University of Albany Field Hockey Upends Providence 4-1 for Second Straight Win

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – University at Albany field hockey registered its second win of 2013 with a 4-1 victory at Providence on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes start their season 2-0 for the first time since 2010.

"We played a reallu strong Providence team today," said head coach Phil Sykes. "I'm really proud of the way we played and how we kept our composure."

Junior Echo Bretz got UAlbany on the board just seven minutes into the game off a deflected pass from Laura Page. Providence responded less than a minute later with a goal of its own to even the score.

Liza Morgan gave the Great Danes a 2-1 advantage off another deflection on a shot by Paula Heuser. After 10 minutes of rapid scoring, the lead remained 2-1 going into halftime.
Morgan tallied her fifth goal of the weekend early in the second half, again on a deflected pass from Heuser. The sophomore has already accumulated more points in two games than she did in the entire 2012 season.

Senior Corrine McConville tallied her fifth point of the weekend on her second successful penalty stroke in the 60th minute to wrap up scoring.

Freshman goalkeeper Maxi Primus notched her second win in goal and made three saves.
The Great Danes held a 13-4 shot and 8-1 penalty corner advantage against the Friars. Combined with an 8-0 win over Bryant on Friday, UAlbany allowed just three penalty corners and five shots in its 2-0 start.

UAlbany returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 8 against Cornell at 2 p.m. The Great Danes open up a four-game homestand against the Big Red.

University of Albany Field Hockey Gets First Win With 8-0 Victory Over Bryant

ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany field hockey team got its 2013 season off to a good start on Friday afternoon with an 8-0 win over Bryant in Providence, R.I. “There were a lot of positives,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “We still have things to work on, but it was a good way to start the season.” Forward Liza Morgan began the scoring early and often for the Great Danes. The sophomore tallied three goals in the win, notching her first in the ninth minute on a cross from Daphne Voormolen. Morgan found the back of the cage again midway through the first half unassisted, and again on a pass from Celia D’Agostino late in the second half. Six different UAlbany players scored in the win over the Bulldogs, and two freshmen recorded their first career points. Corrine McConville converted on a penalty stroke in the 13th minute for a 2-0 lead, and fellow senior co-captain Daphne Voormolen scored on a breakaway from freshman Molly Mariano in the second half. In addition to her assist, Mariano scored on a wide open net for the final tally of the first half. Newcomer Paula Heuser also recorded three points in her first collegiate start. The freshman midfielder scored on a penalty corner from McConville in the 58th minute, and assisted on a penalty corner goal by sophomore Fiori Van Rijswijk to begin the second half. The Great Danes posted a dominant 27-1 shot advantage and 14-2 edge in penalty corners. Freshman Maxi Primus got the starting nod in goal, recording her first career win and shutout. UAlbany continues its season against Providence on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Friars downed No. 11 Northwestern on Friday afternoon 2-1 in overtime.

University of Albany Men’s Basketball Coach Will Brown Signs Contract Extension Through 2018

 

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany Director of Athletics Dr. Lee McElroy announced Thursday that men’s basketball head coach Will Brown has signed a contract extension through the 2017-18 season.

Brown, the longest-tenured head coach in the America East Conference, led the Great Danes to a league title and NCAA appearance in 2012-13. He has won three America East titles, which is tied for the most all-time in the conference.
“‘I am pleased to announce that Coach Brown has signed a five-year contract extension,” said McElroy. “Coach Brown and his staff demonstrated that his leadership, with an emphasis on service, athletics and academic excellence reflect the core values of the University. President Jones and I are delighted that Coach Brown will continue to build character, integrity and accountability with our student-athletes for years to come.”

Brown has been at the helm of the Great Danes since the 2001-02 season. He has amassed a record of 172-191, and enters his 13th season in 2013-14

In addition to its NCAA tournament run, the 2012-13 UAlbany squad recorded the most wins in a season all-time since joining the Division I ranks. The Great Danes went 24-11 (9-7 America East) in 2012-13. UAlbany won the America East title as the No. 4 seed, marking the second time the No. 4 seed has earned the league’s automatic NCAA bid.
Brown also led four-year All-America East selection Mike Black to the all-time career scoring leaderboard in 2012-13. Black scored 1,542 points to rank sixth all-time in program history in points scored. He averaged 12.0 points per game for his UAlbany career.

UAlbany opens its 2013-14 season at the Times Union Center against local rival Siena on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. 

Men’s Lacrosse Alumni Game Set For October 5th

ALBANY, N.Y. – Defending America East Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Champions, the University at Albany, announced that it will play its alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 pm (time is subject to change). The Great Danes will play the game on John Fallon Field.

