University of Albany Volleyball Defeats Colgate, 3-1, in Non-Conference Match-Up - UAlbany Sports 2009

Hamilton, N.Y. - Kalyn Mostert recorded a kill and then served for the final three points, including a service ace on match point to lead UAlbany to a 3-1 win over Colgate in non-conference volleyball action on Wednesday evening at Cotterell Court. The Great Danes took the match with scores of 23-25, 25-19, 26-24 and 25-23.

UAlbany jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first set, forcing Colgate to take a quick timeout. The Raiders regrouped and scored seven straight points behind the service game of Logan Kaela, with a kill by Maureen Colligan giving Colgate a 7-4 advantage and sending the Great Danes into a timeout of their own. It was UAlbany's turn to bounce back, as the Great Danes regained the lead with consecutive Colgate attack errors and a service ace by Laura Livergood. Hillary White converted back-to-back kills to give UAlbany a 12-9 lead before Colgate regained control and induced consecutive attack errors by the Great Danes, tying it back up at 12-12. The set remained knotted for several points before Colgate took a 22-20 lead on a kill by Kaleigh Durket. Brooke Stanley and Casey Wright teamed up for a block to tie the set one last time at 23-23, but a UAlbany service error followed by a Colgate service ace gave the Raiders the set.

In the second set, Colgate jumped out to an early 6-3 lead with a block assist by Durket and Casey Ritt. The Great Danes tied up the set and took a 9-8 lead on a Raider attack error followed by a kill by White. With that kill, UAlbany rattled four of the next five points to take a 12-9 lead on a kill by Valerie Sourbeer. Holding a 13-12 advantage, the Great Danes scored six straight points behind the service game of Laurie Gonzalez, including one service ace and a block by Dunja Prgomet and Wright. UAlbany got to set point on a kill by White, but Colgate kept play going with a kill by Kaylee Dougherty and taking advantage of a Great Dane error to pull with in 24-19. Sourbeer closed out the set with a kill, taking an assist from Stanley.

Set three was a back-and-fourth affair from the opening serve, with neither team taking command until UAlbany broke out to build up a 14-10 advantage on a Colgate attack error. The Great Danes continued to expand their lead, getting up 19-12 with a block by White. The Raiders refused to fold, pulling within 24-23 with a Ritt kill. Colgate tied the score on set point, but UAlbany got back-to-back kills by Prgomet to take the set.

UAlbany had a chance to put the match away in the fourth set, but fell behind 5-1 in the early going. The Raiders built up an 8-2 advantage with a service ace by Devon Applegate, but the Great Danes rallied back to pull within 10-9 on an ace by Kalyn Mostert followed by a kill by Teresa Coppiellie. Colgate regained the lead, and built up a 14-11 advantage on a UAlbany attack error, but the Great Danes rallied to tie the set at 14-14 on a kill by Gonzalez. After Blaire Safir and Dougherty combined for a block to put Colgate back on top, UAlbany rattled off four consecutive points to put the Great Danes ahead, 18-15. The Raiders battled back once again, tying the set at 21-21 before taking a 23-21 lead on a Safir kill. UAlbany continued to rally, knotting the set at 23-23 on a kill by Mostert. Mostert then took over the serve for the Great Danes, getting two straight kills from Coppiellie and ending the match with a service ace.

Sourbeer led UAlbany with 15 kills, while Wright and White recorded 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Mostert added nine kills and 19 digs, along with three service aces. Stanley totaled 53 assists to quarterback the UAlbany offense, while Gonzalez anchored the Great Dane defense with a match-high 31 digs.

Durket finished with a double-double, totaling 17 kills and 13 digs for Colgate (4-9), while Ritt added 14 kills. Applegate recorded a team-high 17 digs, while setter Meghan Fanta finished with 24 assists for the Raiders.

