Pompo, who had a pair of goals. “We had worked on that play every day in practice. We made a lot of errors in the first half, but kept on fighting.”

The Saints, who had lost the previous six meetings with UAlbany by fairly wide margins, dominated the action in the opening half. Kenny Mazzone scored on a low grounder from the left point in the first quarter. Still leading 2-1 late in the second period, Siena found the net twice in a 40-second span. Shaun Dunn went low from the left side and Duggan followed on an extra-man goal with 30 seconds left before intermission.

The Great Danes, who were coming off a one-goal loss in the season opener against Denver, trailed 5-3 with 7:45 left in the third quarter after Zarins connected with the man-advantage from right of the crease. But UAlbany regrouped when Caufield, who had one goal and three assists, converted a bounce shot after Pompo came up with a failed clear. Pompo drew his team even at five apiece with 10:24 remaining in regulation. Defender Garrett Pedley intercepted a clearing attempt with his squad a man up to set up the game-tying goal.

“We were fortunate but we played all sixty minutes,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose club had lost its previous six one-goal decisions, dating back to the 2007 NCAA quarterfinal defeat against Cornell. “It was gut-check time when we were down 4-1. Siena possessed the ball and took us out of our rhythm. We fought back and did a job on defense in the first overtime.”

***********

UAlbany (1-1) 0 1 3 3 0 1 - 8

Siena (0-2) 1 3 1 2 0 0 - 7

UAlbany – Joe Resetarits 4-0, Joe Pompo 2-0, Brian Caufield 1-3, Corey Small 1-0, John Alpizar 0-1, Derek Kreuzer 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): John Carroll (64:32, 12 saves, 7 GA).

Siena – Ryan Duggan 2-0, Chris Zarins 2-0, Chris D’Alberti 1-2, Shaun Dunn 1-1, Kenny Mazzone 1-0, Chris Roth 0-2, Bryan Neufeld 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brent Herbst (62:38, 13 saves, 8 GA), Tom Morr (1:54, 1 save, 0 GA).

University of Albany's Britney McGee's 30 Points Helps Women's Basketball in 92-80 Win

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Britney McGee scored a career-high 30 points and made seven three-point field goals as UAlbany snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 92-80 victory over UMBC in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at SEFCU Arena.

UMBC (14-13, AE 6-8) rallied from a 14-point deficit early in the second half. Michelle Kurowski, a freshman guard who had 25 points, hit a driving layup, before Katie Brooks made a jumper in the lane to draw their team even at 64-all. Kurowski, who added three assists and four steals, made two of her three 3-point field goals in that run.

With the game still tied at 66 apiece, UAlbany (4-22, AE 2-11) ran off 11 consecutive points to take control. McGee canned a three-pointer from the right corner on an inbounds play to break the tie. Tabitha Makopondo, a 6-foot-1 freshman, connected on a drive and then scored in the lane off a feed from Tiffanie Johnson. McGee, who made 7-of-8 from beyond the arc, later buried two free throws for a 77-66 advantage with 3:54 remaining.

The Retrievers, who won the first meeting this season by a 13-point spread, never got closer than seven in the stretch. After Melissa Book drilled a three-point field goal, UAlbany’s Janea Aiken answered with a conventional three-point play. Aiken, who had 14 points and five assists, was fouled on a left baseline drive.

“We shot the ball well and we played good defense,” said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team made a season-best 58.5 percent from the field on 31-of-53 shooting. “When they made their run, we didn’t clam up, we fought back. We were committed to pride, purpose and being physical. We have been in the valley so long; now they know how to climb out.”

The first half featured nine lead changes and five ties. The Retrievers were behind, 24-23, but then went ahead on Kurowski’s two foul shots and a three-pointer by Michele Brokans. UAlbany answered with a 20-4 run over the next four minutes. McGee, who added five assists, seven rebounds and three steals to the second-highest scoring total by a Great Danes this season, helped her team regain the lead with back-to-back long-range jumpers. Still leading 36-32, McGee hit another 3-pointer from right of the key off a kick-out pass. Johnson made a right baseline jumper and McGee sank a 23-footer for a 44-32 cushion.

After taking a 48-38 lead to the locker room, McGee and Makopondo helped expand that margin early in the final stanza. McGee nailed a 14-foot jumper and another three-pointer. Makopondo, who had a career-high 17 points, scored on the right baseline and sank two from the charity stripe for a 57-43 advantage with 17:28 left.

“We played as a team and we were all on the same page,” offered McGee, whose squad scored the most points in a Division I game, breaking a mark established in a 91-73 win over Lafayette on Jan. 2, 2003. “There was a little fear (when they tied the game), because we have been so use to losing. But we toughened up, pulled together and pushed through.”

Brooks was the only other UMBC player in double figures with 15 points, while Erin Brown added nine points and six rebounds. Carlee Cassidy, the conference’s leading scorer with a 21.5 average coming into the contest, was held to four on 1-of-6 shooting. Charity Iromuanya added 10 points and three steals for the Great Danes, who ended the second-longest losing skid in the program’s Division I history and won for the first time since Jan. 13th against Maine.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Records 80-69 America East Conference Win Against Maine on Senior Day - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Tim Ambrose scored 27 points and Jerel Hastings added his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, as UAlbany halted a five-game losing streak with an 80-69 America East Conference victory over Maine on Sunday, Feb. 22 at SEFCU Arena.

Maine (9-18, AE 4-10) reversed a seven-point deficit early in the second half to go back in front. Sean McNally, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound sophomore who had 15 points and eight rebounds, put his team ahead, 50-48, with a three-point field goal from left of the key. Troy Barnies, who scored 15 off the bench, later gave his club a four-point cushion when he connected in the lane.

UAlbany (14-13, AE 6-8) regrouped with 12 unanswered. Jimmie Covington, a 6-foot-7 senior, tied the contest at 56 apiece with two foul shots, before Ambrose drilled a three-pointer from the left corner as his team regained the lead. The 6-foot sophomore later drove to the basket to set up Brian Connelly for a basket, and hit a one-hander on the left baseline. Connelly split a pair of free throws for a 64-56 advantage. Ambrose, who had 20-plus points for the seventh time this season, added four rebounds, four assists and four steals to his scoring total.

