University of Albany FCS Football's Clark Named CAA Defensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany redshirt senior cornerback Rayshan Clark has been named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week, announced Monday by the conference office.

 Clark intercepted two passes and scored the game-winning touchdown on a fumble return in UAlbany’s 13-6 victory over Stony Brook. The Theresa, N.Y. native picked off both passes in the second half and his two-yard touchdown return gave the Great Danes a 13-3 advantage with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter.

 It also marked Clark’s third touchdown of the season, and the Great Danes’ sixth defensive touchdown on the year. Clark and UAlbany’s defense limited Stony Brook to 252 total yards and a pair of field goals in the rivalry win.

 The honor marks Clark’s first CAA Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season and the second of his career, earning the accolade in 2014 after leading UAlbany to a win over Columbia. 

With the "Empire Clash" victory over Stony Brook, the Great Danes finished the 2016 season with a 7-4 overall record and program-best 4-4 mark in the CAA.

University of Albany Men's Soccer Advances To 3rd Round of NCAA Tournament Defeating Boston College - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. – Playing in and hosting its first ever NCAA tournament game, the #14-seed University at Albany men’s soccer program (13-5-2) defeated Boston College (9-9-3) 3-0 Sunday, avenging a 5-3 regular season loss and advancing to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

 “Back when we played them the first time we weren’t fully who we are yet,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. “We were still coming together, getting our bodies back used to playing with each other, and they took advantage of us that day.

 Today, having our group that’s been settled here for the last month, who’s really getting comfortable playing together, I think it really helps a lot.”

University of Albany Men's Basketball Downs Brown To Finish Mohegan Sun Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2016

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The UAlbany men’s basketball team used a 26-3 run in the second half to defeat Brown 80-76 in its final game of the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.

 Down 11 in the second half, UAlbany (3-2) rallied back, not allowing a Brown (1-4) field goal for over an 11-minute span.

 UAlbany led by as much as 14 in the second half and held off a late Brown comeback attempt to win.

University of Albany Women's Basketball Cruises Past Boston University - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. – Three days after securing its first win of the season, the University at Albany women’s basketball program (2-2) was back in action in SEFCU Arena for the second consecutive game, hosting former conference rival Boston University (0-3).

 The Great Danes climbed their way to a .500 record, defeating the Terriers 69-54.

University of Albany FCS Football Destroys Stony Brook Capturing Golden Apple Trophy - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. -- With a 13-6 victory over rival Stony Brook, the University at Albany football team claimed the Golden Apple Trophy in the fourth annual Empire Clash Saturday at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium.

With the win, the Great Danes finished the 2016 regular season with a 7-4 overall record and 4-4 mark in the CAA, while Stony Brook fell to 5-6 on the season and 4-4 in conference play.

Three University of Albany Volleyball Stars Earn America East All Conference Honors- UAlbany Sports 2016

DURHAM, N.H. – The America East Conference has announced that three UAlbany players, Amanda Dolan, Laini Leindecker and Nicole Otero, all earned a place on the league’s 2016 all-conference teams.

 All three were placed on the America East All-Conference Second Team.

 In addition, Chloe Evering and Akuabata Okenwa were each placed on the America East All-Rookie Team were Dolan, Leindecker and Mikala McCauley were all honored on the America East All-Academic Team.

University of Albany Men's Soccer Captures America East Conference Championship - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the University at Albany men’s soccer program (12-5-2, 4-2-1 AE) won the America East title, defeating Hartford (9-10-3, 2-3-2 AE) by a score of 1-0. The tournament championship comes one year after the Great Danes won their first-ever regular season title.

 “I’m really happy for, and proud of, all of our players,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. “To win the America East championship was a goal for a long time and to see them rewarded for all the hard work is fantastic.”

To reach this point, UAlbany defeated Vermont 2-0 at home in the semifinal round. The Danes had earned a first-round bye after defeating Binghamton on the final day of the regular season, securing the second overall seed in the tournament. Hartford entered the tournament with the fifth seed, and had to win two games on the road, against New Hampshire in the quarterfinals and then against top overall seed Stony Brook in the semifinals.

The Great Danes opened their conference schedule this season at Hartford, playing the Hawks to a 0-0, double-overtime draw. The rematch started out largely the same as did the first meeting. The game remained scoreless through the first half. UAlbany held a 6-1 advantage in shots over Hartford, but was unable to find the back of the net. Further, the Danes took six corner kicks to the Hawks’ two. The scoreless tie remained through almost the entire second half. As the clock wound down, it looked as though these two opponents were headed to a second consecutive overtime bout. But in the 89th minute, junior forward Afonso Pinheiro drew a foul in the Hartford box, earning a penalty kick. Pinherio placed the ball past the Hartford keeper inside the right post giving the Great Danes a 1-0 lead, which would serve to be the final score for the game. “Hartford were difficult to break down but our guys stayed focused and kept going until they finally found the goal,” said Gorman. For the game, the Great Danes out-shot the Hawks by a 19-2 margin, keeping the pressure on the Hartford defense and goalkeeper, the latter of whom made eight saves. UAlbany also took 12 corner kicks to Hartford’s four. Senior defender Bernardo Mattos was named Most Outstanding Player for the tournament, leading a defense that did not allow a goal through its two tournament games. In total, the Great Dane defense has let up only seven goals in 12 games since allowing five at Boston College on September 20. Pinheiro and Mattos earned All-Championship honors, as did sophomore midfielder Carlos Clark and freshman defender Brynjar Steinþórsson. UAlbany goalkeeper Danny Vitiello was not tested all game. With the victory, the Great Danes earn the America East’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. “We look forward to finding out the NCAA draw tomorrow and preparing for another game,” said Gorman. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for Monday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m., at which time the Great Danes will learn their fate. Other America East schools hoping for an at-large bid include Stony Brook, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY'S IBITOKUN-HANKS BREAKS PROGRAM RUSHING RECORD, LEADING TO 36-25 WIN OVER #21 NEW HAMPSHIRE

