University of Albany's Jordan Levine on Inside Lacrosse/Face-Off Yearbook Division I Preseason All-America Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Jordan Levine has been voted to the 2008 Inside Lacrosse Magazine’s Face-Off Yearbook Division I Preseason All-America Team. Levine, a first-team selection, heads a list of four Great Danes chosen. Corey Small earned preseason third-team recognition, while Craig McDonald and Brett Queener were picked in the honorable mention category.

Levine, a senior from Bethpage, N.Y., totaled 23 goals and 16 assists as a USILA All-America midfielder last year. He established the program’s Division I record with 91 ground balls. He was previously named by the national publication as a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate. Small, a junior attackman, had 24 goals and seven assists as a member of UAlbany’s high-powered offense. McDonald, a senior defenseman, and Queener, a senior goalkeeper, led a defensive unit that allowed 9.44 goals per game.

In addition, Face-Off Yearbook announced its preseason All-America East Conference squad. Senior attack Derek Dale and junior defenseman Garrett Pedley joined Levine, Small, McDonald and Queener on that list. UAlbany finished with a 15-3 record one year ago and reached the NCAA quarterfinal round. The Great Danes were ranked 10th in the final USILA national poll.

UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Schedule 2008

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

The Great Danes, who reached the NCAA quarterfinal round and captured their fourth America East Conference championship last year, will play five games against conference opponents. The non-league schedule features former national championship programs Johns Hopkins, Princeton and Syracuse.

UAlbany begins its ninth season at the NCAA Division I level on Saturday, Feb. 23 against defending national champion Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays have won nine NCAA titles in their history, including last year's overtime win versus Duke. The Great Danes will meet four other teams who made NCAA appearances last season, with trips in March to Notre Dame and Final Four participant Delaware. Syracuse, a nine-time national title winner, and Massachusetts, the 2006 NCAA runner-up, are also among the non-league opponents. UAlbany will face the Orange in the Carrier Dome for the fifth consecutive season on Friday, April 18.

The Great Danes have an attractive home slate highlighted by a date with perennial power Princeton on Saturday, March 22. The Tigers have captured six national championships since 1992 under head coach Bill Tierney's direction. Yale, Drexel and Siena will also invade John Fallon Field during the season.

UAlbany has three conference home games, including a pair of late April clashes with Vermont and Stony Brook. The Great Danes have won four of the last five America East championships after establishing a school-record 15-3 mark one year ago. The America East postseason tournament, slated for May 1-3, will be held at the highest seed's home facility.

Scott Marr, the 2007 USILA national coach of the year, has 24 letterwinners returning from a squad that advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals before losing in overtime to top-ranked Cornell. The Great Danes lost the program's two all-time leading scorers, but return quality talent led by second-team All-America midfielder Jordan Levine (23 goals, 16 assists). Goalkeeper Brett Queener (9.68 GAA) and defenseman Craig McDonald (55 ground balls) were first-team all-conference selections. Mike Ammann (11 goals, 20 assists) and Steve Ammann (13 goals, 9 assists) earned second-team All-America East honors in the midfield, along with defenseman Garrett Pedley. UAlbany's incoming class features Brian Caufield and Derek Speziale, who are ranked among the top 100 freshmen by Inside Lacrosse.

***********

2008 UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Schedule

February
23 (Sat.), at Johns Hopkins, 12:00;
26 (Tue.), Siena, 2:00

March
1 (Sat.), at Notre Dame, 1:00;
8 (Sat.), at Delaware, 1:00;
11 (Tue.), at Massachusetts, 3:00;
15 (Sat.), Drexel, 1:00;
22 (Sat.), Princeton, 1:00;
29 (Sat.), Binghamton*, 1:00.

April
5 (Sat.), at Hartford*, 1:00;
8 (Tue.), Yale, 7:00;
12 (Sat.), at UMBC*, 1:00;
18 (Fri.), at Syracuse, 7:00;
20 (Sun.), Vermont*, 1:00,
26 (Sat.), Stony Brook*, 7:00

May
1 (Thu.), at America East Conference Tournament+;
3 (Sat.), at America East Conference Tournament+.