The Great Danes, who shot 53.8 percent in the final period, would rattle off a string of eight straight points to build their lead to double figures. Hastings, a Dallas, Texas native who was one of three seniors playing in his final regular-season home game, made a 16-foot baseline jumper and delivered a slam dunk on an inside cut. Brett Gifford sank two free throws for a 72-58 cushion with 3:53 to play.

“The intensity from practice finally carried over to the floor,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team committed a season-low six turnovers. “The team responded to the challenge they were presented and I am happy that the seniors leave on a positive note. This is the first time that Jerel’s mother has an opportunity to see him play here.”

The Black Bears, who won this year’s first meeting with UAlbany on Jan. 17 by a 72-61 score, broke free in a first half that featured five lead changes and three ties. Maine led 26-23, but then scored six of the game’s next eight points. Freshman Gerald McLemore, who had 11 of his 14 points in the period, buried a 3-pointer and canned a 15-foot jumper on the left baseline. Barnies later followed Mark Socoby’s missed runner and his team had a 34-25 advantage.

The Great Danes, who helped end their longest loss skein since December 2005 by grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, came back 10 straight points to take a 35-34 edge to the locker room. Hastings, who made 6-of-9 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line, hit a baseline shot and had a slam dunk on an offensive board in that span. Mike Johnson made a three-point field goal to draw his team even, before Covington split two free throws with less than one seconds left in the half.

“I was nervous before the game and shed a tear (during the pre-game ceremony),” said Hastings, who scored in twin figures in consecutive games for the first time in a UAlbany uniform. “My coaches have been asking me to more aggressive and I played with energy. We have been focusing on rebounding and crashing the glass.”

Junior Bernal had 16 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Black Bears, who have dropped seven of their last eight outings. Connelly, a 6-foot-8 senior, scored in twin figures for the 12th time this season with 15 points.

“I don’t know if I am happy as a senior or just happy to get a win period,” offered Connelly, whose squad moved into a tie for fifth place in the conference standings. “I think our energy was the difference. This is the kind of effort that can start moving us up the hill.”

Softball Falls to Jacksonville State, 11-5, in Final Game of South Florida Tournament

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tampa, Fla. – Senior Kayla Collins went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in to lead Jacksonville State to an 11-5 victory over the UAlbany softball team at South Florida’s The Game Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 22. The reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions jumped out to an 8-0 lead and went wire-to-wire for the six-run win.

Jacksonville State (8-3), which advanced to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, plated eight runs in the first four innings. The Gamecocks scored once in the first on a fielder’s choice. A pair of doubles by Jackie Jarman and Courtney Underwood put three more runs across the board in the second frame, and a single with the bases loaded by Kaycee Crow added another run in the third. UAlbany’s Marissa Powell forced the first two batters to fly out in the fourth, but the Gamecocks recovered offensively and scored three more times to take an eight-run lead.

The Great Danes, who were facing their third straight opponent which advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament, cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth inning. Meagan Butsch led off with a double to right center. After Gina Mason singled to right on the next play, Butsch was able to score on a throwing error by Crow from the outfield. With the bases loaded and one down, Katie Wambold came in as a pinch hitter and plated Diane MacDowell on a groundout to third. Jess Bergin came home with the Great Danes’ third run on a wild pitch. Andrianna Walvraven chased pitcher Kelly McGregor out of the game when she sent in Stephanie Talerico with one of her career-high three hits. The inning ended when Michelle Connors was called out on strikes.

The Gamecocks responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead by a 10-4 score, but the Great Danes answered back with one more run half an inning later when Bergin laced a double down the left field line. An RBI single up the middle by Collins in the top of the seventh sealed the final outcome.

Jacksonville State’s McGregor was credited with the victory and improved to 1-0 this season. She recorded one strikeout and surrendered six hits, three walks, and three earned runs in 3.2 innings. She was relieved by Collins, who struck out three Great Danes and allowed three hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings of work. UAlbany’s Powell pitched her seventh complete game of the season and dropped to 1-6 with the loss. She had one strikeout while giving up 20 hits, 10 earned runs and two walks.

UAlbany (6-6), which finished the tournament with a 2-3 ledger, will be back in action when it travels to Georgia Tech’s Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga. from March 6-8. The Great Danes will open up against Centenary before facing Jacksonville State, Bowling Green, Kennesaw State and Akron in the three-day event.

University of Albany Men Win Fourth Straight America East Indoor Track & Field Crown; Women Finish Second - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jean Juste won the 55-meter hurdles for the third year in a row, as his team captured its fourth consecutive America East Conference men’s indoor track & field championship on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center. The Great Danes were second for the third time in the last four years in the women’s championship.

Juste, a defensive back on the UAlbany football team, sprinted 7.47 seconds to win the 55-hurdles title. The Great Danes, who had seven individual champions and won two took relays, were first in the team standings by 73 points over second-place Binghamton. UAlbany scored 211 total points, breaking Northeastern’s previous standard of 202 set in 1991.

Nasim Siddeeq was first in the triple jump with an NCAA-provisional mark and an America East meet record leap of 51-feet, 4.25-inches. Siddeeq, who became sixth UAlbany athlete in as many years to win the event, was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet. Michael McCadney also went over 50 feet (50-10.75) to place second. Tyler Fogarty set a school record in winning the 1,000-meter run in 2:24.86, while John Moore was second.

Alie Beauvais reached the finish line first in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:03.40 and helped the victorious 4x400m relay establish a conference record. A transfer from Lincoln (Mo.) University, Beauvais teamed with Andrew Overbaugh, Joe Greene and Jeffery Barnes to run the relay in 3:11.77, breaking a mark that had stood since 2003. In addition, Greene was second at 400-meters with an NCAA-provisional and school record time of 47.15.

