UAlbany NanoCollege Receives $300K Grant from Department of Energy for Clean Technology Research and Education

Albany, NY - The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany has been selected to receive a prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") for pioneering research and education that will support the development of nanotechnology-enabled sensors and controls designed to sharply reduce emissions from fossil fuel-based power plants.

The $300,000 grant is awarded through the highly competitive University Coal Research Program - DOE's longest-running student-teacher research grant initiative - which is designed to advance new ideas to support near-zero emission power plants and train a new generation of scientists and engineers in the investigation of long-term solutions for clean and efficient use of the nation's abundant coal resources.

Assistant Professor of Nanoengineering Dr. Michael Carpenter will lead the program at the UAlbany NanoCollege, which is aimed at addressing the critical need to develop innovative controls and sensors that are compatible with the harsh environmental conditions found in leading-edge power plants. Dr. Carpenter and his team of graduate students will conduct research on the use of a plasmonics-based, all-optical sensing technique that utilizes tailored nanomaterials as a sensing layer, offering a novel approach to reducing emissions to near-zero levels amid extreme temperature and humidity - and one that is both simpler and less expensive than current sensor designs.

Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CNSE, said, "I congratulate Professor Carpenter on the receipt of this prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, which will enable innovative nanoscale research that further enhances the UAlbany NanoCollege's growing portfolio in the area of clean energy. Just as importantly, this project will provide pioneering educational opportunities for our students, who will comprise the future workforce that is vital to ensuring the presence of a safe and efficient energy supply to meet our nation's growing needs."

Dr. Carpenter said, "I am delighted to receive this grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, particularly as it provides unique opportunities for both CNSE and our graduate students. I look forward to working closely with students to engage in cutting-edge research and education that will ultimately improve the efficiency of advanced fossil energy systems, which is a great demonstration of the important and practical applications of engineering at the nanoscale."

Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Professor and Head of CNSE's Nanoengineering Constellation, said, "This grant provides further support and recognition for the world-class research capabilities at CNSE that are enabled by nanoengineering, including a growing concentration in the area of clean and alternative energy technologies. I congratulate Professor Carpenter on being chosen to receive this esteemed grant, and look forward to seeing the impact of this work in the areas of research and education."

CNSE was one of just six universities selected nationwide to receive grants under DOE's University Coal Research Program, which has funded more than 700 projects involving nearly 1,800 students since its inception in 1979.

About CNSE. The UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. In May 2007, it was ranked as the world's number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology in the Annual College Ranking by Small Times magazine. CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex is the most advanced research enterprise of its kind at any university in the world: a $4.5 billion, 450,000-square-foot complex that attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience. The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. More than 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex, from companies including IBM, AMD, SEMATECH, Toshiba, ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, Vistec Lithography and Freescale. An expansion currently underway will increase the size of CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex to over 800,000 square feet, including over 80,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanroom space, to house over 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty by mid-2009. For more information, visit http://www.cnse.albany.edu/.

CNSE Contact:
Steve Janack, CNSE Vice President for Marketing and Communications
(phone) 518-956-7322 (cell) 518-312-5009

UAlbany Volleyball Signs Two Incoming Student-Athletes for 2009 Season

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany volleyball team has signed two student-athletes for the 2009 season, as announced by interim head coach MJ Engstrom on Tuesday afternoon. Gabby Whitworth and Traci Vandegrift both signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes starting next fall.

Whitworth is a 6-foot middle blocker/right side hitter from Kailua, Hawaii. A team captain at Kalaheo High School, she has played for the Jammers Volleyball Club for the past three seasons, helping lead the under-17 team to a second-place finish at the 2008 Junior Olympics. The U-18 Jammers also finished in third place in the Aloha Region in 2007. Whitworth, who is a four-year honor roll member, was invited to be on the High Performance Junior National A2 team in 2008, and intends to major in business administration.

“Gabby has grown up in Hawaii where its common place to see little kids playing volleyball out on the playgrounds,” Engstrom said. “She has been a member of one of the nation’s premier clubs and her experience will help to increase our collective volleyball IQ.”

Vandegrift is a 6-foot middle hitter from Mogadore, Ohio. A four-year letterwinner at Field High School, Vandegrift was the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division Player of the Year. An all-district selection, Vandegrift was named to the Division II all-state second team. She helped lead Field High to the Portage Trail Conference championship in 2007 and 2008 and also earned the bronze medal as a member of the U-17 team at the Junior Olympics. She finished her four-year career at Field with 820 kills, 421 digs, 373 total blocks and 111 service aces.

“Traci is an explosive, competitive athlete who is still learning the game,” Engstrom said. “As her experience grows with higher level competition, she will be a very exciting player to watch.”

Whitworth and Vandegrift join a UAlbany program that is losing just one senior to graduation. The Great Danes won their third straight America East Conference Championship this season after going undefeated in league play and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.

“Gabby and Traci are great fits for our program,” said Engstrom, who served as interim head coach this year after three seasons as the program’s top assistant. “Both are outstanding athletes, students, and leaders and I am very excited to have them be part of the UAlbany family.”

Three Student-Athletes Make Commitments to UAlbany Softball During Early Signing Period

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany head softball coach Chris Cannata announced on Tuesday afternoon that three student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to join the Great Danes in the 2009-10 academic year. Catcher Kylie Apostolina of Smyrna, Del. (Smyrna H.S.), catcher Lindsey Stout of Vestal, N.Y. (Vestal Central H.S.) and pitcher Allison Weiser of Wildwood Crest, N.J. (Wildwood Catholic H.S.) each made a commitment.

Apostolina, who also plays first base, was a first-team all-conference selection in the spring of 2008. A three-sport athlete, she garnered second-team all-conference honors in basketball as a freshman and most recently was named to the all-conference second team in field hockey as a midfielder. An honor roll student, Apostolina serves as her class treasurer and plays softball for the Newtown Rock over the summer.

Stout, a catcher who can also play in the outfield, was a fourth-team all-state selection. This past spring, she boasted a .443 batting average and a .671 slugging percentage. Stout, a New York State Scholar-Athlete in softball and field hockey, led the Vestal Central High softball team to a Section IV title. She also competes on the under-18 Conklin Raiders summer team which won a state championship and competes in Amateur Softball Association tournaments across the country. Off the field, Stout is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society for High School Scholars.

Weiser, another versatile athlete who also competes on her high school’s soccer and basketball teams, has fanned 403 batters in 231 innings pitched in her two seasons on the varsity squad. She posted a 1.36 earned run average and recorded 219 strikeouts and 23 walks in 118 innings on the mound as a sophomore. Offensively, she batted .578 and had a .614 on-base percentage. Like Apostolina, Weiser plays softball during the summer for the Newtown Rock. The two-time All-Cape Atlantic League second-team selection is also a member of the National Honor Society.

“We are excited to add Kylie, Allison and Lindsey to our roster for the 2010 season,” said Cannata, who is a four-time America East Conference Coach of the Year. “On and off the field, all three student-athletes are great additions to our program. We are fortunate to sign such an athletic and versatile class.”