*America East Conference Opponent +Played at No. 1 Seed's Home Facility All Times Eastern

UAlbany's Merrick Thomson & Frank Resetarits Chosen in NLL Entry Draft's First Round

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Denver, Colo. – Former University at Albany lacrosse players Merrick Thomson and Frank Resetarits were drafted in the first round of the 2007 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Pepsi Center. Thomson was taken second overall by the Philadelphia Wings, while Resetarits was chosen fifth overall by the San Jose Stealth.

Thomson, a third-team USILA All-America attacker from Stoney Creek, Ontario, is UAlbany's all-time scoring leader with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points. He led the Great Danes to the 2007 NCAA Tournament's quarterfinal round and the program's fourth America East Conference championship in the last five years.

"Merrick is a big, strong left-handed forward," said Philadelphia Wings General Manager Lindsay Sanderson said. "He's a great finisher and will be an asset to our offense."

Resetarits, who was also drafted earlier this by Major League Lacrosse, earned first-team USILA All-America recognition as a senior. He finished second on the school's career scoring list with 241 points on 158 goals and 83 assists. A native of Hamburg, N.Y., Resetarits was named the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year.

UAlbany's Scott Marr Named 2007 USILA Division I National Coach of the Year

Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Scott Marr has been named the 2007 USILA Division I National Lacrosse Coach of the Year as announced on Friday, July 6 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Marr led the Great Danes to the program’s fourth America East Conference championship in the last five years and first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s quarterfinal round.


UAlbany set a school record for single-season victories with a 15-3 campaign, including a perfect 10-0 mark at home. The Great Danes opened the schedule with an 11-game win streak, the longest since the program became a varsity sport in 1970. UAlbany registered seven top-20 wins, the most ever in a Division I season, including an 8-7 victory over eventual national champion Johns Hopkins.

The Great Danes, who were ranked No. 2 nationally in the USILA coaches’ poll for six consecutive weeks, defeated UMBC, 15-14, for their fourth America East championship. Marr’s squad has reached the conference tournament final six years in a row. UAlbany recorded the athletic program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament victory in a 19-10 decision over Loyola on May 13 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes were then edged in a memorable overtime game against top-ranked Cornell in the NCAA quarterfinals.


UAlbany ranked second among the NCAA leaders in scoring offense at 13.78 goals per game. Frank Resetarits, the first Great Dane to be selected in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft, was voted to the USILA All-America first team. Jordan Levine (second team), Merrick Thomson (third team) and Brett Queener (honorable mention) joined him on the USILA squad. Thomson and Resetarits, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, are one-two on the school’s all-time scoring list.


“This is an award for the whole program,” Marr said. “It is certainly an honor to be recognized by your peers. But it has taken a lot of people within our athletic department to get this program off the ground and headed in the right direction. I am grateful to our coaching staff and the student-athletes for their hard work.”


In his seven years at UAlbany, Marr has a 65-43 career record for a .602 winning percentage. His teams have won 10 or more games four times and advanced to NCAA tournament play in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Marr, who previously was an assistant at Maryland and Delaware, and played as a collegian at Johns Hopkins, was chosen the America East Conference Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2007.

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics

UAlbany Places Four Players on the 2007 USILA Division I All-America Lacrosse Team

University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits leads a group of four players who have been chosen to the 2007 USILA All-America Team, as announced on Saturday, May 26 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Resetarits, a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, becomes the first Great Dane to earn first-team All-America honors at the Division I level.

UAlbany’s Jordan Levine (second team), Merrick Thomson (third team) and Brett Queener (honorable mention) were also recognized on the USILA All-America squad. Luke Daquino, an honorable mention selection two years ago, had been the lone All-American in the lacrosse program’s history since the Great Danes upgraded to Division I in 2000.

“These players have put the UAlbany lacrosse program on the national map,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was ranked second nationally for six consecutive weeks during the season. “Their selection to the All-America team shows how much we have grown and the respect UAlbany has gained across the country.”

Resetarits, the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year, ranks third nationally in scoring with 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-best total in UAlbany annals. The senior attackman tied a career-high with eight points (6 goals, 2 assists) in the conference tournament championship against UMBC. Resetarits, a three-time first-team All-America East standout, finished his career with a 49-game scoring streak, which equaled the longest mark among active Division I players. He ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 241 points (158 goals, 83 assists).

Levine, a junior midfielder, totaled 23 goals and 16 assists. He ranked 17th nationally in ground balls at 5.06 per game, plus set the program’s Division I single-season record with 91. Levine, who scored multiple goals against eight opponents this season, equaled a career-best with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) vs. Loyola in the NCAA’s opening round. He scooped up a career-high 11 ground balls against both Stony Brook and UMBC in America East postseason play.