Aaron Lozier ran to victory in the 800-meter run and was clocked in 1:52.69. Lozier also competed on the 4x800m relay that placed second in a school-record time of 7:37.57 and was fourth in the mile run. Luke Schoen (pole vault), Wilfredo de Jesus Elias (weight throw) and the distance medley relay picked up wins on Friday’s opening day of competition.

In the women’s meet, Kamilah McShine was a winner in the 55-meter hurdles for the fourth consecutive year. McShine, who won the pentathlon on Friday, hit the tape in a meet-record 7.93 seconds. She was also a member of the winning 4x400m relay, along with Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez and Fey Adaramola. The relay was timed in 3:48.48, just two-hundredths of a second off the existing meet record. McShine, who scored 22 points in the championship, was chosen the Most Outstanding Performer of the Meet.

Adaramola set a school standard in winning the 200m dash in 24.30 seconds. The Central Florida transfer added a fourth-place finish in the 55-dash. The Great Danes, who had five individual winners, scored 141.50 and were 17 points behind champion Boston University.

Gurrant, who was third in the long jump competition the previous day, took the triple jump with a leap of 41-0.25. Ritshell Verdier won her second conference indoor shot put crown with a toss of 44-9.75. Melissa Lee was second at 500-meters in 1:15.05.

“The men take great pride in winning this championship,” said UAlbany coach Roberto Vives, a member of the America East Coaching Staff of the Year for the fourth time in his career. “We just keep getting better and better, and there were many outstanding performances. The women pushed Boston U. as far as they could. We are a young team.”

***********

2009 America East Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship

MEN

1. UAlbany 211, 2. Binghamton 138, 3. New Hampshire 133, 4. UMBC 123, 5. Boston U. 57, 6. Maine 42.50, 7. Vermont 38, 8. Stony Brook 34, 9. Hartford 3.5.



Individual

55 – Aaron Campbell (Vermont), 6.46, 200 – Cazal Arnett (Binghamton), 21.41, 400 – Cazal Arnett (Binghamton), 46.96, 500 – Alie Beauvais (UAlbany), 1:30.40, 800 – Aaron Lozier (UAlbany), 1:52.69, 1,000 – Tyler Fogarty (UAlbany), 2:24.86; Mile – David Proctor (Boston U.), 4:02.47, 3,000 – Riley Masters (Maine), 8:17.46, 5,000 – Chris Gaube (Binghamton), 14:45.27, 55-Hurdles – Jean Juste (UAlbany), 7.47, 4x400 Relay – UAlbany (Andrew Overbaugh), Alie Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes, Joe Greene), 3:11.77 (championship record), 4x800 Relay – Boston U. (Kenneth Haltom, Balint Horvath, Jeff Moreau, David Proctor), 7:34.90 (championship record), Distance Medley Relay – UAlbany (Aaron Lozier, Joe Greene, Tyler Fogarty, Ricardo Estremera), 9:42.99 (championship record), High Jump – Victor Gilreath (UMBC), 6-9, Pole Vault – Luke Schoen (UAlbany), 17-0.75, Long Jump – Spencer Shaw (New Hampshire), 24-0.25, Triple Jump – Nasim Siddeeq (UAlbany), 51-4.25 (championship record), Shot Put – Brice Paey (New Hampshire), 56-2.50 (championship record), Weight Throw – Wilfredo de Jesus Elias (UAlbany), 62-6, Heptathlon – Dominic Devaud (UMBC), 4,884 points.



WOMEN

1. Boston U. 158.5, 2. UAlbany 141.5, 3. New Hampshire 120, 4. Vermont 92, 5. Maine 73, 6. Binghamton 61, 7. UMBC 57, 8. Stony Brook 54, Hartford 21.



Individual

55 – Shelby Walton (Boston U.), 7.10, 200 – Fey Adaramola (UAlbany), 24.30, 400 – Vicki Tolton (Maine), 54.31 (championship record), 500 – Rebecca Marshburn (Boston U.), 1:15.62, 800 – Katie Weider (Boston U.), 2:12.16, 1,000 – Lucy Van Dalen (Stony Brook), 2:48.02 (championship record), Mile – Lucy Van Dalen (Stony Brook), 4:45.87, 3,000 – Andrea Walkonen (Boston U.), 9:25.69 (championship record), 5,000 – Andrea Walkonen (Boston U.), 16:04.49 (championship record), 55-Hurdles – Kamilah McShine (UAlbany), 7.93 (championship record), 4x400 Relay – UAlbany (Kamilah McShine, Zuliana Fontanez, Jennifer Gurrant, Fey Adaramola), 3:48.48, 4x800 Relay – Maine (Corey Conner, Stephanie Jette, Jennifer Lucy, Vanessa Letourneau), 9:18.99, Distance Medley Relay – New Hampshire (Kelly Maguire, Catherine Perella, Allison Letourneau, Sydney Fitzpatrick), 11:55.53, High Jump – Karly Neveu (Boston U.), 5-4.25, Pole Vault – Rita Ciambra (New Hampshire), 12-5.50 (championship record), Long Jump – Edwina Clarke (Boston U.), 18-11.75, Triple Jump – Jennifer Gurrant (UAlbany), 41-0.25, Shot Put – Ritshell Verdier (UAlbany), 44-9.75, Weight Throw – Ashlee Lathrop (New Hampshire), 57-3, Pentathlon – Kamilah McShine (UAlbany), 3,418 points.

Men's Lacrosse Edged By Denver, 10-9, in Great Danes' Home Opener at John Fallon Field

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Charley Dickenson had three goals and two assists as Denver held off UAlbany, 10-9, in the Great Danes’ home opener at John Fallon Field on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Denver (1-1) snapped a 6-6 deadlock with a pair of goals in the last minute of the third quarter. Senior attacker Cliff Smith moved around a long-stick midfielder and bounced a shot into the right side of the net with 38.7 seconds remaining in the period. Dickenson then drove from behind the cage and scored from the left with one tick left on the clock.