UAlbany Men's Basketball Rolls in 74-46 Win Over Canisius at SEFCU Arena

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Tim Ambrose scored 15 points to pace four players in double figures in leading UAlbany to a 74-46 non-league victory over Canisius on Saturday, Dec. 13 at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (6-4) snapped a 17-17 deadlock with 19 unanswered points to take control. The Great Danes, who were coming off a pair of road losses, got back on the winning track by holding the visitors scoreless for nearly seven minutes. Scotty McRae, a 6-foot-8 junior, made two free throws and converted a layup in transition to jump-start that run. McRae had a career-high 13 points and three blocks off the bench. The opening 12 minutes featured four lead changes and four ties.

Brett Gifford, a 6’11” center who grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds, later pushed the lead to double digits when he made consecutive baskets, including a bank shot from left of the lane following an offensive rebound. Jimmie Covington put back a missed field goal attempt and freshman guard Anthony Raffa canned a three-point field goal to end the outburst and give their team a 36-17 advantage. The Great Danes, who employed full-court pressure during the decisive run, made 7 of 11 from the field in that span.

Canisius (3-6) overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat UAlbany on its home floor last February. But the Golden Griffins, who were held to 30.9-percent shooting, including 3-of-21 from beyond the three-point line, could never get back into the contest and trailed 37-20 at halftime. Meanwhile, the Great Danes upped their margin to as much as 67-37 with 4:40 remaining when Will Harris drillied a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. Harris, a transfer from Virginia, netted 10 of his 14 points in the period. Ambrose added 10 of his scoring total after halftime.

“I didn’t know how we would responded after the tough loss at Lehigh (on Monday),” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team limited Canisius to the lowest shooting percentage by an opponent this season and dominated the glass with a season-best 56 rebounds. “We had good energy tonight, but we shot less than 40 percent from the field. That says a lot of good things about our defense and rebounding.”

Frank Turner, a preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference guard, had 14 points and five points while playing all 40 minutes for the Golden Griffins, who end their current five-game road swing against nationally-ranked Syracuse on Dec. 17. Julius Coles was also in double figures with 11.

“We were hungry for the victory (after Lehigh),” explained Gifford, who blocked a career-high four shots and added two steals. We pressed more than usual and followed the scouting report. We played together for forty minutes and if continue to do that we can do great things as a team.”

Raffa finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Great Danes, who will not play at home again until meeting America East Conference opponent Boston University on Jan. 8. Ambrose, a 6-foot sophomore, extended his double-figure scoring streak to eight straight games.

Goalkeeper Steward Ceus Becomes UAlbany's First Men's Soccer Division I All-American

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kansas City, Kan. – University at Albany’s Steward Ceus has been named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Division I All-America Team, as announced on Saturday, Dec. 13 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Ceus, a senior goalkeeper who was a member of the national third team, is the first Great Dane to earn Division I All-America status in the program’s history.

The announcement came one day after Ceus earned NSCAA All-Northeast Region recognition. He becomes the first UAlbany men’s soccer player to garner All-America honors at any level since Marty Hearney was voted to the Division III All-America squad in 1991. The UAlbany co-captain was also honored as the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team. He eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329), while his .856 save percentage, 0.96 goals against average and seven shutouts were all career bests.

A native of West Haverstraw, N.Y., Ceus is currently ranked fourth in the nation in saves per game (5.93) and eighth in save percentage. He earned a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and was also the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week as well as the America East player of the week this fall. In addition, the goalkeeeper was a three-time member of the America East all-academic team for his work in the classroom.

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this season, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a program standard on the NCAA’s highest stage.

Trio of UAlbany Men's Soccer Named to All-Northeast Region Men's Soccer Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kansas City, Kan. – University at Albany men’s soccer players Steward Ceus (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland), Claudio Dantas (Orlando, Fla./Crystal Lake/Jefferson) and Erik DiLorenzo (Bolton, Ontario/Robert F. Hall C.S.S.) were all named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Northeast Region Team. The three honorees matches a program record.

Ceus, a four-year starting goalkeeper, was named to the first team. He was also honored as the America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and landed on the all-conference first team. The senior co-captain eclipsed Division I program records for career shutouts (19) and saves (329). His .859 save percentage, 0.97 goals against average and seven shutouts this season were all career bests. He ranks fourth in the country in saves per game (5.93) and eighth in save percentage. Ceus earned a spot on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week and was also the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and the America East player of the week this fall. In addition, the goalkeeeper was a three-time member of the America East Conference All-Academic Team for his work in the classroom.

Dantas, a forward who was named the program’s first America East Conference Striker of the Year, was named to the second team. The junior transfer from Jefferson College paced the nation’s fifth-ranked offense with nine goals and 10 assists. His 28 points led America East and is a Division I single-season program record, bettering the 22 points Nick Southworth totaled in 2000. Dantas’ nine goals matches the Division I single-season standard set by Southworth, and his 10 assists equals the single-season standard for

all divisions set by Ed Campbell in 1968 and matched by Bryan Grabon in 2000. The two-time junior college All-American ranks eighth in the nation with 0.56 assists per game. Dantas also garnered America East co-player of the week laurels.

DiLorenzo, a four-year starting defender and two-year captain, garnered a spot on the third team. He anchored a defense that averaged 0.56 shutouts per game, a mark that ranks 10th nationally. DiLorenzo also recorded one goal and five assists, and sparked the largest comeback in the program’s Division I era in a 5-4 win over UMBC. In addition, DiLorenzo was voted to the league's all-championship squad for his performance in the conference tournament.

UAlbany posted a 12-4-2 overall record this past fall, which matched a Division I program record set in 2004. The Great Danes’ seven-game unbeaten streak before suffering a 1-0 double overtime loss to Binghamton in the semifinal round of the conference tournament was a new school standard on the NCAA’s highest stage.

UAlbany Volleyball's Hillary White and Valerie Sourbeer Named to America East Conference All-Academic Team

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Hillary White and Valerie Sourbeer were named to the America East Conference All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. It is the first all-academic honor for both student-athletes.

White, a senior middle blocker, earned a 3.51 cumulative grade point average as a double major in human biology and psychology. She was named to the America East All-Conference Second Team for the second time in her career after averaging 1.95 kills and 0.91 digs per game this season. White finished with 92 total blocks, including 20 solo. She recorded a career-high 14 kills at Stony Brook and finished with a season-best 11 digs at Maine.

Sourbeer, a junior outside hitter, posted a 3.81 GPA as a business administration major. A member of the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, she played in 28 matches as a junior, averaging 2.60 kills per set. She recorded a career-high 18 kills at San Diego State to go along with a .359 hitting percentage, and tallied double-digit kill totals on eight occasions. Sourbeer finished the season with 35 total blocks, including four total blocks at Maine, and had a season-best six digs twice.

The All-Academic squads are a product of the June 2005 Athletics Director meetings, where faculty representatives and athletics directors from each of the conference’s nine member institutions decided to honor the league’s top student-athletes, whom excel equally in the classroom as they do on the playing field. All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution.