Thomson was voted all-conference four times, including a pair of first-team selections, during his career. He netted 56 goals and ranks third among the nation’s leaders at 3.11 per game. Thomson was named the America East Championship’s most outstanding player after accounting for 10 goals and two assists in the postseason tournament. A native of Stony Creek, Ontario, Thomson participated in the 66th Annual USILA North-South Classic along with UAlbany teammate Frank Resetarits. He finished as the program’s career scoring leader with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points.

Queener, a senior goalkeeper, posted a 9.68 goals against average and a .520 save percentage en route to setting a school record with 14 victories in the cage. He made double-figure saves on six occasions during the spring, including a season-high 14 against top-ranked Cornell in the NCAA quarterfinal round. Queener, who was also used as an attacker in man-advantage situations, added two goals and five assists.

UAlbany (15-3) captured its fourth America East championship in the last five years this spring. The Great Danes established a single-season record for victories, defeated seven top-20 opponents, recorded the first NCAA Division I win in the athletic program’s history, and reached the national lacrosse quarterfinals for the first time.

UAlbany Places Four Players on the 2007 USILA Division I All-America Lacrosse Team

Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits leads a group of four players who have been chosen to the 2007 USILA All-America Team, as announced on Saturday, May 26 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Resetarits, a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, becomes the first Great Dane to earn first-team All-America honors at the Division I level.

UAlbany’s Jordan Levine (second team), Merrick Thomson (third team) and Brett Queener (honorable mention) were also recognized on the USILA All-America squad. Luke Daquino, an honorable mention selection two years ago, had been the lone All-American in the lacrosse program’s history since the Great Danes upgraded to Division I in 2000.

“These players have put the UAlbany lacrosse program on the national map,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was ranked second nationally for six consecutive weeks during the season. “Their selection to the All-America team shows how much we have grown and the respect UAlbany has gained across the country.”

Resetarits, the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year, ranks third nationally in scoring with 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-best total in UAlbany annals. The senior attackman tied a career-high with eight points (6 goals, 2 assists) in the conference tournament championship against UMBC. Resetarits, a three-time first-team All-America East standout, finished his career with a 49-game scoring streak, which equaled the longest mark among active Division I players. He ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 241 points (158 goals, 83 assists).

Levine, a junior midfielder, totaled 23 goals and 16 assists. He ranked 17th nationally in ground balls at 5.06 per game, plus set the program’s Division I single-season record with 91. Levine, who scored multiple goals against eight opponents this season, equaled a career-best with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) vs. Loyola in the NCAA’s opening round. He scooped up a career-high 11 ground balls against both Stony Brook and UMBC in America East postseason play.

Thomson was voted all-conference four times, including a pair of first-team selections, during his career. He netted 56 goals and ranks third among the nation’s leaders at 3.11 per game. Thomson was named the America East Championship’s most outstanding player after accounting for 10 goals and two assists in the postseason tournament. A native of Stony Creek, Ontario, Thomson participated in the 66th Annual USILA North-South Classic along with UAlbany teammate Frank Resetarits. He finished as the program’s career scoring leader with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points.

Queener, a senior goalkeeper, posted a 9.68 goals against average and a .520 save percentage en route to setting a school record with 14 victories in the cage. He made double-figure saves on six occasions during the spring, including a season-high 14 against top-ranked Cornell in the NCAA quarterfinal round. Queener, who was also used as an attacker in man-advantage situations, added two goals and five assists.

UAlbany (15-3) captured its fourth America East championship in the last five years this spring. The Great Danes established a single-season record for victories, defeated seven top-20 opponents, recorded the first NCAA Division I win in the athletic program’s history, and reached the national lacrosse quarterfinals for the first time.

UAlbany's Resetarits & Thomson Will Play in USILA North-South Classic on May 25

Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson have been selected to play in the 66th Annual United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) North-South Classic which features the nation’s finest senior collegiate players. The all-star contest will be held at Calvert Hall High School in Towson, Md. on Friday, May 25 at 5:45 p.m. The game is part of the NCAA lacrosse championship weekend at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.

Resetarits is currently third in the nation in scoring with 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-best total in UAlbany history. A finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, Resetarits was voted the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year. He is second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 241 points (158 goals, 83 assists).