After UAlbany (0-1) closed with 8-7 on a behind-the-back shot by Brian Caufield, the Pioneers stretched their advantage to a three-goal cushion. Joey Murray tallied his third goal of the game when he spun to his right shoulder and sent a blast into the upper right corner. Dickenson, a junior midfielder, then faked high and went low on a drive from behind the net with 6:32 to play.

The Great Danes, who are ranked No. 17 in the current USILA coaches’ poll, closed within one goal three minutes later when Dave Brock scored twice. The junior college All-American buried a 15-yard shot from the right point and followed one minute and 44 seconds later off a pass from midfielder Mark Cometti. The play originated in the defensive end when the Great Danes forced a turnover with a double-team.

UAlbany has two excellent chances to force overtime, but Denver goalkeeper Peter Lowell was up to the challenge with two of his 13 saves. Lowell stopped Brock’s behind-the-back attempt with one minute remaining after the Great Danes once again forced a miscue by doubling the ball. The Great Danes’ Corey Small came open in the middle of the field with 17 seconds on the clock, but Lowell thwarted the senior’s blast from six yards in front of the cage to preserve the road win.

“Their goalie was the difference in the game,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team is also ranked No. 13 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll. “You can’t ask for a better opportunity with your best player shooting from six or seven yards away. We started slowly and weren’t moving our feet well. We could have been sharper at certain times in the game.”

The Pioneers, who were coming off a 20-7 loss to nationally-ranked North Carolina in their opener one week ago, leaped to a 4-1 lead in the second quarter. Alex Gaijic’s extra-man goal from left of the crease gave his team that three-goal cushion.

UAlbany rattled off three unanswered in the third period to go ahead 5-4. Small, who had three goals and one assist, scored from the top of the crease with a man-advantage, before Caufield put his team ahead from the middle of the zone after a restart. Murray and Dickenson netted a pair of unassisted goals to help the Pioneers regain the lead. UAlbany’s Joe Pompo drew his squad even by working his way around a defender to score from the left side. Pompo and Caufield each finished with two goals and one assist.

“They came out firing and we were a step behind,” said Brock, who totaled 115 goals in his two seasons at Herkimer County Community College and set up Small for the potential game-tying score. “The game isfaster and there is a lot more talent (at this level). We need to work on the little things and next time we will be in a position to execute.”

**********

Denver (1-1) 1 3 4 2 - 10

#17 UAlbany (0-1) 1 1 4 3 - 9

Denver – Charley Dickenson 3-2, Joey Murray 3-0, Alex Gajic 2-0, Cliff Smith 1-0, Todd Baxter 1-0, Jamie Lincoln 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Peter Lowell (60:00, 13 saves, 9 GA).

UAlbany – Corey Small 3-1, Brian Caufield 2-1, Dave Brock 2-1, Joe Pompo 2-1, Joe Resetarits 0-1, Mark Cometti 0-1, John Alpizar 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): John Carroll (60:00, 11 saves, 10 GA).

University of Albany Leah McIntosh's Third Straight Shutout Salvages Split of Big East Opponents for Softball - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tampa, Fla. – Leah McIntosh pitched her third straight shutout to lead the UAlbany softball team to a 2-0 victory over South Florida, last season’s Big East regular-season champion, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at South Florida’s The Game Tournament. Earlier in the day, Louisville, ranked 25th in the nation by USA Today/NFCA, hit five home runs to earn a 12-3 win over the Great Danes in five innings.

After McIntosh got out of the top of the first inning with two consecutive strikeouts, the Great Danes scored all the runs they would need in the bottom half of the opening frame. Andrianna Walraven singled up the middle and stole second to start things off. Walraven then advanced to third on a single by Kristine Bill, and made it home on the next play when Connors grounded out to short. Batting with two runners in scoring position and one out, Gina Mason singled down the left field line to plate Bill for the team’s second run.

South Florida (8-5), which was among the teams receiving votes in the national polls, made its biggest threat to get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. JoJo Medina, an All-Big East second-team member last year, recorded the Bulls’ only hit of the afternoon when she singled through the left side to put two runners on for Cat Olnick. With a pair of runners in scoring position following a wild pitch, the cleanup hitter flied out to Nicole Kothe in left. McIntosh got out of her biggest jam of the day by fanning the last batter.

UAlbany’s McIntosh improved to a perfect 5-0 with her fourth shutout of the season. She has only given up one earned run in her five starts, dropping her earned run average to 0.26. The junior, who pitched a perfect game against Rhode Island yesterday, struck out nine batters to increase her total to 60 in 34 innings of work.

South Florida’s Cristi Ecks, who recorded only one out, surrendered four hits and two runs which were both earned to drop to 2-1 this season. She was relieved by Kristin Gordon, who only allowed one batter to reach base when Connors was hit by a pitch in the sixth.

In the first game, Louisville (11-1) took a quick 2-0 advantage in the opening frame when senior Kristi Cunningham blasted her fifth home run of the season over the right field fence. The Great Danes threatened in the top half of the second, but could not plate Meagan Butsch from third.

The Cardinals, whose only loss this season came to fifth-ranked Michigan, added three more runs in the bottom of the second. After Vanessa James tripled to right center with one runner on, Melissa Roth went yard to give Louisville a five-run lead.

UAlbany (6-5) staged a rally by putting three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. With Connors on first, Butsch reached on an error to put two runners on for Mason. The sophomore who was named to last season’s all-rookie team by America East then doubled to right center, plating Butsch and Connors. Bill, who recorded a career-high five RBI in yesterday’s win over Rhode Island, singled to second which brought Mason home for the Great Danes’ third run before Kat Smith grounded out to end the stanza.

Louisville extended its lead up to seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. After James sent her second triple down the right field line to plate Patrika Barlow, Roth hit her second home run of the morning to make it a five-run game. Cunningham then hit the Cardinals’ fourth ball over the fence to make it 10-3, and the contest ended in the bottom of the fifth due to the eight-run mercy rule when Roth hit her third home run of the morning.

