University of Albany W Lacrosse Defeats Capital Region Opponent Siena, 18-2, in Season Opener - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Taylor Frink and Mel Rorie each scored a career-high five goals in leading UAlbany to an 18-2 non-conference victory over Siena on Wednesday, Feb. 23 in the season opener for both teams at John Fallon Field.

UAlbany (1-0) led 3-0 midway through the opening half after Frink tallied a pair and Amanda Pollock connected on a free-position opportunity. However, the Great Danes' attack exploded to take control with a five-goal run over a four-minute-and-23-second span.

Frink, a senior attacker, started that stretch when she collected a ground ball off a goalkeeper's save and spun to her left shoulder from right of the net. Nikki Branchini and Rorie each had two goals to complete the outburst. Branchini, who earned third-team All-America recognition last year, drove from the top and sent a blast inside the far post. Rorie responded 40 seconds later when she sped in from the right and placed a shot high into the cage. The two seniors gave their squad a commanding 8-0 advantage with goals 26 seconds apart.

The Great Danes, who are coming off their first-ever America East Conference regular-season title and a school-record 13-win campaign, had a 10-goal margin at the intermission. UAlbany pushed out a 14-0 cushion early in the final period. Sophomore Rachael Burek scored twice, including a back-handed shot from right of the crease. Rorie ended that sequence when her shot from the right went off the goalkeeper's stick and across the goal line with 18:58 remaining.

Maggie Deloria got Siena (0-1) on the scoreboard when she converted a free-position attempt. The Saints, who were picked to finish fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's preseason poll, added Allie Primo's late goal. Goalkeeper Kristin Concordia stopped 16 shots.

Freshman defender Ariana Parker netted two goals and four caused turnovers and Anna Berman, a freshman goalkeeper, made seven saves for the Great Danes, who opened a Division I schedule at home for just the second time since upgrading in the 1999-2000 campaign. UAlbany has won all 14 meetings against Siena since this Capital Region series began in 1997.

UAlbany 18, Siena 2 (John Fallon Field, Albany, N.Y.)

Siena - Scoring: Allie Primo 1-0, Maggie Deloria 1-0; Goalkeeper: Kristin Concordia (60:00, 16 saves, 18 GA).
UAlbany - Scoring: Taylor Frink 5-0, Mel Rorie 5-0, Rachael Burek 2-0, Nikki Branchini 2-0, Ariana Parker 2-0, Amanda Pollock 1-0, Kathleen Lennon 1-0, Michelle Primomo 0-1, Jodi Battaglia 0-1; Goalkeeper: Anna Berman (60:00, 2 GA, 7 saves).

Paw Prints: UAlbany won its season opener for the third time at the NCAA Division I level ... the Great Danes dropped a 17-14 decision at Hofstra to begin the 2010 schedule ... UAlbany also defeated Siena by an identical 18-2 score in last year's matchup at Siena Turf Field ... John Battaglino, who was promoted to head coach from his associate coach position last August, won his first game as a college mentor ... Taylor Frink and Mel Rorie each reached the 90-point mark as collegians ... Frink has 60 goals and 33 assists ... Rorie, who is seventh on the career goals chart, has 77 goals and 13 assists ... the Great Danes, who received votes in the preseason IWLCA national poll, travel to No. 16 Penn State on Saturday.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information