Thomson earned all-conference recognition four times, including a pair of first-team selections, during his career. He ranks third among the NCAA Division I leaders in goals with 56 this season. Thomson, who was named the America East Championship’s most outstanding player, is the program’s all-time scorer with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points.

Resetarits and Thomson led the Great Danes to their fourth America East championship in the last five years in 2007. UAlbany (15-3) set a single-season record for victories, defeated seven top-20 teams, and reached the NCAA quarterfinal round for the first time in the program’s history.

UAlbany's Frank Resetarits One of Five Finalists for Lacrosse's Tewaaraton Trophy

UAlbany's Frank Resetarits One of Five Finalists for Lacrosse's Tewaaraton Trophy

Washington, D.C. -- University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits has been named as one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which annually recognizes the top male collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. Joining Resetarits on the list are Duke’s Matt Danowski, Virginia’s Ben Rubeor, Cornell’s Max Seibard and Johns Hopkins’ Paul Rabil.

Resetarits, a senior attacker from Hamburg, N.Y., leads the nation in scoring with 54 goals and 21 assists. He has netted four or more goals against eight opponents this season. Resetarits was named the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year. He has been voted to the all-conference team four times, including three first-team selections. Resetarits is currently tied with teammate Merrick Thomson for first place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 236 points (155 goals, 81 assists.)

Resetarits had six goals and two assists to tie a career-high point total in leading UAlbany to a 15-14 victory over UMBC in last Saturday’s America East championship game. The Great Danes will make their fourth NCAA appearance in the last five years when they host Loyola on Sunday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the first round.

The Tewaaraton Trophy is the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The winner will be announced on May 30.

NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship – 'Elite Eight' Quarterfinal Round

UAlbany Edged in Sudden Death Overtime By Cornell in NCAA Lacrosse Championship's 'Elite Eight' Quarterfinals

Cornell 12, UAlbany 11 (Sudden Death OverTime)

Princeton, N.J. – John Glynn scored with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Cornell to a 12-11 victory over UAlbany in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship’s quarterfinal round on Saturday afternoon at Princeton Stadium. The Big Red advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1988.

UAlbany (15-3) trailed 11-9 in the fourth quarter, but sliced the deficit in half when Merrick Thomson netted a rebound after Cornell goalkeeper Matt McMonagle saved Corey Small’s initial blast. The Great Danes drew even with 17.8 seconds to play in regulation as Jordan Levine pivoted to his left and placed a low shot inside the right post.

Each team had scoring opportunities on the first series of possessions in the extra period. Levine just missed the net on a drive from the right side, before UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener made one of his 14 saves on a scramble in front of the crease. The Great Danes’ Tyler Endres later carried ball the ball into the Cornell offensive end, but was back-checked by Max Seibald. The situation led to the game-winning play when Eric Pittard found Glynn in front of the cage.

Cornell (15-0) reversed a 7-5 deficit with three goals in a 23-second span in the third quarter. Pittard, a senior attacker who had two goals and five assists, connected on a low underhanded shot from the left to tie the contest. UAlbany’s Dan Barnes won the subsequent face-off, but then his pass back to Queener was picked off by David Mitchell in front of the crease. Mitchell, who had four goals, found the empty net.

The Great Danes later scored twice seven seconds apart to draw even at nine apiece as the two teams combined for seven goals in the opening five minutes of the third stanza. John Alpizar, who totaled three goals and one assist, converted from the top of the crease on a drive from the left, before long-stick midfielder Chris Schongar scored unassisted off the following face-off. The Big Red, the nation’s top-ranked team and winner of three national titles in the 1970s, then went up 11-9 on a goals by Casey Lewis and Mitchell.

“It was a tough way to lose,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was ranked No. 2 in the nation for six consecutive weeks at one point during the season. “We left everything on the field and it took overtime to decide it. We knew were playing against a team with a similar style. Both goalkeepers were great. We were just one goal short of playing in front of 60,000 people.”

UAlbany jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Thomson and Small scored 44 seconds apart. The Big Red, who reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last six years, regrouped to tie the contest at three apiece early in the second period when Seibald, who had two goals and two assists, converted in a man-advantage situation.