2008 America East Conference All-Academic Team

Sarah Ball, UMBC
Kirsten Bates, UNH
Gulce Dikecligil, Stony Brook
Dawn Lammert, Binghamton
Michelle McDonough, Binghamton
Valerie Sourbeer, Albany
Hillary White, Albany

UAlbany Football's Eddie Delaney - Class of 2011

A Role Model in Perseverance

Defensive end Eddie Delaney is living his dream playing Division I football at UAlbany. Despite being born without a left hand, the 19-year-old Holtsville, N.Y. native is thriving on the gridiron. He garnered Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors in only his second career start and co-led the team in pass breakups this season. He also received second team honors for the Northeast Conference.

Delaney, a sophomore business administration major, notices his opponents peer down at his hand at the line of scrimmage. But it doesn't bother him. He's never seen himself as disabled.

He also doesn't see himself as a role model, either -- but he is. As Delaney leaves the sidelines after a recent game, he spots a group of young children smiling and waving emphatically from the bleachers. He walks over to them, autographs their caps and shirts. It was then Delaney realized he is a role model.

"I've never thought of myself that way. I'm just a kid who plays football and goes to school," said Delaney, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age six and wears an insulin pump. "But they look up to me. They see me and think they can do anything, too. It's a good feeling. It means a lot."

To his teammates, Delaney is known as a bit of a prankster. Over the summer, Delaney told freshmen on the football squad that he lost his hand in a shark attack. Some of them still believe it, he said, laughing. He also jokes about dressing up as a pirate every Halloween.

When he isn't playing practical jokes, Delaney can be found talking with children who have disabilities, emphasizing the same message his parents instilled in him -- you can do anything you set out to do. Delaney and his Great Danes teammates hosted more than 90 children with diabetes, known as "The Sugar-Free Gang." Coordinated through Ellis Hospital, the joint effort allowed these kids to meet an inspirational athlete who can share their stories of growing up with diabetes.

Delaney had a similar experience, meeting former New York Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott, who was also born without a hand. Like Abbott, Delaney is determined not to let it slow him down. It hasn't yet.

Courtesy: University of Albany News

Hillside House of Coeymans Donates $250,000 to Establish Scholarship Honoring UAlbany Alumnus

Hillside Board President Julia Filippone, daughter of Dr. Frank J. Filippone, presents a $250,000 check to UAlbany to establish an endowed scholarship in her father's name (Photo Mark Schmidt).

The University at Albany announced the establishment of The Dr. Frank J. Filippone '41, '48 -- Hillside House Scholarship, designed to support graduate students who have demonstrated academic achievement and financial need. Filippone, who passed away in 2002, founded Hillside House of Coeymans, one of New York's first community-based residence programs for the developmentally disabled. Hillside House of Coeymans has contributed $250,000 toward establishing the endowed scholarship.

Scholarship recipients must demonstrate an interest in helping people with developmental disabilities. They must also be enrolled in UAlbany's School of Education, the Department of Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Social Welfare.

"This scholarship is a testament to Dr. Filippone's legacy within education, his accomplishments and compassion," said Interim President George M. Philip. "It is the University's honor to steward this endowment in his memory."

"Scholarships for our students are critical, especially as they work hard to meet the financial challenges of obtaining a college education," said George Hearst, president of The University at Albany Foundation. "I appreciate the example of the Hillside House's philanthropy in providing this generous support."

"Hillside House is establishing this fund to honor my father's vision, his compassion for those in need, and his community service," said his daughter Julia Filippone, Hillside House board president. "This gift will ensure that his legacy -- leading by service, educating and caring for others -- is carried forward by future generations of educators, social workers and other committed to caring for the developmentally disabled."

Filippone received bachelor's ('41) and master's ('48) degrees in education from UAlbany. He dedicated his life to education, having worked as a teacher, principal and superintendent in New York State prior to establishing Hillside House in 1975. He also founded the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) Men's Association in 1963 and founded the RCS Rotary Interact Club in 1969. He held positions with many community and civic groups, including the RCS Council of Churches, Ravena-Coeymans Rotary, the RCS School Board and the Grace United Methodist Men's Group.

In 1994, in recognition of his dedication and notable accomplishments, Filippone was named a distinguished alumnus of the University at Albany.

Contact(s): Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

UAlbany Assistant Athletic Director Wayne Bridgeman Passes Away After Battle With Cancer

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany Assistant Director of Athletics Wayne Bridgeman passed away on the evening of Dec. 10 after a long battle with cancer. He was 55. Bridgeman is survived by his wife Carol and three children from a previous marriage.

“Our department of athletics and the university is devastated by Wayne Bridgeman’s passing,” McElroy said. “He was a dedicated professional who dealt with the tough issues that face collegiate athletics today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family at this time.”

Bridgeman was appointed to the position of assistant athletics director for compliance on Aug. 17, 2006. He spent the previous two years at New Mexico State University where he was director of athletic compliance and eligibility. He was responsible for all compliance issues that ranged from NCAA and conference interpretations to the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Bridgeman worked at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as director of compliance from 1999-2004. He managed eligibility, recruiting, financial aid, EADA and Title IX issues, plus oversaw the school's transition as a NCAA provisional Division I member to active Division I status. He developed oversight programs for administering athletic scholarship aid.

From 1994-99, Bridgeman was the compliance coordinator at Sonoma State University. He served as compliance coordinator for three years and created and implemented the first office of athletic compliance in the institution’s history.

Bridgeman began his career as a high school basketball coach on the varsity and junior varsity levels before taking an assistant coaching position at California State University-Hayward in 1993. He played as a collegian at the University of Colorado for two seasons from 1972-73.

A native of Ravenswood, W.Va., Bridgeman earned his B.S. in business administration and marketing from San Diego State University. Bridgeman, who was born on Dec. 27, 1953 received a J.D. from John F. Kennedy School of Law in Berkeley, Calif. and had legal experience in the Alameda County Superior Court and Fremont Municipal Court systems.

UAlbany Men's Indoor Track and Field Tabbed First, Women Third in America East Preseason Poll

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany men’s track and field team has been picked to finish first, while the women’s squad was projected to place third, according to the preseason poll conducted by the America East Conference head coaches.

The men’s team, which has won three straight and five of the past six conference championships, was unanimously selected to repeat this winter. The Great Danes received all eight possible first-place votes and accumulated 64 points. New Hampshire was picked second with 55 points and earned the final first-place vote. Binghamton (51 points) was chosen third and UMBC (39 points) narrowly edged out Boston University (38 points) for the fourth-place spot.

The Boston University women, winners of three consecutive titles, were unanimously picked to repeat as champions. Like the UAlbany men, the Terrier women received the maximum 64 points and eight first-place votes. New Hampshire was tabbed second, receiving 56 points and the remaining first-place vote. UAlbany landed in the third position with 50 points.

