University of Albany Announces Women's Lacrosse Schedule for 2010 Campaign - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Monday, Dec. 7 the school's women's lacrosse schedule for the 2010 season. The Great Danes, who reached the America East Conference postseason tournament for the third consecutive season, will play three opponents who made last year's NCAA field. UAlbany has a six-game conference schedule.

UAlbany begins its 11th season at the NCAA Division I level on Saturday, Feb. 24 against Marist, a team that advanced to last year's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship final. The Great Danes host three programs who qualified for NCAA post-season play last season. Massachusetts, the Atlantic 10 Conference champion, invades John Fallon Field on March 20, while Patriot League titleist Colgate comes to town three days later. The Raiders fell to evenutal national champion Northwestern in the NCAA's first round. Boston University, the five-time defending America East winner, is the opponent for the home regular-season finale on Saturday, May 1.

In addition, the Great Danes have non-conference home dates with California, Niagara and Canisius. Cal-Berkeley, a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, lost to Stanford is last year's MPSF title game. UAlbany has non-league road dates with Hofstra, Siena and Patriot League runner-up Lehigh, plus a neutral site game with Denver in Owings Mills, Md. America East opponents Binghamton and Stony Brook will travel to the Capital Region. The America East Conference postseason tournament, slated for May 6 and 8, will be held at the highest seed's home facility.

Lindsey Hart, who led UAlbany to its first winning campaign since 2000 last year and a No. 2 seed in the conference postseason tournament, has 17 letterwinners returning from the 2009 squad. Kayla Best, a senior midfielder, and Nikki Branchini, a junior defender, were each named to the IWLCA/U.S. Lacrosse All-Northeast Region second team. Best, who has 147 career points, earned All-America East recognition for the third consecutive season. Branchini has twice been voted to the all-conference first team. Jodi Battaglia and Mel Rorie scored 37 goals apiece last season. Battaglia, a junior attack, was picked to the All-America East first team, while Rorie was chosen second-team all-league.

2010 University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Schedule

February - 24 (Wed.), at Marist, 3:30; 27 (Sat.), at Hofstra, 1:00.

March - 6 (Sat.), Niagara, 1:00; 12 (Fri.), at Siena, 3:00; 14 (Sun.), Canisius, 1:00; 20 (Sat.), Massachusetts, 2:00; 23 (Tue.), Colgate, 5:00; 28 (Sun.), vs. Denver (Owings Mills, Md.), 12:00; 31 (Wed.), at Vermont*, 3:00.

April - 3 (Sat.), Binghamton*, 1:00; 7 (Wed.), Stony Brook*, 4:00; 12 (Mon.), at Lehigh, 3:30; 16 (Fri.), California, 4:00; 18 (Sun.), at UMBC*, 1:00; 24 (Sat.), at New Hampshire*, 1:00.

May - 1 (Sat.), Boston U.*, 4:00; 6 (Thu.), at America East Conference Tournament+; 8 (Sat.), at America East Conference Tournament+.
*America East Conference Opponent +Played at No. 1 Seed's Home Facility All Times Eastern

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information