The Great Danes, who won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game last week in the first round, went back ahead on consecutive goals. Alpizar scored the first on a 15-yard blast, before he set up teammate Eric Wolf with a crossing pass to the right of the cage. Pittard drew Cornell even with 1:29 left before the break with a tough-angle shot from the right side off a nifty feed by Seibald. Frank Resetarits then gave Albany a halftime lead when he converted on his first shot of the contest with 2.7 seconds remaining in the period.

“This has been a special team playing with these guys,” said UAlbany’s Thomson, who finished his career as the school’s all-time scoring leader with 244 career points. “We hit our main goals and helped establish something here. They are good young kids in the program, so Albany is not going away.”

UAlbany Upends Loyola, 19-10, in First Round of NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship

Albany, N.Y. – Merrick Thomson scored five goals and added one assist in leading UAlbany to a 19-10 victory over Loyola in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship before a record-crowd of 2,953 on Sunday, May 13 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes posted their first NCAA win in the program’s history and advanced to face Cornell in the quarterfinals on Saturday, May 19 at Princeton Stadium.

UAlbany (15-2) leaped to a 3-0 lead in the opening four minutes of play. Derek Dale finished off a crossing pass from Jordan Levine following a Loyola miscue. Mike Ammann, a junior midfielder, then scored back-to-back goals. He drove from the left and placed a hard shot inside the far post, before advancing from the right side where he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Alex Peaty.

The Great Danes, who were hosting a NCAA Tournament game for the first time as the championship’s No. 5 seed, moved out to an 8-2 lead with 4:32 left in the second period. Matthew Green scored unassisted when drove in from the left point and ripped a shot into the top right corner to fuel a three-goal run. Goalkeeper Brett Queener, who made eight saves, stopped two shots that led to a pair of fastbreak opportunities. Dale cleaned up on a left-to-right crossing pass from Thomson, before Levine went all the way from the midfield line and switched to his left hand for a six-goal margin.

UAlbany increased its advantage in the third quarter to 13-4 with another three-goal outburst. Thomson, a senior attacker, started that stretch by scoring in transition after a turnover. Levine, who tied a career-best with five points, then split two defenders en route to the cage. Thomson, who had five-plus points for the 25th time in his career, used a two-man advantage situation to find the net from right of the crease.

Loyola (7-6) ended the third stanza by ripping off three unanswered in a 46-second span. Greg Leonard scored an extra-man goal before his team won the following face-off. Shane Koppens, who had a pair of goals, finished off that possession to slice the deficit to 13-7. But the Great Danes put the game away in the final quarter by netting six of the game’s next seven goals. Thomson scored twice in that stretch, and Frank Resetarits and Eric Wolf combined on two other scoring plays.

“We were very prepared,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose program had lost their previous three NCAA opening-round games. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this after missing the playoffs last year. We go into every game anticipating Frank (Resetarits) and Merrick (Thomson) will be shut off, or some special defense will be on them. That’s what happened today. When Frank and Merrick don’t get their looks, it just opens things up for everyone else.”

UAlbany showed its balance with eleven players reaching the scoring column. Resetarits, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, finished with two goals and two assists, while Corey Small and Wolf each scored twice and had an assist. Paul Richards and Andrew Spack had two goals apiece for the Greyhounds, who made the NCAA field for the first time since 2001.

“I really felt like we had to match their energy,” explained Loyola coach Charlie Toomey, whose team finished second in the ECAC standings behind Georgetown. “They didn’t let us back in, they stayed on top of us today. They had an answer for everything. Albany got some good looks at the goal; they proved they can score with their weak hands.”

Loyola (7-6) 1 2 4 3 - 10

UAlbany (15-2) 5 5 3 6 - 19

UAlbany's Frank Resetarits One of Five Finalists for Lacrosse's Tewaaraton Trophy

Washington, D.C. -- University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits has been named as one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which annually recognizes the top male collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. Joining Resetarits on the list are Duke’s Matt Danowski, Virginia’s Ben Rubeor, Cornell’s Max Seibard and Johns Hopkins’ Paul Rabil.

Resetarits, a senior attacker from Hamburg, N.Y., leads the nation in scoring with 54 goals and 21 assists. He has netted four or more goals against eight opponents this season. Resetarits was named the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year. He has been voted to the all-conference team four times, including three first-team selections. Resetarits is currently tied with teammate Merrick Thomson for first place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 236 points (155 goals, 81 assists.)

Resetarits had six goals and two assists to tie a career-high point total in leading UAlbany to a 15-14 victory over UMBC in last Saturday’s America East championship game. The Great Danes make their fourth NCAA appearance in the last five years.