Cardinal freshman Tori Collins earned the victory to improve to 4-0 this season. She finished the game with three strikeouts, no walks and was only charged with one earned run. Collins was relieved by junior Kristen Wadwell for 1.2 innings. An All-Big East second-team selection last season, she recorded a strikeout while only allowing one hit and one walk. UAlbany’s Marissa Powell dropped to 1-5 on the year with the loss. She surrendered 12 hits and 12 earned runs while walking two Cardinal hitters and fanning three in 4.1 innings before the game was called.

The Great Danes will close out tournament play tomorrow morning when they face Jacksonville State, last season’s Ohio Valley Conference champion, at 11 a.m.

-agate-

UAlbany 000 30 - 3 4 1

#25 Louisville (11-1) 230 52 - 12 12 1

(game ended due to 8-run rule)

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith. Louisville: Tori Collins and Melissa Roth.



South Florida (8-5) 000 000 0 - 0 1 0

UAlbany (6-5) 200 000 x - 2 4 1

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith. South Florida: Cristi Ecks and Cat Olnick.

Men's Lacrosse Vs Denver - Saturday 1pm

IL Game Preview

Where: University of Albany Campus
Facility: John Fallon Stadium
Time: 1pm
Opponent: University of Denver

University of Albany Men's Indoor Track & Field Stands First, Women Third After Day One of A-East Championships - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. – Wilfredo de Jesus Elias, Kamilah McShine and Luke Schoen all won individual events to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams at the first day of the America East Conference Championships hosted by Boston University on Friday, Feb. 20. In addition, the men’s distance relay team provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship, shattering the meet and school records in the process. The Great Dane men stand in first place through five events, while the women are third after six events.

UAlbany’s men squad has 67 points, which outdistances second-place New Hampshire by 20 after the first day. The Great Dane women’s squad has 34.5 points, trailing only New Hampshire (68) and three-time reigning champion Boston University (45.50).

After setting the school record by seven seconds at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 6, the men’s distance relay team consisting of Aaron Lozier, Joe Greene, Tyler Fogarty and Ricardo Estremera took almost six more seconds off the program’s best time and finished the race in 9:42.99. The new championship meet record smashed the old one of 9:54.59 set by Boston University in 2007 and outdistanced the rest of the field by 11 seconds. Greene also ran the second-fastest time in the preliminary round of the 400-meter dash and clocked in a season-best mark of 47.66 seconds.

McShine, a co-captain, won the pentathlon for the second time in three years, recording 3,418 points. The school’s record holder in the event recorded the best mark among 16 competitors in the 55-meter high hurdles (8.12), long jump (17-6) and the 800-meter run (2:29.08). McShine also ran the fastest time in the preliminary round of the 55-meter hurdles, finishing in 8.03, while Jean Juste posted the best mark on the men’s side in the event with a time of 7.63.

de Jesus Elias and Schoen’s first-place showings in the weight throw and pole vault, respectively, highlighted the list of strong performances by Great Danes in the men’s field events. de Jesus Elias’ winning toss sailed 62-feet, 6-inches. Schoen cleared 16-6.75, while Mike Dempsey finished second with a mark of 15-9. UAlbany also had four of the top finishers in the long jump, led by Nasim Siddeeq’s second-place showing of 23-8.75 and Mike McCadney’s third-place leap of 23-6.75.

The women’s team also earned eight points for its second-place distance medley relay squad and had a pair of individuals place third in their respective field events. Laura Varble, Octavia Clarkson, Zuliana Fontanez and Laura Cummings combined for a season-best time of 12:16.84 in the DMR. Celine Cauderlier cleared 10-10 in the pole vault, while Jenn Gurrant leaped 17-10.75 in the long jump.

Fey Adaramola led the Great Dane women in the preliminary round of the sprinting events. She set a new school record for navigating the track in 24.46, eclipsing her mark of 24.80 set at the Great Dane Classic on Jan. 23 to advance to Saturday’s finals.

The America East Conference Championships will conclude tomorrow beginning at 10:00 a.m. The UAlbany men will aim to win their fourth consecutive title and sixth in seven years, while the women’s team hopes to win its first indoor championship in school history.

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Men’s Team Scores (Through 5 Events):

1. UAlbany 67, 2. New Hampshire 47, 3. Binghamton 36, 4. UMBC 14.50, 5. Vermont 10, 6. Maine 9.50, 7. Stony Brook 7, 8. Boston University 3, 9. Hartford 1.

Men’s Individual Results:

Weight Throw: 1. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias (UAlbany) 62-6 (IC4A), 2. Jeffrey Kaste (New Hampshire) 59-6.25 (IC4A), 3. Joanel Lopez (Binghamton) 56-4.50 (IC4A). Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen (UAlbany) 16-6.75 (IC4A), 2. Mike Dempsey (UAlbany) 15-9 (IC4A), 3. Robb Quiller (Binghamton) 15-9 (IC4A). Long Jump: 1. Spencer Shaw (New Hampshire) 24-0.25 (IC4A), 2. Nasim Siddeeq (UAlbany) 23-8.75 (IC4A), 3. Mike McCadney (UAlbany) 23-6.75 (IC4A). 5,000-Meter Run: 1. Chris Gaube (Binghamton) 14:45.27 (IC4A), 2. Nicholas Decrescenzo (New Hampshire) 14:46.63 (IC4A), 3. Brent Powers (New Hampshire) 14:56.42. Distance Medley Relay: 1. Aaron Lozier, Joe Greene, Tyler Fogarty, Ricardo Estremera (UAlbany) 9:42.99 (NCAA Provisional, Meet Record, School Record), 2. Binghamton 9:53.61 (IC4A), 3. Stony Brook 9:55.66 (IC4A).