“This is the year in which we do not have any weak areas,” said head coach Roberto Vives, who is beginning his 24th season at the helm of the UAlbany men’s and women’s programs. “We just need to keep everybody healthy. We think we are going to have the most outstanding year that we have ever had at the University at Albany.”

Overseen by Vives himself, the sprinters and hurdlers should once again be one of the strongest groups on the team. Eleven all-conference selections from a year ago are back. Hurdlers Joe Greene, Jean Juste and Kamilah McShine as well as sprinter Pat Weider were all conference champions.

The middle distance runners could be one of the most improved groups on both squads this year. Vives and his staff have especially focused on bolstering this area as well as the distance group for the upcoming year. Five all-conference selections are back, including Joe Belokopitsky, John Moore, Tyler Fogarty, Ricardo Estremera and Laura Cummings.

The pack of distance competitors has not been as strong in recent years. However, Vives and his staff have significantly upgraded this group in quality and depth for the upcoming season. Estremera and Brian Yurkewecz are the top two returners on the men’s team, while the women should be led by Cummings.

Both jumping teams are stacked with returners and newcomers which should provide the greatest depth in any area of the squad. Five all-conference selections and an All-East honoree are back, and several first-year athletes also have a chance of earning the same honor right away. Triple jumper and tri-captain Michael McCadney and long jumper Valete Graham are returning conference champions. Senior Jenn Gurrant, an all-conference honoree in the triple jump, is the top returner on the women’s team.

The pole vaulters will be led by the school record holder on the men’s team and a high school national champion on the women’s squad. Luke Schoen, who earned All-America status in the event outdoors last season, is primed to break his own school record this winter. Newcomer Celine Cauderlier, a national champion from France, has cleared 12-07.75.

The throwers are one of the fastest-growing groups in size on both the men’s and women’s teams. With three All-America East selections back and a talented crop of newcomers, this area should continue to add more punch to the Great Danes’ point totals at the championship meets. Wilfredo de Jesus Elias was an all-conference selection in the weight throw and holds the school record. On the women’s team, Kadine Johnson and Candice Mann were all-league throwers after placing second and third, respectively, in the shot put.



America East Conference Preseason Men’s Indoor Track & Field Poll

1. UAlbany (8), 64; 2. New Hampshire (1), 55; 3. Binghamton, 51; 4. UMBC, 39; 5. Boston U., 38; 6. Stony Brook, 27; 7. Maine, 23; 8. Vermont, 19; 9. Hartford, 8. ( ) – first-place votes



America East Conference Preseason Women’s Indoor Track & Field Poll

1. Boston U. (8), 64; 2. New Hampshire (1), 56; 3. UAlbany, 50; 4. Maine, 34; 5. Binghamton, 33; 6. Stony Brook, 31; 7. UMBC, 30; 8. Vermont, 18; 9. Hartford, 8. ( ) – first-place votes

UAlbany's 2009 Baseball Schedule Released

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced the 2009 University at Albany baseball schedule on Wednesday afternoon. The Great Danes, who claimed the America East Conference championship in 2007, will compete in a tournament at Coastal Carolina to highlight the non-conference schedule, and play six four-game series with America East opponents.

UAlbany kicks off the season with a four-game series at Western Kentucky on Feb. 27-28 and March 1. The Great Danes will visit Coastal Carolina from March 6-8 to play in four games at the Caravelle Resort Tournament, where they will take on the host Chanticleers along with IPFW and Creighton. UAlbany faced Creighton in the NCAA Fayetteville Regional in 2007.

The Great Danes will play two games against St. John’s (March 13-15) and have a doubleheader against N.Y. Tech on March 14 before heading to North Carolina to play a three-game series with UNC Greensboro on March 20-22. UAlbany will have a four-game series on the road with Fairleigh Dickinson (March 27-29) and play a single game at Manhattan on April 1 before beginning the home slate.

UAlbany kicks off play at Varsity Field on April 3 with the first America East series of the season, hosting UMBC on April 3-5. The Great Danes will also welcome league opponents Binghamton and Maine to their home diamond, and will play conference foes Vermont, Stony Brook and Hartford on the road.

UAlbany will play a home-and-home series with Le Moyne, hosting the Dolphins on April 21 and visiting Syracuse on May 5. The Great Danes will also play at Marist (April 7) before hosting the Red Foxes on May 12. Manhattan (April 29) and New York Tech (May 5-8) will also visit Varsity Field in non-conference action.

UAlbany is led by junior outfielder Brendan Rowland, an All-America East first-team member last season after recording a team-best .332 batting average and leading the conference with 74 hits, tying the second-best total in UAlbany history. Senior Ryan Gugel returns to guide the Great Danes behind the plate, after earning all-conference first team honors a year ago. Sophomore right hander David Kubiak will pace the pitching rotation. Kubiak, an all-rookie team member last season, finished his freshman campaign with a 5-0 record, a team-best 3.92 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched.

-agate-

2009 UAlbany Baseball Schedule

February: 27 (Fri.) at Western Kentucky, 3 p.m.; 28 (Sat.) at Western Kentucky (DH), 1 p.m.

March: 1 (Sun.) at Western Kentucky, 1 p.m.; 4 (Weds.) at Seton Hall, 3:30 p.m.; 6 (Fri.) vs. IPFW+, 10 a.m.; vs. Coastal Carolina+, 5 p.m.; 7 (Sat.) vs. Creighton+, 11 a.m.; 8 (Sun.) vs. IPFW+, 10 a.m.; 13 (Fri.) at St. John’s, 3:30 p.m., 14 (Sat.) vs. N.Y. Tech^ (DH), 12 p.m.; 15 (Sun.) at St. John’s, 1 p.m.; 20 (Fri.) at UNC Greensboro, 7 p.m.; 21 (Sat.) at UNC Greensboro, 2 p.m.; 22 (Sun.) at UNC Greensboro, 1 p.m.; 27 (Fri.) at Fairleigh Dickinson, 3:30 p.m.; 28 (Sat.) at Fairleigh Dickinson (DH), 12 p.m.; 29 (Sun.) at Fairleigh Dickinson, 12 p.m.

April: 1 (Wed.) at Manhattan, 3 p.m.; 3 (Fri.) UMBC*, 3 p.m.; 4 (Sat.) UMBC* (DH), 12 p.m.; 5 (Sun.) UMBC*, 12 p.m.; 7 (Tues.) at Marist, TBA; 10 (Fri.) Binghamton*, 3:30 p.m.; 11 (Sat.) Binghamton* (DH), 12 p.m.; 12 (Sun.) Binghamton*, 12 p.m.; 17 (Fri.) at Vermont*, 3:30 p.m.; 18 (Sat.) at Vermont* (DH), 12 p.m.; 19 (Sun.) at Vermont*; 21 (Tues.) Le Moyne, 3 p.m.; 24 (Fri.) at Stony Brook*, 3:30 p.m.; 25 (Sat.) at Stony Brook*, 12 p.m.; 26 (Sun.) at Stony Brook*, 12 p.m.; 29 (Wed.) Manhattan, 3:30 p.m.