The Tewaaraton Trophy is the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The winner will be announced on May 30.

UAlbany Hosts Loyola in NCAA Lacrosse Tournament's First Round on Sunday, May 13

UAlbany will meet Loyola in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Sunday, May 13 at John Fallon Field. Face-off is 2:30 p.m. All opening round matchups will be televised nationally by ESPNU. The Great Danes, who won the America East Conference title to earn an automatic berth, earned the tournament’s No. 5 seed.

NCAA tickets will go on sale on Tuesday morning (May 8) at SEFCU Arena’s Merchandise Store on campus. The box office will be open from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. through Friday. Ticket prices will be announced. For ticket information, call 518-442-4683. Phone orders will be accepted and the athletic ticket office accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

UAlbany (14-2) is making its fourth NCAA appearance in the last five years. The Great Danes edged UMBC, 15-14, in last Saturday’s conference championship. Frank Resetarits leads the nation in scoring with 54 goals and 21 assists, while Merrick Thomson, the league tournament’s most outstanding player, adds 49 goals and 12 assists.

“I am happy to be home and excited that we are seeded fifth,” said Thomson, whose team will be the first America East lacrosse program to host an NCAA contest. “This shows that we are starting to step out of Syracuse’s shadow and making a name for ourselves and the school.”

Loyola (7-5) returns to the NCAA field for the first time since 2001. The Greyhounds, who garnered an at-large berth with their second-place finish in the ECAC, are in the national tournament for the 15th time. Shane Koppens leads the team in scoring with 18 goals and 26 assists. Goalkeeper Alex Peaty has a 9.43 goals against average with a .562 save percentage.

Men's Lacrosse Advances to America East Conference Championship Final for Sixth Straight Year

Merrick Thomson scored a season-high seven goals, including five in the first half, to lead UAlbany to a 17-5 victory over Stony Brook in the semifinal round of the America East Conference Tournament on Thursday evening before 1,288 fans at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes advanced to the Saturday’s championship. UMBC defeated Binghamton, 11-7, in the other semifinal contest.

UAlbany (13-2) used a run of nine unanswered goals to erase an early 1-0 deficit. The Great Danes scored five times in a five-minute-and-40-second span of the first quarter to go ahead. Frank Resetarits buried a shot from the right side before Thomson connected with the man-advantage. Corey Small, who totaled three goals and two assists, found the net off a rebound when SBU goalkeeper Brendan Callahan stopped Thomson from point-blank range. Thomson completed that outburst when he netted Derek Dale’s crossing pass.

The Great Danes, who will play in their sixth consecutive America East championship final, would push their margin to 9-1 midway through the second period. Small, a sophomore attacker, scored twice in that stretch, including a drive from the right side that he finished off with his left hand by placing a shot inside the left post. Dale ended that decisive run by hitting a bounce shot after Thomson came up a ground ball to keep the play alive.

Thomson, who posted the second-highest point total of his career, added an extra-man goal in the third period. He gave his team a 14-5 lead with 9:11 left when he scored from the top of the crease off Small’s feed from the right.

“We were ready to play,” said Thomson, who last scored seven goals against Binghamton on April 9, 2005. “We wanted to put the two losses we had in the last part of the season behind us. The conference tournament is a new season and the seniors do not want to go out without a championship.”

Owen Adams, a junior midfielder, finished with three goals for Stony Brook (8-5), the tournament’s fourth seed. Larry Cerasi and Ryan Hughes added the other goals, while Callahan had 11 of his 15 saves in the opening half.

“UAlbany is bigger, faster, and stronger (than us) right now,” explained Seawolves coach Rick Sowell, whose team suffered a 14-5 setback to the Great Danes during the regular season. “They’re pretty darn good – good seniors, good coaching. I give UAlbany all the praise, they played well very tonight.”

UAlbany’s Resetarits finished with a pair of goals to extend his consecutive game scoring streak to 46 straight. Dale added one goal and two assists as 11 Great Danes reached the scoring column. Brett Queener, who made his first start in goal since April 20 after injuring his ankle, made eight saves and had two assists as an attacker on the extra-man unit.

“This has been a tough week,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team tied the conference tournament record for victory margin set by Delaware in 2000. “We had to get back to business, refocus, and stoke that fire. Merrick (Thomson) and Frank (Resetarits) have been there for us for four years. The championship game should be entertaining. Both teams feel they have been the best two in the conference throughout the year.”

