Four Great Danes Honored as 2016 USILA All-Americans, Ties Program Record in a Season - UAlbany Sports 2016

PERRY, N.Y. – Four UAlbany men’s lacrosse players were selected as 2016 All-Americans by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), tying the most for a season in program history. Connor Fields and Blaze Riorden were chosen as Third Team All-Americans while John Maloney and Seth Oakes were picked as Honorable Mention. The list of All-Americans was announced on the morning of the NCAA semifinals. Fields earned All-America honors for the second straight season after being named honorable mention in 2015. The 2016 Tewaaraton nominee scored multiple points in all but one UAlbany game this season, leading the Great Danes with 73 points off 44 goals and 29 assists. The sophomore attack added 26 ground balls and, as of the weekend, was sixth in DI with 4.56 points per game. Riorden is chosen as a postseason All-American for the first time. The senior goalkeeper played nearly every minute for UAlbany in the cage, saving 56.2% of shots. The 2016 Tewaaraton nominee earned a 12-4 record, allowing 9.68 goals per game, finishing with 47 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. He currently stands third in DI in saves per game and 11th in save percentage. Maloney is selected as an All-American for the first time in his career. The senior played primarily in the UAlbany first midfield, tallying 38 points off 20 goals and 18 assists, 39 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. He scored at least one point in 16 different games this year, ranking 23rd in DI in man-up goals with six and 30th in shot percentage at 40.8%. Oakes picks up his first All-America selection in his collegiate career. The redshirt junior attack led UAlbany with 44 goals, adding 11 assists for 55 points and 19 ground balls. The 2016 Tewaaraton Watch List member stands 11th in DI in goals per game with 2.75, netting at last one goal in all but one game this year. He earned a hat trick or better in 10 games in 2016. UAlbany also had four All-Americans in the 2007 season: Frank Resetarits, Jordan Levine, Brett Queener and Merrick Thomson.

University of Albany's Blaze Riorden Added to Rochester Rattlers Active Roster, Makes MLL Debut - UAlbany Sports 2016

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Graduated UAlbany goalkeeper Blaze Riorden has been added to the active roster of the Rochester Rattlers and will make his Major League Lacrosse (MLL) debut today, May 28th. Riorden was taken in the 2016 MLL First-Year Player Draft by the Rattlers 51st overall in the 6th round back in February. This is Rochester’s first game since the conclusion of UAlbany’s season. Recently named a USILA Third Team All-American, Riorden finished his UAlbany career as the program’s all-time saves leader in Division I play, starting in goal for the past four years. The 2016 Tewaaraton nominee and America East Defensive Player of the Year saved 54% of shots in his career, including 56.5% as a senior. He won 12 games in 2016, allowing 9.68 goals per game. Rochester hosts the Chesapeake Bayhawks tonight at 6 p.m. The Rattlers are 0-3 to start the season and are coming off a bye week. Riorden joins John Maloney, Tim Cox and Matt Garziano as UAlbany players making their MLL debuts in 2016.

Derrick Eccles to Compete in 75th USILA/Nike North-South All-Star Game - UAlbany Sports 2016

RADNOR, Pa. – UAlbany redshirt senior midfielder Derrick Eccles has been selected to play in the 75th USILA/Nike North-South All-Star Game on Friday, May 27th at Cabrini College. The annual North-South game, which was established in 1940, takes some of the sport’s top men's lacrosse collegiate seniors in the DI and DII levels to play in an exhibition. 33 players from across the two divisions are chosen for each team. Eccles is UAlbany’s representative on the North team, which will be coached by Marist’s Keegan Wilkinson. The game will be played at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania on May 27th at 5:30 p.m. The 2013 America East All-Rookie Team member was a fixture in UAlbany’s midfield the past four seasons. A team captain the past two years, the Syracuse native finished with 29 goals, 16 assists and 62 ground balls in his collegiate career.

