University of Albany's Christina Patrick Leads #19 UAlbany Field Hockey to 1-0 Win Over Maine in A-East Action - UAlbany Sports 2009

Orono, Maine - Sophomore forward Christina Patrick scored the lone goal on a penalty corner to lead #19 UAlbany to a 1-0 win over Maine in America East Conference field hockey action on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes improve to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in league play.

After a scoreless first half, Patrick found the back of the cage at 41:06, taking assists from Jess Lindsey and Teagan Brown on a penalty corner attempt. It was Patrick's fourth goal of the season.

UAlbany outshot Maine, 9-7, and held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners. Christine Hoffman and Kristi Troch continue to split time in goal for the Great Danes, with each seeing one half of action. Troch made both of UAlbany's saves in the game. Brittany Fleck stopped six shots on goal for Maine (9-4, AE 1-1).

UAlbany (9-3, AE 2-0) will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17, hosting Vermont at 1 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany (9-3, AE 2-0) 0 1 - 1

Maine (9-4, AE 1-1) 0 0 - 0

UAlbany: Scoring - Christina Patrick (1-0), Tegan Brown (0-1), Jess Lindsey (0-1). Goalkeepers - Christine Hoffman (35:00, 0 GA, 0 saves), Kristi Troch (35:00, 0 GA, 2 saves).

Maine: Scoring - None. Goalkeeper - Brittany Fleck (70:00, 1 GA, 6 saves).



Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany FCS Football Dominates 2nd Half And Rallies To A 20-16 Victory Against #20 Maine - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. -- David McCarty scored on a 24-yard run with just over two minutes remaining, as UAlbany rallied in the fourth quarter to upend nationally-ranked Maine in the Great Danes' home opener before 4,823 fans on Saturday, Sept. 19 at University Field. The Black Bears were ranked No. 20 by Sports Network and No. 19 in the FCS Coaches polls.

UAlbany (1-2) trailed 16-3 heading into the final period, but finally gained some momentum with a 77-yard drive. Quarterback Vinny Esposito, who overcame a school-record four interceptions and a lost fumble on a first-quarter sack, fired a 41-yard strike to Tim Bush to jump-start the sequence. Esposito later rolled to his left and lofted a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Paul Booker, who outbattled two Maine defenders.

After a blocked punt, UAlbany tried for the home run, but Esposito's pass, on a flea-flicker play, was picked off by strong safety Jerron McMillian, his second of the game. Despite the Great Danes fifth turnover, the defense stiffened and Jordan Waxman got off just a 17-yard punt under pressure. The short kick set up Herb Glass' 33-yard field goal and cut the deficit to 16-13 with 3:45 remaining.

UAlbany's defense came up with another key play on Maine's next possession. Quarterback Mike Brusko ran a third-down option to the right and inside linebacker Chris Simpson forced the ball loose with one of his 11 tackles and defensive end Tony Sparano recovered at the Maine 26. McCarty knifed his way through the middle and cut back to his left two plays later on the winning touchdown.

"I just took my read steps, came unblocked, and made a play," said Simpson, who turned in a career-high effort. "Our defense picked it up (in the second half) and we played with emotion and confidence."

The Black Bears, who led 16-0 at halftime, marched to the UAlbany 37 in the final minute behind the arm of Warren Smith, but safety Jake Ciccarello picked off a fourth-down pass at the 13-yard line to preserve the comeback win.

"The defense was lights out in the second half," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team allowed just 92 of Maine's 276 total yards after the intermission. "The offense started to catch fire and the blocked punt helped. We battling for respectability, just taking it one play at time. But it was a phenomenal win."

In the opening half, Maine was in complete control after forcing the home team to commit four turnovers. Defensive back Steven Barker sacked Esposito and lineman Al Serena recovered the fumble on the sideline. Sophomore tailback Derek Session, who ran 21 times for 76 yards, scored on a 20-yard run over the left side for a 7-0 lead.

The Black Bears upped their advantage to 14-0 with Brusko tossed a 15-yard scoring pass to wideout Landis Williams early in the second quarter. UAlbany safety Emerson Kinsey came on a blitz from the right side and Williams beat his defender down the sideline. Defensive end Jordan Stevens added a safety when he sacked Esposito in the end zone with 2:50 left in the first half. UAlbany drove to the Maine 3-yard line in the closing seconds of the period, but on second-and goal, Esposito's pass over the middle was deflected and Barker came up with the diving interception.

McCarty rushed for 109 yards on 27 carries, the 20th time he has reached the century mark as a collegian. Esposito went 14-of-28 through the air for 186 yards, as his team defeated a FCS top-25 opponent for the first time since 2006.