Women’s Team Scores (Though 6 Events):

1. New Hampshire 68, 2. Boston University 45.50, 3. UAlbany 34.50, 4. Binghamton 33, 5. Stony Brook 14, 6. UMBC 13, 7. Maine 12, 8. Hartford 7, 9. Vermont 6.
Women’s Individual Results:

Pentathlon: 1. Kamilah McShine (UAlbany) 3,418 points, 2. Kaitlyn Dugan (New Hampshire) 3,156 points, 3. Rosie DeFino (Binghamton) 3,149 points. Weight Throw: 1. Ashlee Lathrop (New Hampshire) 57-3 (ECAC), 2. Rebecca Even 51-8.25 (Maine), 3. Quiteelia Boyd (UMBC) 48-11. Pole Vault: 1. Rita Ciambra (New Hampshire) 12-5.50 (Meet Record, ECAC), 2. Carly Gross (Binghamton) 10-10, 3. Celine Cauderlier (UAlbany) 10-10. Long Jump: 1. Edwina Clarke (Boston U.) 18-11.75, (IC4A), 2. Whitney Ford (Boston U.) 18-7 (IC4A), 3. Jenn Gurrant (UAlbany) 17-10.75. 5,000-Meter Run: 1. Andrea Walkonen (Boston U.) 16:04.49 (NCAA Auto, Meet Record), 2. Laura Huet (Stony Brook) 17:27.32 (ECAC), 3. Hayley Green (Stony Brook) 17:31.26 (ECAC). Distance Medley Relay: 1. New Hampshire 11:55.53 (ECAC), 2. Laura Varble, Octavia Clarkson, Zuliana Fontanez, Laura Cummings (UAlbany) 12:16.84. 3. UMBC 12:19.35.

University of Albany's Leah McIntosh Tosses Perfect Game on First Day of South Florida Tournament - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tampa, Fla. – Junior pitcher Leah McIntosh tossed a perfect game to lead the UAlbany softball team to a 12-0 five-inning victory over Rhode Island at South Florida’s The Game Tournament on Friday, Feb. 20. Earlier in the morning, Eastern Michigan earned an 8-0 win over the Great Danes thanks to pitcher Michelle Hletko’s no-hit performance.

Against Rhode Island (0-1) in the second game of the day, UAlbany put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With two on and two out, Gina Mason doubled to right center which plated Meagan Butsch and Michelle Connors. Mason scored on the next play as Bailey Van Deest singled up the middle, and Kristine Bill doubled to left to score Van Deest. Bill tried to extend her hit to a triple, but was thrown out to end the inning.

The Great Danes doubled their lead in the third. Andrianna Walraven reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored an unearned run on the next play when Connors doubled to left. Butsch was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on. After two outs were recorded, Bill singled to left. A throwing error by the left fielder allowed Butsch and Connors to score, while Bill advanced to third. Kat Smith, who caught her first perfect game and fourth no-hitter, singled to left field on the next play and advanced to second on the throw home in attempt to gun down Bill, who scored the eighth run. Nicole flied out to end UAlbany’s scoring rally.

With a new pitcher in the ballgame for Rhode Island, UAlbany continued to hit the ball around the yard in the fourth and took advantage of several Ram miscues. After the first out was recorded, Kayla Cilley entered the game as a pinch hitter and drove the first pitch she saw to right center for a single. On the next play, Taryn LaColla reached on an error which pushed Walraven, who came in as a pinch runner, up to second. Both runners advanced another bag on a wild pitch, and Butsch drew a walk to load the bases. Stephanie Talerico then drew a free pass which plated Walraven. Batting with two down, Bill hit a bases clearing double, but was thrown out at third for the second time in the game before McIntosh ended the contest on consecutive strikeouts.

McIntosh, who hurled her third career no-hitter, became the first Great Dane pitcher to record a perfect game since Casey Halloran accomplished the rare feat on March 12, 2006 in a 6-0 win over Delaware State. The junior, who now has a 0.33 earned run average, struck out 12 of the 15 batters she faced to improve to 4-0 this season. Jayshree Narendran was credited with the loss for tossing three innings and surrendering eight runs, which included three unearned. Odalys Torres made a relief appearance for one inning, giving up two unearned runs and four total. Both Rhode Island pitchers walked two and fanned one.

In the Great Danes’ first game of the day, Eastern Michigan (0-1) scored two runs in the first inning and three in the second to jump out to a quick 5-0 advantage. With the bases loaded and two outs, Skodinski singled to plate two in the first inning. UAlbany pitcher Marissa Powell got out of any further trouble in the frame by forcing the next batter to ground out to Connors. The Eagles scored their first run of the second on a double steal, and two more unearned runs came in following a throwing error and a single to short by Jenny Scherer.

After Eastern Michigan scored another run in the top of the third to take a six-run lead, UAlbany had its best chance to score in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Nicole Kothe and Katie Wambold each drew walks to put two runners on for Walraven. However, the sophomore shortstop grounded out to third to end the inning. The Eagles added two more runs in the fourth to seal the final outcome.

Hletko recorded her first career no-hitter in the winning effort for the Eagles. She struck out two and walked three. Powell fell to 1-4 overall after being credited with the loss. Six of the eight runs she surrendered were earned, while the junior also recorded three strikeouts and three walks.

UAlbany (5-4) will face a pair of Big East Conference opponents which advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The Great Danes will play Louisville, ranked 25th by USA Today/NFCA, at 9:30 a.m. and face South Florida, last year’s Big East regular-season champion, at 2 p.m.

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Eastern Michigan (1-0) 231 20 - 8 10 1

UAlbany 000 00 - 0 0 3

(game ended due to 8-run rule)

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.

Eastern Michigan: Michelle Hletko and Allison Scherer.



Rhode Island (0-1) 000 00 - 0 0 3

UAlbany (5-4) 404 4x - 12 8 0

(game ended due to 8-run rule)

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.

Rhode Island: Jayshree Narendran and Marybeth Ball.

Kayla Best Scores Four Goals in Women's Lacrosse's 14-9 Loss to California in Berkeley

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Berkeley, Calif. – Freshman midfielder Vail Horn had four of her career-high five goals in the opening half to lead California to a 14-9 victory over UAlbany in a non-league women’s lacrosse game on Friday, Feb. 20 at Memorial Stadium.

California (2-1) led 6-5 in the first half, but then gained control with four unanswered to end the period. Horn tallied back-to-back goals, the first off a free-position opportunity and the second from Ghillie Little’s feed. The Golden Bears scored twice in the final 46 seconds before the intermission. Little, a senior midfielder, netted her second goal of the game, before Sam Price connected as the horn sounded.