Men’s Soccer’s Carlos Clark Called to Join Puerto Rico Men’s National Team - UAlbany Sports 2016

BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO – University at Albany men’s soccer rising sophomore midfielder Carlos Clark was selected to the Puerto Rican Men’s National Team for three upcoming contests. Clark takes the pitch for the first time this Sunday in Puerto Rico, followed by two Second Round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup matches on June 1 and June 4. Clark is one of six collegiate members of the Puerto Rican National Squad, and one of just two at the midfield position. Clark reported to train earlier in the week. Head coach Jack Stefanowski named Clark to the 21-man roster on Tuesday, ahead of a Sunday noon EST friendly against the United States Men’s National Team in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The game will be broadcast on FoxSports1 in the U.S. Following Sunday’s game, Clark and the team will venture to Grenada for the first match of the Caribbean Cup against Grenada on Wednesday, June 1. Stefanowski & co., then host Antigua & Barbuda on Saturday, June 4 at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. Group play of the 2016 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup includes five three-team round robins, with Puerto Rico sitting in Group 1. Competing nations include Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Curaco, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Kitt’s & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and the U.S., Virgin Islands. The Caribbean Cup is a qualifying event for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Men’s Gold Cup and FIFA Confederation Cup.

John Maloney Added to Chesapeake Bayhawks Active Roster, Makes MLL Debut This Weekend - UAlbany Sports 2016

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Former UAlbany midfielder John Maloney will make his professional debut this weekend, being added to the active roster of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). Maloney was drafted by in the third round and 22nd overall by the Bayhawks in the 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft back in January and was eligible to join the team with the conclusion of his collegiate career. Maloney will join Matthew Bertrams, a UAlbany graduate of 2015, in the Chesapeake midfield. He is the third Great Dane to be on the Chesapeake active roster at some point this season, along with Matt Garziano. The Bayhawks are currently 2-1 on the season coming off a 13-11 defeat to Boston. Maloney will make his debut in Annapolis, the home of Chesapeake, on Saturday, May 21st at 7:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against the Denver Outlaws, the current team of UAlbany graduate Tim Cox. Maloney graduated from UAlbany last week, finishing his collegiate career with 76 goals, 45 assists and 127 ground balls. He was a team captain as a senior and was a primary member of the first midfield most of his collegiate career.

#9/8 UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse Pushes #6/4 Syracuse to the End, Narrowly Falls 11-9 in NCAA First Round

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The #9/8 UAlbany men’s lacrosse team battled #6/4 Syracuse all game and led 6-2 at the half, but fell to the Orange 11-9 in the NCAA First Round in the Carrier Dome on Sunday night. UAlbany (12-4) outshot 8-seed Syracuse (12-4) 21-12 in the first half to lead 6-2 at the break. After Syracuse rallied to tie the game at seven after three, UAlbany struck first in the fourth off a John Maloney goal to go up 8-7. A following 3-0 run put Syracuse up for good and UAlbany got back to within one with 6:48 left but could not bridge the gap. UAlbany had fallen to Syracuse by nine in its first game of the year, falling by just two in the final contest of the season. UAlbany’s season comes to end in the program’s fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Great Danes finished with 12 wins, the fourth straight year with double digit victories.

University of Albany Women’s Tennis Hits the Trail for First NCAA Tournament Match-up at No. 12 Oklahoma State - UAlbany Sports 2016

STILLWATER, OKLA. – University at Albany women’s tennis (14-7) will face the No. 12-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls (24-4) out of the Big 12 on Friday, May 13 in the NCAA First Round. The 2:00 PM EST match winner meets the winner of the earlier match between Arkansas (16-13) and Tulsa (21-4). The Great Danes enter Friday’s competition having shut out five of their last six opponents, defeating Stony Brook 4-2 in the America East final for their first Division I conference title and NCAA automatic bid. Gordon Graham & co., have six-straight wins, the most consecutive victories for the squad since the 2007-08 campaign. Freshman Jovana Kenic took America East Player and Rookie of the Year honors, after dominating the No. 1 singles spot throughout the season. Dajana Ognjenovic, Alba Sala and Paulina Torres joined Kenic on the America East All-Conference team, and Torres garnered Most Outstanding Player in the tournament recognition. The Cowgirls are No. 12 in the Oracle/ITA rankings, behind ITA Player to Watch Vladica Babic. Head Coach Chris Young and the Pokes have yet to lose at home this year (16-0) and enter Friday on a 13-match winning streak.