Men's Lacrosse Places Ten Players on America East All-Conference Squad

University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits leads a group of 10 players who were voted to the 2007 America East All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Team, as announced on Wednesday, May 2 by the conference office at the tournament championship banquet. Resetarits was chosen the America East Player of the Year, while Scott Marr was named Coach of the Year.

Resetarits, a senior attacker, leads the nation in goals and scoring with 65 points on 46 goals and 19 assists. He becomes the first Great Dane since Luke Daquino in 2003 to be picked as the conference’s top player. A native of Hamburg, N.Y., he has netted four or more goals against seven opponents this season. Resetarits, who makes his third consecutive appearance on the all-league first team, leads all NCAA Division I scorers with 227 career points (148 goals, 79 assists). His 45-game scoring streak is the second-longest nationally.

Merrick Thomson is a member of the all-conference squad for the fourth consecutive year. Thomson, a senior attacker from Stoney Creek, Ontario, has 39 goals and 10 assists entering postseason play. He scored five goals on three occasions this season. Thomson is third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 224 points (171 goals, 53 assists).

Jordan Levine, Brett Queener and Craig McDonald joined Resetarits and Thomson on the all-conference first team. Levine and Queener are on the first unit for the second straight year. Levine, a junior midfielder, has accounted for 18 goals, 12 assists and a team-leading 59 ground balls. Queener, who is in his second season as the program’s starting goalkeeper, has a 9.34 goals against average and a .514 save percentage. He also plays on the extra-man grouping as an attacker. McDonald, a junior defenseman who was a second-team selection in 2006, has 41 ground balls with a pair of goals.

Steve Ammann, Mike Ammann, Derek Dale, Garrett Pedley and Tom Trapani were each named to the All-America East second team. Dale, a junior attacker, is third on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 16 assists. Mike Ammann (9 goals, 14 assists) and Steve Ammann (11 goals, 7 assists) have been productive as junior midfielders. Trapani, a senior, and Pedley, a sophomore, are starters on defense that is allowing 9.21 goals per game.

In addition, Thomson, Pedley and the Ammann brothers earned a spot on the America East men’s lacrosse all-academic team. Freshman Kyle Brunk was selected to the all-rookie squad.

UAlbany’s Marr receives the conference’s top coaching award for the second time. Marr, who also was tabbed in 2002, led the Great Danes to a share of the America East regular-season crown. UAlbany established school records for most wins in a season (12) and the program’s all-time mark for consecutive victories (11), breaking a standard that had stood since 1972. The Great Danes have won 10 or more games in four of the last five seasons and made three NCAA appearances.

Men's Lacrosse Ranked No. 2 in USILA poll for Sixth Straight Week

Baltimore, Md. -- After recording a pair of road victories last week, UAlbany remains among the top three in both national men's lacrosse polls. The Great Danes are No. 2 in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches' Poll for the sixth straight week. UAlbany is No. 3 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media rankings.

UAlbany (11-0) broke two school records in last Saturday’s 14-7 America East Conference victory against Vermont. The Great Danes established the program’s single-season victory mark. The 10-win standard was set in 1992, 2003, 2004 and 2005. UAlbany has also won 11 straight, breaking the consecutive win record that had stood since 1972. The Great Danes meet No. 16 Syracuse on Friday, April 20 in the Carrier Dome at 7:30 p.m. The contest will be televised in the Capital Region on Time Warner Cable (TW3).

USILA Coaches Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Duke, 4. Virginia, 5. Princeton, 6. Georgetown, 7. Johns Hopkins, 8. Maryland, 9. Navy, 10. North Carolina, 11. Notre Dame, 12. Bucknell, 13. UMBC, 14. Loyola, 15. Drexel, 16. Syracuse, 17. Towson, 18. Delaware, t19. Hofstra, t19. Army.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll
1. Cornell, 2. Duke, 3. UAlbany, 4. Virginia, 5. Princeton, 6. Georgetown, 7. Johns Hopkins, t8. Maryland, t8. Navy, 10. North Carolina, 11. Notre Dame, 12. Bucknell, 13. Loyola, 14. UMBC, 15. Drexel, 16. Syracuse, 17. Towson, 18. Delaware, 19. Colgate, 20. Hofstra.