UAlbany's Williams Named to 2012 FCS Preseason All-America Third Team by College Sporting News

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Junior offensive tackle Kadeem Williams was named to the 2012 FCS Preseason All-America Third Team by College Sporting News, as announced by the organization on Monday. Williams was one of 100 student-athletes at the Football College Subdivision level to earn Preseason All-America honors.

Williams is a 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive lineman for the Great Danes. A native of Jersey City, N.J., Williams played in all 12 games for UAlbany as a redshirt freshman and was named to the Northeast Conference First Teamn after blocking for one of the top offensive teams at the FCS level.

UAlbany's Lyle Thompson Leads Iroquois National Team to 15-13 Win Over USA

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Turku, Finland - UAlbany's Lyle Thompson scored one goal to lead the Iroquois U19 National Team to a 15-13 win over USA at the Federation of International Lacrosse U19 World Championships, in the squad's first-ever defeat of the United States.

"It's hard to forget a game like this," said Thompson, who is a captain of the Iroquois team. "It means a lot to me, the team, our people."

In the final minutes, the ball was handed to Thompson, a rising sophomore for the Great Danes, for safekeeping. With four minutes left, the Iroquois gained possession and, out of a time out, Thompson started to kill clock and draw double teams. He passed it off, and only a Johnny Powless crease violation with about three minutes left turned the ball over.

The U.S. then had a man-up chance after an Iroquois push with under three minutes to play, but could not convert. The Iroquois regained possession and, after another time out with two minutes left, Thompson drew two penalties, helping the team tack on the game's last goal with 49 seconds to go.

With the win, the Iroquois finished pool play with 3-1 record, locked up the second seed for the medal rounds, and earned a bye to the semifinals

UAlbany's Layton and Kirchner Named to CPFA Watch Lists

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Paul Layton was named to the 2012 College Performance Football Awards Punter Watch List, while Ryan Kirchner was placed on the CPFA Punt Returner Watch List as announced by the organization. Layton is one of 36 punters, while Kirchner is among 36 other FCS punt returners on the list, from which national winners will be chosen at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Layton, who hails from Burnt Hills, N.Y., finished the season sixth among the nation's punting leaders with a 42.6 average. He booted 17 kicks of 50 or more yards this season, and was named the Great Danes' Most Valuable Special Teams Player at the team banquet. Layton, who was named a 2011 ECAC Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Special Team All-Star, was also named to the Northeast Conference First Team, and was the league's Special Teams Player of the Week on two occasions.

Kirchner, who will be a senior wide receiver in the fall, was UAlbany's leading receiver last season with 56 catches for 615 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kirchner is fourth on the program's career receptions list with 122, and needs just three more receptions to move into third place. He also returned 22 punts with a long of 36 yards. Kirchner was named to the All-Northeast Conference Second Team

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.

As prominent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines note, CFPA eliminates the politics and biases that vitiate balloting-based awards. Furthermore, CFPA has received praise from both Republican and Democratic White House officials for promoting objectivity and fairness in college football.

Suero Plays Against Team USA In Dominican Republic Loss

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Las Vegas, Nev.- Former UAlbany guard Gerardo Suero tallied seven points and three rebounds in 17 minutes in the Dominican Republic loss against Team USA, 113-59, on Thursday, July 12.

In three Olympic games for the Dominican Republic National team, Suero played in five games averaging 4.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists a game. The former guard shot 42.1 percent from the field.