The Golden Bears, who were coming off a 19-7 loss to third-ranked Duke five days ago, kept a working five-to-six goal margin in the final period. UAlbany’s Kayla Best scored an unassisted goal midway through the half, but Price answered nearly three minutes later for a 13-7 advantage. Price, a senior attacker, finished with four goals, the second time she has accomplished that feat this season.

In the first half, California jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening five minutes, but Best and sophomore Mel Rorie netted consecutive shots to cut into the deficit. Horn later gave her team a 6-4 cushion with 11:30 remaining in the half. UAlbany’s Jodi Battaglia answered back 41 seconds later with her fifth of the season.

Goalkeeper Morgan Dyson had eight saves for the Golden Bears, who finished 9-9 last season as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Little had two goals and two assists, while first-team all-conference midfielder Alyse Kennedy scored once and assisted on another.

UAlbany’s Best had three of her season-high four goals in the first half. She extended her goal-scoring streak to 33 consecutive games. Christine Grueniger added a pair of goals. The Great Danes, who fell to No. 17 Stanford two days, wrapped up their three-game California road trip.

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UAlbany (1-2) 5 4 - 9

California (2-1) 10 4 - 14

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 4-0, Christine Grueniger 2-0, Mel Rorie 1-0, Jodi Battaglia 1-0, Melanie Sosnowski 1-0, Julie Bush 0-2, Rory Redmond 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (48:12, 3 saves, 13 GA); Ashley Ross (11:48, 0 saves, 1 GA).

California – Scoring: Vail Horn 5-0, Sam Price 4-0, Ghillie Little 2-2, Tarra Arolla 1-2, Alyse Kennedy 1-1, Alex Tickner 1-0, DennaFaye Herald 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Morgan Dyson (60:00, 8 saves, 9 GA).

University of Albany Mens Lacrosse Determined To Venture Far Into NCAA Tournament

University at Albany lacrosse player Garrett Pedley remembers his senior teammates crying and head coach Scott Marr staring into the distance.

That was the emotional scene just moments after UAlbany had blown a nine-goal lead in a 14-13 loss at Maryland Baltimore-County in last year's America East championship game.

The crushing defeat cost the Great Danes a berth in the NCAA Tournament. It's an experience Pedley, now a fifth-year senior defenseman, is determined not to repeat.

"I think the first day of practice, the first hour after that game was over, you could tell there was sense of urgency to get back on the field and prove ourselves," Pedley said.

The Great Danes, ranked 17th in the latest Division I coaches' poll, will get that chance on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Denver in the season opener at UAlbany's John Fallon Field.

It will be UAlbany's earliest game and first opener on campus since upgrading to Division I in 2000.

The school has added 2,000 seats and a press box to the west side of Fallon Field, which debuted in 2006.

"First off, we're all very thankful to Denver for coming out and agreeing to play us this early," UAlbany coach Scott Marr said. "Not many teams want to come and play us in the Northeast at this tine of year. It's awesome. The kids have been so excited for it."

Denver (0-1) was ranked No. 15 before a 20-7 loss in its opener at North Carolina on Saturday. The Pioneers are now first among other teams receiving votes in the Top 20.

UAlbany is aiming for its fifth America East championship.

The Great Danes should be potent offensively as they return a pair of all-conference attackmen in senior Corey Small (34 goals) and sophomore Brian Caufield (27 goals).

There's also a strong defensive nucleus with Pedley and all-rookie pick Mike Banks.

Less certain are how UAlbany will perform with inexperience at midfield and in the net. The team must replace all-league middies Jordan Levine and Steve Ammann as well as Brett Queener, whose 467 career saves put him second in UAlbany's Division I history.

All-leaguer Chris Schongar of Shenendehowa will help stablize the midfield. Marr said he'll start freshman John Carroll in net.

"At this point in time, he's playing better than the other two (goalies)," Marr said. "He's a very good communicator, he's in command of the defense and he's a pretty good stopper."

Small said as the opener approaches, the memory of last year's title loss hasn't faded.

"In that America East final, seeing UMBC chip away at that lead, I haven't forgotten about that loss," he said.

Mark Singelais

SEMATECH Partners with Metrosol on Advanced Gate Stack Research at University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Albany, NY and Austin, TX - SEMATECH, a global consortium of chipmakers, and Metrosol, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and worldwide supplier of short wavelength optical metrology solutions, announced today that Metrosol has joined SEMATECH's Front End Process Technologies Program at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany. The joint partnership will expand on current collaborative efforts to develop suitable inline metrology techniques to monitor the thickness and composition of various films in high-k dielectric gate and memory stacks.

As a member of this program, Metrosol will collaborate with experts in SEMATECH's Front End Processes (FEP) and Metrology divisions to develop and demonstrate an inline vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopic reflectometry (VUV-SR)-based platform that will provide the accurate characterization necessary for inline metrology of advanced logic and memory applications for future technology generations.

"Metrosol is positioned to make significant contributions to the development and production of advanced dielectrics for both logic and memory technologies," said Kevin Fahey, Metrosol's CEO. "Our VUV-SR technology offers the ability to simultaneously measure thicknesses and compositions of individual layers within the high-k dielectric stacks. Our high throughput provides advanced inline process control capability that allows for greater statistical sampling, more accurate information, and faster problem resolution."

"We are pleased to welcome Metrosol to the ever-expanding roster of leading industry partners engaged in cutting-edge nanoelectronics research and development at the UAlbany NanoCollege," said Richard Brilla, vice president for strategy, alliances and consortia at CNSE. "This new collaboration will enhance the world-class metrology and characterization capabilities at CNSE's Albany NanoTech, further demonstrating the success of the SEMATECH-CNSE partnership in accelerating nanoscale innovations, supporting pioneering education and fostering high-tech economic growth, all of which underscore New York's recognition as a global leader in nanotechnology."

