University of Albany Women's Lacrosse Schedule: North Carolina, Syracuse and Vanderbilt Among Opponents in 2008

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Wednesday, Dec. 19 the school's women's lacrosse schedule for the 2008 season. The Great Danes, who reached the America East Conference tournament championship for the first time in the program's history last season, will play six games against conference opponents. The non-league schedule features three teams who made last year's NCAA Tournament field in North Carolina, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.

UAlbany begins its ninth season at the NCAA Division I level on Saturday, Feb. 23 against North Carolina. The Tar Heels, who posted a 16-5 record, reached the NCAA quarterfinals and finished fourth in the national polls. Syracuse and Vanderbilt will both travel to UAlbany's John Fallon Field in April. The Orange also reached the NCAA quarterfinal round, but are now coached by former SU men's standout Gary Gait. Katie Rowan, a first-team All-American, leads a program that was ranked seventh nationally last year. Vanderbilt placed No. 10 in the final IWLCA national poll. The Commodores, who went 11-6 overall, feature two All-America players in Margie Curran and Sasha Cielak.

In addition to Syracuse (April 2) and Vanderbilt (April 13), the Great Danes will play non-conference home games with Colgate, Le Moyne, Siena and Longwood. UAlbany has non-league road dates with Harvard, Marist and St. Bonaventure. Three America East opponents in Boston University, Binghamton and Stony Brook will invade the Capital Region. The Terriers, who play here on March 22, captured last year's conference title for the third year in a row to earn an automatic NCAA berth and were ranked No. 20 by Inside Lacrosse. The America East Conference postseason tournament, slated for April 25-27, will be held at the highest seed's home facility.

Lindsey Hart, who has led the program to eight wins in each of her first two seasons as head coach, has 11 letterwinners returning from last year's squad. The Great Danes lost the program's all-time scorer, but return four players who totaled 20 or more points. Kayla Best, a sophomore midfielder, earned second-team All-America East recognition with 32 goals and 10 assists. Sophomore attacker Christine Grueniger added 28 goals and three assists and was a member of the conference's all-rookie team. Senior Brittany Scott (16 goals, 5 assists) and junior Rory Redmond (17 goals, 3 assists) are proven midfielders. UAlbany's incoming class features three first-team U.S. Lacrosse high school All-Americans in Tee Ladouceur, Nikki Branchini and Jodi Battaglia, plus five other newcomers who were selected in the honorable mention category.

2008 University at Albany Women's Lacrosse Schedule

February - 23 (Sat.), at North Carolina, 1:00.

March - 1 (Sat.), at Marist, 3:00; 3 (Mon.), at Siena, 3:30; 5 (Wed.), at Harvard, 4:00; 9 (Sun.), Le Moyne, 1:00; 11 (Tue.), Colgate, 7:00; 16 (Sun.), at St. Bonaventure, 1:00; 22 (Sat.), Boston U.*, 6:00; 26 (Wed.), at UMBC*, 7:30; 30 (Sun.), Longwood, 11:00 a.m.

April - 2 (Wed.), Syracuse, 4:00; 5 (Sat.), at Vermont*, 1:00; 9 (Wed.), Binghamton*, 7:00; 13 (Sun.), Vanderbilt, 12:00; 16 (Wed.), at New Hampshire*, 3:00; 19 (Sat.), Stony Brook*, 1:00; 25 (Fri.), at America East Conference Tournament+; 27 (Sun.), at America East Conference Tournament+.

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