May: 1 (Fri.) Maine*, 3:30 p.m.; 2 (Sat.) Maine* (DH), 12 p.m.; 3 (Sun.) Maine*, 12 p.m.; 5 (Tues.) at Le Moyne, 4 p.m.; 8 (Fri.) N.Y. Tech, 3:30 p.m.; 9 (Sat.) N.Y. Tech, 12 p.m.; 10 (Sun.) N.Y. Tech, 12 p.m.; 12 (Tues.) Marist, TBA; 14 (Thurs.) at Hartford*, 3:30 p.m.; 15 (Fri.) at Hartford* (DH), 12 p.m.; 16 (Sat.) at Hartford*, 12 p.m.

* America East Conference Opponent; +Caravalle Resort Tournament (Conway, S.C.); ^ Queens, N.Y.

Syracuse & Johns Hopkins Among Opponents on 2009 UAlbany Men's Lacrosse Schedule

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Tuesday, Dec. 9 the school’s men’s lacrosse schedule for the 2009 season. The Great Danes, who have won the America East Conference championship in four of the last six seasons, will play five games against conference opponents. The non-league schedules features defending national champion Syracuse and perennial powers Johns Hopkins and Princeton.

UAlbany begins its tenth season at the NCAA Division I level on Saturday, Feb. 21 against Denver, one of four NCAA participants from last year on the schedule. The Pioneers will be the first opponent to play at the enhanced John Fallon Field, a facility that now has permanent seating for 2,000 with upgraded press box and media areas.

The Great Danes will meet Syracuse on April 17 in the Carrier Dome. The Orange tied a school record with a 16-2 mark en route to winning the 2008 national championship. UAlbany will play twice on ESPNU against former national champions Johns Hopkins (April 4) and Princeton (March 20). The Blue Jays, who reached last year’s Division I title game, have won nine NCAA crowns in their history. The Tigers have captured six national championships since 1992 under Bill Tierney’s direction.

In addition to the home opener, Massachusetts, Delaware, Hartford and defending America East winner UMBC invade John Fallon Field. The Blue Hens, who advanced to the 2007 Final Four, will come to the Capital Region on Friday, March 6. The 4:00 p.m. start will kick off a home sports weekend that includes the America East Men’s Basketball Championship at UAlbany’s SEFCU Arena.

The Great Danes will also travel to conference opponents Binghamton, Vermont and Stony Brook. The America East postseason tournament, slated for April 30 and May 2, will be held at the highest seed’s home facility.

UAlbany head coach Scott Marr, has 28 letterwinners returning from a squad that reached the America East championship final for the seventh consecutive season. The Great Danes have three all-conference players in the fold. Brian Caufield, who earned first-team all-league honors as a freshman, led the team in scoring with 48 points (27 goals, 21 assists). Corey Small and Chris Schongar were second-team all-conference selections. Small had 34 goals and 11 assists from his attack position. Schongar, an aggressive long-stick midfielder, totaled 46 ground balls. UAlbany brought 14 newcomers in a class that includes four U.S. Lacrosse High School All-Americans and one junior college All-America player.

***********

2009 University at Albany Men’s Lacrosse Schedule

February
21 (Sat.), Denver, 1:00;
25 (Wed.), at Siena, 3:00.

March
6 (Fri.), Delaware, 4:00;
10 (Tue.), Massachusetts, 4:00;
14 (Sat.), at Drexel, 3:00;
20 (Fri.), at Princeton, 5:00 (ESPNU);
28 (Sat.), at Binghamton*, 7:00.

April
1 (Wed.), Hartford, 7:00;
4 (Sat.), at Johns Hopkins, 12:00 (ESPNU);
11 (Sat.), UMBC*, 1:00;
17 (Fri.), at Syracuse, 7:00;
19 (Sun.), at Vermont*, 1:00;
25 (Sat.), at Stony Brook*, 7:00;
30 (Thu.), America East Semifinals+.

May

2 (Sat.), America East Championship+.

+played at highest seed’s home facility

NJIT Holds Off Women's Basketball, 58-47, in Non-Conference Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Jessica Gerald netted a game-high 20 points and Kehinde Oyelola contributed 12 points and five rebounds to lead the New Jersey Institute of Technology to a 58-47 non-league victory over the University at Albany in women’s basketball action on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at SEFCU Arena.

NJIT (2-5) nailed its first eight shots from the field to take a commanding 20-9 advantage in the opening eight minutes of the contest. Kehinde Oyelola racked up eight points, including two three-point field goals, during the stretch.

Led by Janea Aiken, the Great Danes rallied to score the next six points to make it a one-possession game with nine minutes left in the half. UAlbany was able to cut the Highlander lead down to two points on three occasions, but never got over the hump and trailed 28-26 at the break.

After Gerald converted two free throws to open the second half, Tiffanie Johnson made a jumper on the left block to pull UAlbany (1-8) within two points for the fourth time. The Highlanders answered with a 7-0 run to boost their lead back up to nine points five minutes into the second stanza.

A conventional three-point play by Shelby Coon, who set two career highs with nine points and seven rebounds, brought the Great Danes within a basket with 11:08 left to play.

“I thought that having Ashley Lindsay out (of the lineup) was what motivated me,” said Coon on her breakout performance. “I knew I needed to fill her shoes to the best of my ability.”

Following Coon’s free throw, NJIT answered with ten straight points and held the Great Danes without a field goal for over nine minutes. Aiken, who had a team-high 18 points, scored UAlbany’s final eight in a span of 1:30 to bring the Highlander lead down to seven with 35 seconds to go. However, it was too late and Gerald hit four free throws to seal the 11-point win.

“We need to do a better job of getting the ball in the basket,” said head coach Trina Patterson. “It was a scrappy game. Our team is still young and trying to find its identity. However, I was very impressed with the performance of our freshmen. Shelby played very well.”

The Great Danes, who will embark on a five-game road trip beginning on Dec. 19 at St. Francis, N.Y., were outrebounded by the Highlanders, 34-27. NJIT outshot UAlbany from the floor, 50 percent (19-38) to 37.7 percent (20-53), and 53.3 percent (8-15) to 10 percent (1-10) from beyond the three-point arc. The Highlanders also had a 66.7 percent (12-18) to 46.2 percent (6-13) advantage from the free-throw line.

Lehigh Rallies Past Men's Basketball, 65-64, on Last-Second Basket

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Bethlehem, Pa. -- Zahir Carrington scored the winning basketball off an offensive rebound with three seconds remaining, as Lehigh rallied in the second half for a 65-64 non-league win over UAlbany on Monday, Dec. 8 at Stabler Center.

Lehigh (6-3) overcame a 15-point deficit in the final period by shooting 53.6 percent after halftime, including 7 of 12 from three-point range. Michael Ojo, a 6’5” sophomore who did all of his scoring in the second half with 12 points, canned a three-pointer to tie the contest at 60 apiece.

UAlbany (5-4) regained the lead when Will Harris, who had a career-high 21 points, hit a driving one-hander in the lane. Marquis Hall, who had 15 of his 23 points after the break, drilled a shot from well behind the top of the arc to put the Mountain Hawks back on top.