University of Albany's Women’s Track Earns 8th Consecutive America East Conference Title - UAlbany Sports 2016

BURLINGTON, V.T.—The University at Albany women’s track & field program continued their streak of championship titles, winning the America East Conference Championship for the 8th consecutive season along side the men winning their 12th consecutive title. The Great Danes finished competition in first place with 173 points, followed by New Hampshire placed second with 165 points, and UMBC was third with 114 points.

University of Albany's Men’s Track Captures 12th Consecutive America East Conference Title - UAlbany Sports 2016

BURLINGTON, V.T.—The University at Albany men’s track & field program added another championship title under their belt this weekend, winning the America East Conference Championship for the 12th consecutive time alongside the women winning their eighth consecutive title. UAlbany placed first with 219 points. UMBC followed in second with 145 points, and Binghamton placed third with 133 points.

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse; Tim Cox Joins Denver Outlaws Active Roster in MLL - UAlbany Sports 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Former UAlbany midfielder and current volunteer assistant coach Tim Cox has joined the Denver Outlaws in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and will make his professional debut this weekend.

University of Albany's Kubiak Signs With New York Yankess - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y.— Former UAlbany baseball player, David Kubiak ’11, has officially been signed by the New York Yankees, after playing independent league baseball for four years. Kubiak will report to Double-A Trenton Thunder on Friday. “To be honest, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it because the work is not done yet.” Said Kubiak “It’s a step in the right direction and exciting, but it just means I’m doing my job. I’m pumped it’s the Yankees being a New York kid and having my whole family be Yankee fans is awesome.” Kubiak, out of Riverhead, N.Y., last played at UAlbany in 2011, a year where he was selected by the Tampa Bays Rays in the Major League Baseball Draft in the 36th round. UAlbany baseball head coach Jon Mueller on his former pitcher, “David is a fierce competitor and it would not surprise me one bit if he makes it to the bigs. He was a weekend starter from day one and was one of the biggest competitors I have ever met.” In his senior season, Kubiak started 14 games, putting together a 6-7 record with a 4.72 ERA and threw five complete games and one shutout in 82.0 innings of work. He finished is four-year career as the UAlbany program leader with 227 strikeouts and 278 innings pitched. His 82 innings his senior season was good for second on the single-season record board. “Give some credit to Mules and Pearce for sticking with a kid who didn’t work as hard as he could have in college but always told me never give up on something you love.” said Kubiak “It’s been a long road so far but it’s just starting to get fun.” Kubiak started off with the Princeton Rays and GCL Rays of Rookie League within the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Here, he we went 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 appearances, including three saves when playing with Princeton. The following year, Kubiak entered independent league with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League, where he pitched in 19 games and finished with a 1-1 record and a 3.90 ERA. In 2014, he played a short stint with the Southern Illinois Miners, going 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 appearances and was traded to the Joliet Slammers, finishing with a 3-1 record and a 1.51 ERA in 20 games. Kubiak played his final season with the Slammers in the summer of 2015, going 7-6 with a 2.16 ERA and a career high of 92 strikeouts. “David Kubiak has proven to be an extremely reliable reliever for us. We’re glad he was able to take this opportunity to pitch for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League and catapult himself into a very promising position with the New York Yankees. It was a pleasure to watch him pitch here and we wish him the best of luck going forward,” stated Paul Herman, Senior Director of Baseball Operations & Public Relations of the Bridgeport Bluefish. This past year he played for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Before getting signed to the Yankees, Kubiak went 1-1 with a 3.17 ERA in five appearances out of the bullpen. “It’s just proof that all you have to do is put in the work and let the universe know what you want.” added Kubiak “Anyone can do this, not just me, it’s just what you’re willing to sacrifice to get it done that separates people from succeeding and not.” Kubiak reports to Trenton on Friday as the take on the Harrisburg Senators, starting at 7 p.m. Kubiak is likely to come out of the bullpen as a middle relief pitcher. The game can be seen on MiLB.TV and will take place at Trenton’s home field at ARM & HAMMER Park.