Defending America East Champion University of Albany Field Hockey Announces 2009 Schedule - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Tuesday, May 12 the school's field hockey schedule for the 2009 season. The Great Danes, who are coming off their first-ever America East Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, face a 17-game schedule. The non-league schedule features Syracuse and Connecticut, two programs that made the NCAA Tournament field last season. In addition, UAlbany battles five America East Conference opponents.

The Great Danes begin the season at home, with five of the first six games being played at Alumni Turf Field. UAlbany will host Bucknell (Aug. 29) and Radford (Aug. 30) to kick off the season, before visiting Hofstra on Sept. 5. The Great Danes will then welcome 2008 NCAA Tournament teams Massachusetts and James Madison in back-to-back games on Sept. 11 and 13, respectively. Massachusetts spent the 2008 season nationally ranked before taking the Atlantic 10 Conference championship, while James Madison claimed the Colonial Athletic Association title. Northeast Conference opponent Saint Francis, Pa. will visit the Capital Region on Sept. 18. The Great Danes hit the road to visit Temple (Sept. 20) and Colgate (Sept. 23) before closing out the month with a home tilt against Providence (Sept. 27).

UAlbany will start America East play on Oct. 3, hosting Fairfield. The Great Danes will then be on the road against Syracuse, a team that earned a No. 1 national ranking last season, on Oct. 4. Conference opponents Maine and Vermont slide into the schedule in mid-October, with the Great Danes traveling to Orono to play the Black Bears on Oct. 10 before hosting the Catamounts on Oct. 17. Siena makes the annual trip across the Capital District on Oct. 18. UAlbany will also visit league foe Boston University on Oct. 24 and NCAA Tournament participant Connecticut on Oct. 28. The Great Danes close out the regular season with a home contest against New Hampshire on Oct. 31.

The America East Conference Championship will be held at the highest seed on Nov. 6-7, while the NCAA Tournament’s first round begins Nov. 13.

Phil Sykes, who was named the 2008 America East coach of the year after leading UAlbany to its first-ever conference title, returns for his sixth season on the sidelines. Senior Nicole Savage, who was recently named a team captain for the 2009 season, leads a group of veterans for the Great Danes. Savage started all 22 games last season, and scored nine goals, while also tallying two assists. Vice captain Jess Lindsey, who already stands first on UAlbany’s career assists chart, recorded a team-high 14 helpers last season. Fellow vice captain Ashlyn Bach helps anchor a defense that allowed just 2.04 goals per game.

2009 University at Albany Field Hockey Schedule

August -- 29 (Sat.) Bucknell, 1 p.m.; 30 (Sun.) Radford, 2 p.m.

September -- 5 (Sat.) at Hofstra, 1 p.m.; 11 (Fri.) Massachusetts, 2:30 p.m.; 13 (Sun.) James Madison, 2:30 p.m.; 18 (Fri.) St. Francis, Pa., 6 p.m.; 20 (Sun.) at Temple, 1 p.m.; 23 (Wed.) at Colgate, 6 p.m.; 27 (Sun.) Providence, 1 p.m.

October -- 3 (Sat.) Fairfield*, 1 p.m.; 4 (Sun.) at Syracuse, 2:30 p.m.; 10 (Sat.) at Maine*, 1 p.m.; 17 (Sat.) Vermont*, 1 p.m.; 18 (Sun) Siena, 2 p.m.; 24 (Sat.) at Boston U.*, 1 p.m.; 28 (Wed.) at Connecticut, 6 p.m.; 31 (Sat.) New Hampshire*, 1 p.m.

November -- 6-7 (Fri.-Sat.) America East Conference Championship.

*America East Conference Opponent

All Times Eastern