Tim Ambrose, the only other UAlbany player in double figures with 17 points, converted on the right baseline to give his team a 64-63 advantage with 41 seconds to play. However, the Great Danes failed to help themselves in the closing moments as Mike Johnson and Harris each missed front ends of one-and-one opportunities at the free throw line. After Rob Keefer missed a jumper, Carrington followed up the second of two chances to complete the comeback.

“We shot too many three’s and played into our opponents’ hands,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team shot less than 40 percent from the field for the fourth time in its last five outings. “We had trouble with (Marquis) Hall coming off ball screens and (Michael) Ojo started hitting three’s. It stings because if we had made some free throws we would have won the game.”

In the first half, the Great Danes broke an early tie with eight straight points and pushed out to a double-figure lead on Ambrose’s three-point field goal from the right wing. Lehigh later wiped out a 19-10 deficit with nine unanswered. Hall, a second-team All-Patriot League performer, canned a 3-pointer in that stretch and drew his team even with a pair of free throws.

With the contest still tied at 24 apiece, UAlbany went on a 10-3 run to end the period. Billy Allen, a redshirt freshman, drilled a three-point shot from right of the key to put his team ahead. Anthony Raffa added another long-range jumper and converted a fastbreak opportunity during that span. Both teams shooting percentages hovered just below 40 percent for the half.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” said Harris, who made 9 of 15 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. “We just didn’t hold the lead and they got hot. I am not sure about our transition defense, but we could have played better defense overall.”

The Great Danes made just 37.7 percent from the field on 23 of 61 attempts. The Mountain Hawks had dropped their previous two contests after winning five of six to start the season.

UAlbany's David McCarty Enjoys Classic 2008 GirdIron Classic Bowl Game Against University of Jacksonville

University at Albany junior tailback David McCarty put on his game face — literally —before the Gridiron Classic on Saturday, smearing eye black in menacing diagonal streaks across his cheeks.

McCarty, who plans to enlist in the Marines after he graduates next year, said it's the same disguise that Marine Corps scout snipers wear in the field.

"If you know who the Marines are and what they're about, you kind of a get a sense of why I did it," McCarty explained. "They're the meanest fighting force that we've got."

McCarty had that same take-no-prisoners mentality on the field, rushing for a career-high 271 yards and four touchdowns as UAlbany pounded Jacksonville into submission in a 28-0 rout before 2,264 fans at chilly University Field.

McCarty ran for scores of 16, 1, 3 and 77 yards and the Northeast Conference champion Great Danes (9-3) ended their season on an eight-game winning streak.

UAlbany also gained some closure after losing at Dayton 42-21 in last year's Gridiron Classic, which pits the NEC champion against the Pioneer Football League winner.

Head coach Bob Ford capped his 36th varsity season at UAlbany with his 234th career win, the most among active coaches in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

"I said to the squad that you want to put an exclamation point on a season, and that's what we needed to do," Ford said.

McCarty was named the game MVP after rushing for the second-most yards in UAlbany history, behind only Tom DeBlois' 286 on Nov. 15, 1975, when the Great Danes were a Division III program.

McCarty, a La Salle Institute graduate, immediately gave his trophy to his offensive line, which bludgeoned the smaller Dolphins.

"They really do deserve it," he said. "They've given me these awesome numbers."

He finished the season with a program-record 1,852 rushing yards.

UAlbany junior free safety Dave Casale of Troy observed Jacksonville (9-4) seemed extremely uncomfortable in a game-time temperature of 34 degrees with 12 mile-per-hour winds.

"They were cold," Casale said. "You could see them crossing their arms, trying to keep themselves warm before plays, and you're not going to be successful when you're doing that."

The Great Danes set the tone from the outset as Justin Gannon returned the opening kickoff 44 yards to the Dolphins' 47. The Great Danes offense covered the rest in six plays, culminating in McCarty's 16-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with just 2:36 elapsed.

Then Jacksonville lost 20 yards on its first three plays as UAlbany's Mike Kelly and Chris Blais each had a sack.

The Great Danes defense posted its first shutout in two years against a Dolphins offense that was averaging 33.4 points entering the game.

"We really didn't do anything that different," senior safety Dave West said. "We came out with an attitude. It's our last game of the year, and all the seniors were jacked up and came out ready to play."

UAlbany had a 7-0 halftime lead that could have been much bigger if not for sloppy play that included McCarty's first lost fumble of the year at the Jacksonville 4 with 13:17 remaining in the half.

The Great Danes finally gained breathing room in the third quarter, after junior quarterback Vinny Esposito threw a 30-yard completion to diving wide receiver Tim Bush at the Jacksonville 12. Three plays later, McCarty scored standing on a 1-yard run for a 14-0 lead with 4:19 remaining in the quarter.
"To be honest with you, I was kind of surprised they called (the pass) because it was second down," said Bush, a senior from Saratoga Springs. "I thought it was going to be a touchdown, but either Espo underthrew it or the wind took it a little bit."

Esposito completed 15 of 25 passes for 141 yards with two interceptions.

Jacksonville freshman quarterback Josh McGregor underthrew several passes and finished 10-for-25 for 113 yards and one interception. UAlbany also limited Dolphins running back Rudell Small, a 1,300-yard rusher, to 46 in 16 carries.

Mark Singelais can be reached at 454-5509 or by e-


By MARK SINGELAIS

MVP David McCarty Scores Four Touchdowns in UAlbany's 28-0 Gridiron Classic Bowl Victory Over Jacksonville University

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – David McCarty rushed for a career-high 271 yards and four touchdowns in leading UAlbany to a 28-0 victory over Jacksonville in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. The exempted postseason game features the champions of the Northeast Conference and Pioneer Football League.

UAlbany (9-3) scored on its first possession after returned the opening kickoff 44 yards past midfield. Quarterback Vinny Esposito, who connected on 15 of 25 attempts for 141 yards, hooked up with wide receiver Tim Bush on a 17-yard completion into the red zone. McCarty, a junior tailback, then broke a couple of tackles en route to a 16-yard touchdown run.

Both offenses fizzled for the remainder of the first half as the teams combined for five turnovers. UAlbany defensive end Mike Kelly sacked quarterback Josh McGregor from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Dave West. The Great Danes returned the favor when McCarty was stripped by cornerback Oscar Johnson inside the Dolphins’ five-yard line. Jacksonville (9-4) had an opportunity to draw even with less than two minutes left in the period, but halfback J.J. Laster fumbled at the UAlbany 19 and outside linebacker Emerson Kinsey pounced on the loose ball.

The Great Danes, who lost in this same game last year, finally uncorked their attack midway through the third quarter. Esposito fired a 30-yard completion to Bush, who made a diving catch at the Dolphins’ 12. McCarty then carried three straight times, including a one-yard blast over left guard into the end zone for a 14-0 advantage.