UAlbany (9-8) will return to action on Sunday, kicking off America East Conference play, visiting New Hampshire at 1 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Field Hoceky Defeats Colgate, 3-1, in Non-Conference Action - UAlbany Sports 2009

Hamilton, N.Y. - Nicole Savage tallied the gamewinning goal to lead UAlbany to a 3-1 win over Colgate in non-conference field hockey action at Tyler's Field on Wednesday evening. The first whistle was late, as the game was delayed for 45 minutes due to lightening.

Senior defender Jess Lindsey broke a scoreless tie in the 25th minute, finding the back of the cage on an assist from Tegan Brown. Savage netted the gamewinner just before the half, taking the assist from Nina Walters. The Great Danes held onto their two-goal lead until the 52nd minute when Colgate found the back of the cage with a goal from Laura Denenga on a penalty corner. UAlbany added an insurance tally just two minutes before the final horn, as Walters earned her second assist of the day on a Christina Patrick goal to set the final margin.

UAlbany outshot Colgate, 30-7, and held a 12-4 advantage in penalty corners. Great Dane goalkeepers Christine Hoffman and Kristi Troch split time in the cage, with Hoffman making three serves in the first half, while Troch made two stops in the second stanza. Sarah Pederson made 15 saves in the cage for Colgate (1-7).

UAlbany (6-2) will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27, hosting Providence at Alumni Turf Field at 1 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Chrissy Klepper's First Career Goal Sends Women's Soccer Past Colgate - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore midfielder Chrissy Klepper scored her first career goal and freshman goalkeeper Breanna Maggio registered her third shutout of the season to lead the UAlbany women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Colgate on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Varsity Field. The Great Danes, who have not surrendered a goal in five straight halves, closed out non-conference play by registering their fourth shutout victory of the season.

UAlbany (5-5) used its speed in the middle and up front to dominate the first half against a bigger and taller Colgate squad. Maggie DeVerna and Chelsea DeVerna each had open looks that went just high of the goal in the early going for the Great Danes, which had a commanding 11-5 advantage in total shots over the first 45 minutes of action.

After failing to capitalize on its initial opportunities, UAlbany got on the scoreboard in the 13th minute when a defender lobbed the ball into the box for Maggie DeVerna to finish. Raider goalkeeper Ashley Walsh came out of the net to intercept the cross, but she collided with the forward, and the ball fell to open space. Klepper, who was named the team's player of the game, got to the ball first and shot it to the back of the empty net to give UAlbany a 1-0 lead.

Maggie DeVerna had a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 21st minute when she took a pass down the left sideline from Kendra Harrell-Vigil and went in all alone on Walsh. However, the goalkeeper came charging out and made the point-blank save to keep it a one-goal match.

Colgate (2-5-2), which has won 10 Patriot League titles in its storied history, threatened to tie the match up before recess several times, but UAlbany's young defense consisting of Katie Grant, Casey Marks, Katie Norwood, Jaclyn Rosada and Harrell-Vigil either blocked the shots or stole the ball away from inside the box. Most of the shots on Maggio in the opening stanza came from outside of 25 yards.

UAlbany, which has already matched its highest win total in the program's Division I era, kept the pressure on early and often at the start of the second half while clinging to a one-goal advantage. However, the squad could not extend its lead with many of their shots sailing either high or wide. After failing to penetrate the defense for most of the match, Colgate turned it on for the latter part of the closing frame. The Raiders created better opportunities to score, but everything was cleared away by the defense or saved by Maggio.

Colgate earned one of its three corner kicks in the closing minutes with one last chance to net the equalizer. However, the ball was cleared up the field and away from trouble. The visitors made one last push in the final 20 seconds, but UAlbany's defense once again came through by forcing a Raider forward to kick the ball out of bounds. Grant took her time to throw the ball in from the left sideline in the final seconds, and the Great Danes survived to post their second straight one-goal win.

UAlbany's Maggio made six saves on 15 opportunities to post her third shutout this season, a mark which has been unmatched by any other Great Dane goalkeeper on the NCAA's highest stage. Colgate's Walsh made four stops on 24 chances and was credited with the loss. She was relieved by Rebecca Michlin late in the second half, who did not face any shots.

The Great Danes return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. when they travel to Vermont for their America East Conference opener.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information