"I am sore from my hip down," said McCarty, who has battled through injuries throughout the season. "The emotions were running through me and I saw how hard everyone was playing. I saw the hole (on the winning touchdown) and I wasn't touched."


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany FCS Football Gameday vs Maine

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2009 Schedule:

Sat, Sep 5 UAlbany 26 Georgia Southern 29
Sat, Sep 12 UAlbany 7 Massachusetts 44
Sat, Sep 19 Maine 4:00 pm
Sat, Sep 26 Sacred Heart 4:00 pm
Sat, Oct 3 at St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm
Sat, Oct 10 Duquesne 1:00 pm
Sat, Oct 17 Bryant 1:00 pm
Sat, Oct 24 at Monmouth 1:00 pm
Sat, Oct 31 at Central Connecticut State 12:00 pm
Sat, Nov 7 Robert Morris 1:00 pm
Sat, Nov 21 at Wagner 1:00 pm


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NEXT GAME

Date: September 19, 2009
Time: 4pm
Opponent: Maine Black Bears
Location: University of Albany
City/Town: Albany, NY
Facility: University Field
Driving distance:

From NYC - 147 miles
From Boston - 168 miles
Directions
Tickets
Media Coverage:
FoxSports Radio – Great Dane Football

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2009 UMaine Schedule:

Thu, Sep 3 St. Cloud State W 34-27
Sat, Sep 12 at Northeastern W 17-7
Sat, Sep 19 at Albany 4:00 pm
Sat, Sep 26 at Syracuse TBA
Sat, Oct 3 Delaware 6:00 pm
Sat, Oct 10 at Hofstra 1:00 pm
Sat, Oct 17 Richmond 12:00 pm
Sat, Oct 31 Massachusetts 3:30 pm
Sat, Nov 7 at James Madison 3:00 pm
Sat, Nov 14 Rhode Island 12:00 pm
Sat, Nov 21 at New Hampshire 12:00 pm

University of Albany To Play Maine, Foe Of Historic 1977 Win - UAlbany Sports 2009

Larry Leibowitz makes his living with teeth these days as a dentist in Virginia.

However, at his home in Virginia Beach, Leibowitz keeps a scrapbook and old film that recall a time when he was pretty good with his foot, as well.

Leibowitz kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired on Oct. 29, 1977 to give the University at Albany -- then a Division III program known as Albany State -- a shocking 42-39 win over Division II Maine before 4,311 fans in Orono.

"I was mobbed," Leibowitz, 53, recalled of the celebration. "It's one of those classic scenes. You're on the bottom of the pile. It was great."

Bob Ford, UAlbany's coach now and then, called it the program's second-biggest win in his 37 varsity seasons.

"It was just a phenomenal football win for us," Ford said. "It probably was the landmark win until we nailed Delaware down there (in 2006)."

The Great Danes (0-2) will try to pull off another upset when Maine (2-0), ranked 19th in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, visits University Field on Saturday at 4 p.m.

At least this UAlbany team plays on the same level as Maine, although the Great Danes offer 32 scholarships compared to the 63 of Maine, a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

It was different back in 1977.

"We didn't even know what a scholarship looked like back then," Ford said.

Current Maine coach Jack Cosgrove, who started at quarterback in that game, said he doesn't recall disrespecting UAlbany.

"I don't even know if we knew hey were Division III," Cosgrove said. "We weren't very good, anyway."

Coached by Jack Bicknell, who went on to Boston College, Maine finished 3-7 that season and gave only about 10 scholarships, according to Cosgrove. Meanwhile, UAlbany went 9-2 and reached the Division III playoffs.

The Great Danes got a $6,000 guarantee, meager by today's standards, to travel to Orono. When they got off the bus, Ford heard people in the stands say, "Where are they from?"

They knew 60 minutes later, when UAlbany's wishbone offense was done tearing Maine apart. The game was tied at 39 when UAlbany sophomore linebacker Don Hyde, making his first career start, intercepted a Cosgrove pass and returned it 32 yards to the Maine 40 with 2:25 left.

Quarterback Brad Aldrich led the Great Danes to the Maine 5. After two offsides penalties on Maine, Leibowitz drilled the short field goal for the win.

He still has the newspaper clippings and game film. He's shown them to his sons, ages 18 and 22.

"They said, 'Dad, you did pretty good,' " Leibowitz said.

At a glance

UAlbany (0-2) vs. Maine (2-0)
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: University Field, Albany
TV/radio: TW-3, WOFX (980AM)

Courtesy: Mark Singelais