UAlbany finished the 2013 season by winning its fifth America East Title and reached the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time. The 13-4 Great Danes were carried on offense by three special individuals, Lyle, Miles and Ty Thompson. The Thompson Trio put on what some could have dubbed as “The Greatest Attack On Turf”. Not only was UAlbany No. 1 in offense in the NCAA at 15.94 goals per game, but the trio tallied the most points out of any other attacking group with 254 points.

Outside of the current Great Dane roster, UAlbany alum, Brett Queener, has been impressive at the pro level. Queener was named to his fourth Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game. The Penn Yann, N.Y. native was leading the majors with a .620 save percentage and was third with an 11.26 goals against average amongst goalkeepers at that point.

UAlbany will go into the 2014 seasons graduating just two of the eleven 2012 starters and push for its sixth America East Title in 12 seasons.

Coach Ford Announces Retirement Plans At Media Day

ALBANY, N.Y. – It all began in 1967 when President Evan R. Collins created an ad hoc University Athletics Counsel to study the future of athletics at the University at Albany. The Counsel suggested the addition of a football team and the President approved, leaving the task of hiring the man who personally would build and design the program. On April 27, 1970, it was announced that Dr. Robert M. Ford had been chosen to guide UAlbany’s fledging team. 

Forty-three years, 436 games, and 255 varsity wins later, Ford has announced that he will coach his final season in 2013. Ford made the announcement Tuesday at the program’s annual media luncheon.

“I want to thank Lee [McElroy] and the administration that I’ve had an opportunity to work for,” said Ford in front of a roomful of media, staff, and players. “They have blessed us with many resources. I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. I’ve been fortunate to have never gone to work a day in my life.”

Ford, who will turn 76 years old on Sept. 11th, is the longest active tenured coach in all of college football. At one time, Ford was the youngest head football coach in the nation when the 26-year-old took over the reins at St. Lawrence University in 1965. He will end his career as the nation’s oldest.

With 264 career victories, Ford ranks second among all active college football coaches and first among NCAA Division I active coaches. He has won four Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors and led the Great Danes to six NEC titles.

Ford built the UAlbany program from the ground up, taking the Great Danes from a club team to an NCAA Division I FCS contender.

Ford laid the program’s groundwork quickly at the start of his tenure, leading the Great Danes to a 30-21 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology in the program’s first clash on October 10, 1970 at University Field.

After three seasons at the club level, Ford steered the Danes to Division III varsity status in 1973. From there, “The Architect of UAlbany Football” led the program to a 127-88 record in 22 Division III seasons, and continued to carry the Danes through the college ranks, moving to Division II in 1995. UAlbany went 31-12 in the DII era and won back-to-back Eastern Football Conference championships in 1997 and 1998.

Nearing the new millennium, UAlbany moved up the ladder again to the NCAA Division I FCS level in 1999, becoming an associate member the Northeast Conference. In 2002, UAlbany captured its first of six NEC titles and wrapped up the 14-season era with its last in 2012. Ford also led the program to their first NCAA FCS playoff appearance in 2011.

For the past 43 years, head coach Bob Ford and University Field have been the program’s two constant fixtures. However, this fall the two will become one when the Great Danes settle into their new home -- Bob Ford Field. The deservingly named pristine on-campus 8,500 seat stadium features a lighted turf playing surface, state-of-the-art video board, and luxury suites.

In addition, Ford will once again lead the Great Danes into a new competitive era this fall, as they play their first season in Colonial Athletic Association – one of the nation’s premier FCS power conferences. UAlbany opens Bob Ford Field, as well as kicks off its inaugural CAA contest on Sept. 14th at 7:00 p.m. versus Rhode Island.

UAlbany Women’s Basketball’s Megan Craig Makes Her Mark at New Zealand National Team Trials

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany junior center Megan Craig has caught the eye of New Zealand national team head coach Kennedy Kereama in his efforts for a 2014 FIBA World Championship berth.

Craig is competing for a spot on the New Zealand national team that must first win the FIBA Oceania Championship. The Tall Ferns will tip off on August 14 against Australia for a spot in the world championship.

According to FIBA, “One of the intriguing centers in the Tall Ferns set-up is Megan Craig.”

"I remember seeing Megan play when she could hardly get up and down the floor," Kereama said. "But I think she's really embraced the culture of basketball and the way of living in the United States. Most of our female athletes are very reserved and don't show their emotions too often, but you can see Megan has really embraced that style of basketball."
A native of Whangarei, New Zealand, Craig Played in all 29 games for the Great Danes in 2012-13. The 6’8’’ center was named third team All-America East and was the second leading scorer on the squad, averaging 10.4 ppg.

“We’re very excited for Megan,” said UAlbany women’s basketball head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. “She’s really embracing the experience and we couldn’t be more proud.”