The NEC champions scored twice in the final stanza to put the game away. UAlbany held on to the ball for six-plus minutes in a 12-play march. McCarty and Gannon did most of the work as their team pounded out 312 of its 456 yards on the ground. After Esposito kept the drive alive with a third-down pass to wideout Daniel Bocanegra, McCarty pushed his way over right guard on a 3-yard TD run. McCarty, who had 33 carries, then capped the program’s second-highest single-game rushing total on a dazzling 77-yard scamper with 7:25 remaining.

“In the second half we came to play,” said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose squad went unbeaten for the second consecutive year against conference opponents. “I had no clue that we could shut them down. They have too much speed on the perimeter and have put up pinball numbers. Our defense stepped to the plate. They have been consistent and great at shutting down the run.”

UAlbany’s defense forced four turnovers and held its sixth consecutive opponent under 300 total yards as Jacksonville managed just 228, including 84 rushing. The Great Danes, who posted their eighth consecutive win, became the first NEC team to win the Gridiron Classic, as PFL champions San Diego and Dayton has won the previous two contests, respectively.

“As a whole unit, I think these three weeks (since our last game) we practiced harder than we ever practiced before,” explained McCarty, who was voted the Gridiron Classic MVP. “We were really afraid of their speed, but I think the cold took away their quickness. The offensive line deserved the MVP trophy. They are the ones that gave me all of the offensive numbers.”

Jacksonville’s McGregor, the PFL’s top offensive freshman, completed just 10 of 25 pass attempts for 113 yards and was sacked three times. Rudell Small rushed for 46 yards on 16 carries on a grass field that froze overnight and stayed hard with temperatures hovering around 34 degrees during the game. The Dolphins reached the postseason by rallying to beat Dayton in winning their first-ever league championship two weeks ago.

Men's Basketball Comes Up Short, 71-64, In Schools' Annual Basketball Rivalry Game

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Edwin Ubiles scored 23 points off the bench and Ronald Moore added 17 as Siena held off UAlbany, 71-64, in the school’s annual rivalry game on Saturday evening before 13,251 fans at Times Union Center. The Saints have won four straight in the series, including a pair of overtime decisions.

Siena (4-3) led 39-29 at halftime by shooting better than 57 percent from the field. The Saints, who won last year’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and reached the NCAAs, pushed out to a 53-39 lead midway through the final period on a slam dunk in transition by Ubiles, who made 9-of-14 field goals.

UAlbany (5-3) would rally over the next six minutes. Billy Allen, a redshirt freshman, canned a three-point field goal from the left corner to whittle the margin under double figures. Anthony Raffa, a freshman guard who had 13 points, later converted a fastbreak layup to close the gap to six.

Virginia transfer Will Harris scored after collecting an offensive rebound to get his team with 60-55 with 4:38 remaining. The Great Danes had the ball again with a chance to get closer, but Tim Ambrose’s turnover led to Moore’s fastbreak conversion. Ubiles, a 6’7” junior, would come up with the knock-out punch when he delivered a 3-pointer from the right wing with 2:06 to play.

“We had opportunities to be successful, but we didn’t capitalize on them,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team had its five-game winning streak halted. “We were in awe of the atmosphere and Siena’s quickness in the first half and played too fast.”

The Saints, who have rebounded with two wins after suffering three tough defeats in the competitive Old Spice Classic, ran off nine unanswered to go ahead in the opening stanza. Ubiles canned back-to-back jumpers to end that outburst. Moore, a junior guard who added seven assists, advanced the lead to double digits with a basket, and his team went up by as much as 15 points in the period.

“We couldn’t make any shots from the field, from the line, from anywhere,” offered senior forward Brian Connelly, one of four Great Danes in twin figures with 12 points. “Our confidence came back and we had them on the run. It may have been a combination of nervous energy and inexperience that got us behind.”

Ambrose, a 6-foot sophomore, had 15 points and tied a career-high with nine rebounds. Harris finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes, who shot just 37.7 percent on 26-of-69 attempts. Siena’s Alex Franklin added nine points and eight rebounds, as his team made 50 percent from the floor.

UAlbany and Jacksonville Square Off in 2008 Gridiron Classic Bowl at University Field Today

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- UAlbany, the Northeast Conference champion, battles Jacksonville, the Pioneer Football League champion, in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

The game will be televised by YES Network (DirectTV-Channel 631) to a regional and national audience. Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream audio and video nationwide. Fans can also listen to the game on Fox Sports 980-WOFX AM.

Jacksonville (9-3, PFL 7-1) rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Dayton, 19-14, on Nov. 22 to win its first league championship. Head coach Kerwin Bell, a former NFL and CFL quarterback, is in his second season. QB Josh McGregor, the PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year, has passed for 2,331 yards and 24 touchdowns. RB Rudell Small, a first-team all-league selection, is averaging 109.8 yards on the ground. SS Tremaine Mack has scored three defensive touchdowns this season. He also earned first-team all-conference honors.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) wrapped up its second consecutive conference title on Nov. 15 by knocking off Wagner in the regular-season finale. The Great Danes, who are making their second straight Gridiron appearance, have used a strong rushing attack and solid defensive play to reach the postseason. TB David McCarty is the nation’s third-leading rusher with 1,581 yards. QB Vinny Esposito has thrown for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more. Tom Pandolf, a two-time first-team all-conference defensive tackle, has 63 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Bob Ford is first among active NCAA FCS coaches with 233 career victories.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

YES Network (DirectTV-Ch. 631, national; Time Warner Cable-Ch. 67, local) will televise the Gridiron Classic to a regional and national audience. Bob Lorenz will handle the play-by-play and former NFL and Princeton offensive lineman Ross Tucker is the analyst.

INTERNET COVERAGE

Pack Network (www.packnetwork.com) will stream both video and audio to a nationwide audience. New York City radio personality Paul Dottino is the play-by-play announcer, while New York Post sportswriter Paul Schwartz will serve as analyst.

RADIO COVERAGE

Fox Sports 980 (WOFX-AM) will again air the entire University at Albany football schedule. Rodger Wyland, the sports director at WNYT-TV (NewsChannel 13), serves as the WOFX Radio play-by-play announcer with Jon Phelps working as the color analyst.

UAlbany & Siena Renew NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rivalry On Saturday - UAlbany Dominating 2008 Head To Head Action

The men’s basketball rivalry between Siena College and the University at Albany will renew at Times Union Center this Saturday, December 6, 2008. The game will be the first in a new three-year agreement between the institutions.

The Albany Cup has grown into one of the most anticipated area sporting events since it tipped off in downtown Albany in 2001 after a 25-year hiatus coinciding with Siena's move to Division I in 1976-77.

A total of 75,830 fans have turned out for the seven meetings since the series was renewed, an average of 10,833 per game. A series-record 13,262 fans attended the game this past season.

“The Times Union Center is honored to once again host the hottest college basketball rivalry game in the region,” stated Bob Belber, General Manager of Times Union Center. “I am very happy that terms could be worked out between Siena and UAlbany to allow their fans the ability to catch this exciting matchup,”

The schools’ women’s basketball programs will not play during the 2008-2009 season due to scheduling conflicts. The women’s basketball series will resume as part of a doubleheader with the men’s game during the 2009-2010 season.

