UAlbany's 2011 Women's Lacrosse Schedule Features Penn State, Oregon & Boston College

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Thursday, Dec. 9 the school's women's lacrosse schedule for the 2011 campaign. The Great Danes, who won last year's America East Conference regular-season title for the first time, will play six conference opponents. UAlbany also meets Penn State and Oregon for the first time as part of the non-league slate.

UAlbany begins its 12th season at the NCAA Division I level on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at home against crosstown-rival Siena. The Capital Region programs will square off for the 14th time. The Great Danes travel to Penn State four days later. The Nittany Lions won 10 games and reached the American Lacrosse Conference Tournament 's semifinal round last year.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant Marist invades UAlbany's John Fallon Field on Wednesday, March 9. Oregon, a program that has 10-plus wins in four of the last five seasons as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, comes to campus on Sunday, March 27 at 12 noon. Hofstra, a Colonial Athletic Association semifinalist with a 12-6 record last year, and Niagara are also on the home schedule.

Massachusetts, who captured its second straight Atlantic 10 Conference crown before dropping an NCAA play-in game against Stanford, tops the list of remaining road opponents. UAlbany faces Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College for the first time since 2001, plus visits Colgate and Canisius.

America East Conference play starts at Stony Brook on Saturday, April 2. The Great Danes have home conference dates with Vermont (April 6), New Hampshire (April 9) and UMBC (April 30). UAlbany tangles with six-time defending America East winner Boston University at Nickerson Field on April 16.

John Battaglino, who is in his first season as head coach, has several key players back from a squad that posted a school-record 13-3 mark and was ranked in the national top-20 for the first time. Nikki Branchini, the America East Player of the Year, earned third-team IWLCA All-America recognition. Mel Rorie (30 goals, 4 assists) was a member of the all-conference first team. Taylor Frink, the team's leading scorer with 30 goals and 25 assists, and defender Jenn Primeau were members of the all-league second team.

2011 University at Albany Women's Lacrosse Schedule

February - 22 (Tue.), Siena, 3:00; 26 (Sat.), at Penn State, 1:00.

March - 5 (Sat.), Hofstra, 12:00; 9 (Wed.), Marist, 3:00; 11 (Fri.), Niagara, 12:00; 19 (Sat.), at Massachusetts, 3:00; 23 (Wed.), at Colgate, 5:00; 27 (Sun.), Oregon, 12:00; 30 (Wed.), at Boston College, 4:00.

April - 2 (Sat.), at Stony Brook*, 4:00; 6 (Wed.), Vermont*, 3:00; 9 (Sat.), New Hampshire*, 1:00; 16 (Sat.), at Boston U.*, 1:00; 21 (Thu.), at Canisius, 4:00; 23 (Sat.), at Binghamton*, 1:00; 30 (Sat.), UMBC*, 1:00.

May - 5 (Thu.), at America East Conference Tournament+; 7 (Sat.), at America East Conference Tournament +

*America East Conference Opponent +Player at Highest Seed's Home Facility All Times Eastern

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information