DURHAM, N.H. – With 298 rushing yards and three touchdown scampers, sophomore running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks shattered UAlbany’s all-time single-game rushing record and led the University at Albany football team from a 22-point deficit to a 36-25 victory over No. 21 New Hampshire Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.

With the win, UAlbany improved to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the CAA, while UNH fell to 6-4 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.

University of Albany Women's Soccer Repeats As America East Conference Champions - UAlbany Sports 2016

ALBANY, N.Y. – The 1-seed UAlbany women’s soccer team has climbed to the top of the America East mountain again, coming back to defeat 2-seed Hartford 2-1 for its second consecutive conference title at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium on Sunday night.

 UAlbany (11-7-1) came back from a one-goal deficit with scores in the 44th by Kiana Rugar and the 76th minute by Vivian Vega, each assisted by Gina Bracamonte, for the victory over Hartford (13-5-1). UAlbany becomes the first women’s soccer program to earn back-to-back America East titles since Boston University did in 2010 and 2011.

 “It is absolutely amazing, and the fact we were able to do it on our home field in front of our family and friends is remarkable,” said UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella, at the helm of both conference titles. “The fact that the girls knew we always have a better second half, and I knew we were going to come back.” Caitlyn Paltsios was named the America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player with Rugar, Vega and Mariah Williams joining her on the All-Tournament Team. “It feels unreal,” said Paltsios. “I couldn’t imagine after freshman year, winning two games, to now being back-to-back champions, just incredible.”

 UAlbany has earned an automatic bid into the 2016 NCAA Tournament. The Great Danes will find out where they are going on Monday, November 7th at 4:30 p.m. during the NCAA selection show on NCAA.com.

 In an even battle under the lights at Casey Stadium, UAlbany had 14 shots to Hartford’s 12. UAlbany put eight of those shots on goal to Hartford’s five. Chloe Borasky earned the victory in goal for UAlbany with four saves, notching her ninth win in the cage for the Great Danes this season.

 Vega earned her 20th goal of her collegiate career, moving her into second all-time in UAlbany women’s soccer history. “It feels so amazing, way better than any other goal I’ve ever scored,” said Vega. “It is so awesome that we won, I knew we could do it.” Rugar, who is UAlbany’s all-time assists leader, scored her sixth goal of the season. Bracamonte now has three assists on the year. Alexa Schneider had four shots in the game, putting three on cage, while Williams had three and Meghan Cavanaugh had two.

 For Hartford, Caitlin Smallfield earned her fourth goal of the season off a corner kick from Julia Carr in the 23rd minute. Jessica Jurg got the loss in the cage, saving six shots. As each side was looking to establish the offense early, Caroline Kopp went for the net on a corner kick in the opening minutes, missing high. That was the only shot in the opening 10 minutes. 

In minute 11, UAlbany broke down the left side and got Schneider near the post. She headed the ball to Rugar for a close kick, with Jurg making a save. UAlbany peppered the goal with long range shots, with Jurg saving one from Schneider and another from Cavanaugh missing high off a free kick.

 In minute 23, Hartford sent a corner kick towards the goal box. Smallfield headed the ball inside the left post for the goal, putting the Hawks up 1-0. UAlbany kept on the attack, with a free kick to Schneider being headed towards the cage, with Jurg making the save. Bracamonte got a pass in the 44th minute and fired the ball towards the box.

 Rugar took it, turned and shot towards the right post for the goal, equalizing the scorer at 1-1 for the half. Each side tried early long range shots against the other’s keeper in the early part of the second half, with both missing wide. Twice, Schneider got some space from outside the box on the left side and took aim. First went wide right, the second was saved by Jurg.

 The visitors tried to strike back with Carr putting a long range shot towards the cage, with Borasky making the save in the middle. Both teams battled as the defenses prevented shots for a long stretch. Hartford tried a quick counter as Bridgette Alexander took a shot and was blocked, later missing again wide.

 In the 77th minute, Bracamonte passed to Vega from the right side to the middle. From 10 yards out, Vega kicked on the first touch, scoring inside the right post for the goal past a diving keeper, giving UAlbany a 2-1 advantage.

 Hartford got a corner kick attempt less than a minute later, with UAlbany clearing it out. Hartford had one final gasp in the final seconds as Carr sent a kick towards the left post, with Borasky punching the ball away.

 UAlbany held the 2-1 victory for its second straight America East title. The UAlbany women’s soccer team is the first school program to earn a league title in the 2016-17 season. UAlbany had earned its berth into the America East title game with a 1-0 victory over 4-seed UNH in the league semifinals.