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