Specifically, SEMATECH and Metrosol plan to build optical models for interfacial layers, high-k and metal gate films, and dielectric capping layers, so that reliable thickness and composition measurements may be performed inline using Metrosol's VUV-SR technology for different logic- and memory-based applications.

"This is another major step in developing practical and inline advanced physical characterization methods to support emerging technologies currently under development in SEMATECH's Front End Processes program," said Raj Jammy, SEMATECH vice president of emerging technology. "Metrosol is a strong, trusted partner, and its VUV measurement technology complements our own technical expertise, as we work together to extend CMOS logic and memory technologies."

Capable of handling multiple metrology modules on a single platform, Metrosol's VUV system provides flexibility and throughput. The platform's modular architecture and small footprint delivers high throughput inline measurement capabilities, even for advanced applications such as high N, SiON and HfO2 high-k dielectrics.

In 2007, Metrosol and SEMATECH demonstrated inline optical metrology for high-k dielectric composition, thickness, and ultra-thin interfacial layer thickness. The results, jointly presented at the 4th International Symposium on Advanced Gate Stack Technology, were obtained using Metrosol's VUV-SR metrology system and transistors manufactured with SEMATECH's HfSiOx gate technology. Rapid adoption of gate stack and memory dielectrics technology and of its use in high volume manufacturing requires suitable inline metrology techniques to monitor the thickness and composition of the various films in the dielectric stack.

The goal of SEMATECH's Front End Process Technologies Program at the UAlbany NanoCollege is to provide novel leading-edge materials, process, structural modules and electrical and physical characterization solutions to support the continued scaling of logic and memory applications.


About Metrosol:
Metrosol, Inc., a developer, manufacturer and worldwide supplier of short wavelength optical metrology solutions, delivers advanced thin-film measurement systems that solve the needs of next-generation semiconductor manufacturing. The company brings a unique and required capability to market for the semiconductor industry and continues to grow its patent portfolio. Its shortwave optical metrology technology offers the only commercially available platform capable of collecting reflectance data in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength region down to 120 nm. This technology can help semiconductor manufacturers significantly reduce yield loss by detecting process excursions on product wafers. Based in Austin, Texas, Metrosol is a cohesive team of top-level scientists, sales/marketing personnel and executives with extensive experience in the semiconductor and other high-technology industries. Metrosol is a privately-held company. For information please go to http://www.metrosol.com/.

About CNSE:
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 enterprise of its kind at any university in the world: a $4.5 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. For more information, visit http://www.cnse.albany.edu/.

About SEMATECH:
For 20 years, SEMATECH® (www.sematech.org) has set global direction, enabled flexible collaboration, and bridged strategic R&D to manufacturing. Today, we continue accelerating the next technology revolution with our nanoelectronics and emerging technology partners.

Metrosol Media Contact:
Norbert Kappel
408-930-5108
Norbert.Kappel@metrosol.com

SEMATECH Contact:
Erica McGill, 518-956-7446
erica.mcgill@sematech.org

CNSE Contact:
Steve Janack, CNSE Vice President for Marketing and Communications
(phone) 518-956-7322 (cell) 518-312-5009
(e-mail) sjanack@uamail.albany.edu

#16 Stanford Defeats Women's Lacrosse, 15-10, on Second Game of California Trip

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stanford, Calif. – Lauren Schmidt had three goals and two assists to lead nationally-ranked Stanford to a 15-10 victory over UAlbany on Wednesday. Feb. 18 at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. The Cardinal is ranked 17th in the latest IWLCA coaches’ poll and is tied for 16th by Nike/Inside Lacrosse.

Stanford (3-0) trailed for the first time this season when UAlbany (1-1) took a 2-1 lead as Kayla Best scored from an angle off a free-position opportunity. The Cardinal then ripped off six unanswered to take control. Amanda Schwab and Dana Lindsay each scored twice in that outburst. Lindsay put her team ahead for good when she netted a rebound off Schmidt’s initial blast. Schmidt, a junior midfielder, converted from the left side in transition for a two-goal lead with 11:10 left in the period. Lindsay later finished off a crossing pass to hand her team a 7-2 halftime advantage.

The Great Danes, who won their opener against Saint Mary’s, Calif. three days ago, tried to climb back into the contest in the final period. Freshman Melanie Sosnowski sent a free-position shot low into the right side of the net, before Best connected on a fastbreak into the left corner that sliced the deficit to 12-8 with 8:33 remaining.

However, Stanford, who competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, ended the comeback attempt with back-to-back goals. Sophomore Ashley Aruffo tallied her first goal of the season from left of the cage. Julie Christy, a first-team all-league midfielder, then found the cage just over a minute later on a cut to the top of the crease.

Sarah Flynn added three goals for the Cardinal, who defeated Oregon (17-5) and Fresno State (20-1) to open their schedule. Goalkeeper Annie Read made six saves in a game that was played on a 67-degree day after being delayed 24 hours due to rain.

UAlbany’s Best finished with three goals and became the 11th player in the program’s history to reach the 100-career point mark. In addition, she extended her goal-scoring streak to 32 consecutive games. Jodi Battaglia and Taylor Frink each scored twice, while Mel Rorie had a career-best three assists. Katie Neer stopped 12 shots for the Great Danes, who wrap up their three-game road trip against California on Friday.

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UAlbany (1-1) 2 8 - 10

#17/16 Stanford (3-0) 7 8 - 15

UAlbany – Scoring: Kayla Best 3-0, Jodi Battaglia 2-0, Taylor Frink 2-0, Julie Bush 1-1, Christine Grueniger 1-0, Melanie Sosnowski 1-0, Mel Rorie 0-3; Goalkeeper(s): Katie Neer (60:00, 12 saves, 15 GA).

Stanford – Scoring: Lauren Schmdit 3-2, Dana Lindsay 3-1, Sarah Flynn 3-0, Julie Christy 2-0, Amanda Schwab 2-0, Leslie Foard 1-1, Ashley Aruffo 1-1, Claire Hubbard 0-3, Bess Siegfried 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Annie Read (60:00, 6 saves, 10 GA).