“The three-year extension of this college basketball series is good for UAlbany, Siena and area basketball fans,” UAlbany vice president and director of athletics Lee McElroy said. “We look forward to participating in an event that benefits the Capital Region.”

“We began playing this series for the community, and pledged to continue playing it as long as the support remained,” Siena College director of athletics John D’Argenio said. “The fans, especially this past season, have been tremendous, so continuing the series made sense.”

“This is a great game for the City of Albany and the surrounding area,” UAlbany head men’s basketball coach Will Brown said. “It only makes sense that the two Division I basketball programs in this area meet on an annual basis. I am sure that our students, fans and alumni will be excited that the series is continuing.”

“The community support for this game has been overwhelming,” Siena head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery said. “It has evolved into a game that the fans from both schools look forward to each season, and we’re happy to see it continue.”

2008 Head to Head, 1 on 1 Competition TOTAL: UAlbany 9 Siena 1

UAlbany 18 Siena 8 - Women's Lacrosse: March 3, 2008
UAlbany 3 Siena 2 - Women's Softball: March 27, 2008
UAlbany 2 Siena 1 - Women's Softball: March 27, 2008
UAlbany 13 Siena 6 - Men's Lacrosse: April 2, 2008
UAlbany 6 Siena 1 - Women's Tennis: April 16, 2008
UAlbany 7 Siena 3 - Women's Softball: April 29, 2008
Siena 4 UAlbany 0 – Women’s Soccer: Sept 7, 2008
UAlbany 3 Siena 0 – Men’s Soccer: Sept 21, 2008
UAlbany 5 Siena 0 – Field Hockey: October 7, 2008
UAlbany 3 Siena 0 – Volleyball: October 15, 2008

UAlbany Siena – Men’s Basketball: December 6, 2008

Women's Volleyball Falls to Second-Ranked Stanford in NCAA Tournament

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stanford, Calif. – Junior middle blocker Janet Okogbaa was one of three players to finish with 12 kills, while also recording a match-high five total blocks to lead second-ranked Stanford to a 3-0 win over UAlbany in the first round of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament at Maples Pavilion on Friday evening. The Cardinal won in straight sets with scores of 25-9, 25-11 and 25-21.

Stanford made quick work of the first set, rattling off five straight points behind the service game of senior middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo to get ahead, 12-4. After UAlbany’s Amanda Cowdrey stopped the rally with a kill down the middle, the Cardinal embarked on a four-point run to build a 16-5 margin. Stanford continued posting runs throughout the set, never allowing UAlbany to gain more than one point at a time. A Great Dane service error ended the first set in Stanford’s favor.

UAlbany opened up the second set, taking a 3-1 advantage on back-to-back blocks. Sophomore Teresa Coppiellie recorded a solo block on a Stanford attack, while Kalyn Mostert and Hillary White combined to shut down a second Cardinal attack. Stanford committed a handling error to give the Great Danes the two-point advantage early. However, the Cardinal recorded five straight points, with Erin Waller and Okogbaa combining to stop a UAlbany attack with a block to put Stanford ahead, 6-3.

The Cardinal would build up a 17-8 advantage before recording a service error. Senior middle blocker Kamisha Kellam recorded a kill to pull within 17-10, but Stanford embarked on another five-point run to put UAlbany down 22-10 before Coppiellie ended the run with a kill. Okogbaa and Waller recorded back-to-back kills to end the set for Stanford.

After the intermission, UAlbany returned to the court and didn’t allow Stanford to get ahead more than three points through the beginning of the set. Setter Brooke Stanley and Coppiellie recorded consecutive kills to tie the set at 5-5. The Cardinal gained a three-point advantage at 10-7 on an Alix Klineman kill before Kellam pulled the Great Danes within 12-9 with a kill of her own. Stanford then recorded five straight kills, including three from Akinradewo. A Cardinal attack error put the ball back in UAlbany’s hands, and the teams played error free until a match point attempt at 24-21, with every point being decided by a kill or block by both teams.

Kellam recorded the final three kills for the Great Danes, pulling UAlbany within 20-24 on match point. A Stanford attack error gave UAlbany another chance to come back for the set win, but Akinradewo recorded one of her 12 kills to seal the win for Stanford and advance the Cardinal to the second round of tournament play.

Kellam finished with seven kills and two blocks for the Great Danes, while Coppiellie added six kills. Stanley tallied 21 assists and Cowdrey finished with nine digs and four kills. Klineman was the third player for the Cardinal to post 12 kills, while also notching a team-high 13 digs for a double-double. Okogbaa hit .647 in the match, while sophomore setter Cassidy Lichtman finished with 38 assists.

UAlbany wraps up its season with a 23-9 overall record. Stanford (27-3) advances to play Long Beach State, which defeated Pepperdine, 3-1, earlier in the day.

UAlbany / Stanford Volleyball To Be Webcasted Tonight

http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=ncaa

Scroll down to locate game. 10pm Eastern.

UAlbany Volleyball Will Play #2 Stanford in First Round of NCAA Championship Tournament

The University at Albany volleyball team will head out west to play second-ranked Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Dec. 5, as announced by the NCAA during the Division I Selection Show on Sunday evening.

UAlbany (23-8) won its third-straight America East Conference championship title this season. The Great Danes, who have won four of the last five conference crowns, are led by senior middle blocker Kamisha Kellam and sophomore middle blocker Amanda Cowdrey. Kellam, who averages 2.80 kills per set, was named the America East player of the year after recording 0.95 blocks per set and leading the conference with a .388 hitting percentage. All-Conference first team member Cowdrey led the team with 3.30 kills per set and was second on the team with 2.95 digs. Sophomore Brooke Stanley, who earned the conference’s setter of the year honor, led the conference with 10.56 assists per set and had a team-high 32 service aces.

“It is really exciting,” said Kellam, a three-time all-conference honoree. “It’s going to be a tough match, but when you go into the National Tournament you have to be ready to play the best teams in the country, and we are.”

NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship
Fort Collins, Colo. Regional

December 5-6, at Stanford, Calif.
Pepperdine (20-7) vs. Long Beach State (25-5)
UAlbany (23-8) vs. No. 2 Stanford (26-3)

The YES Network will televise live the third annual Gridiron Football Classic: UAlbany vs Jacksonville

New York, NY -- The YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) will televise live the third annual Gridiron Classic college football game on Saturday, December 6, pitting University at Albany (N.Y.), champion of the Northeast Conference, against Jacksonville University (Fla.), the Pioneer Football League champion. The game, to be telecast at 1:30 pm ET, will take place at University Field on the UAlbany campus. Both schools participate in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly Division I-AA.

YES is available throughout New York and Connecticut and in parts of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania on cable, on Verizon’s FiOS and AT&T’s U-Verse television services, and via DirecTV (channel 631 for both standard definition and high-definition). YES is available nationally on DirecTV (channel 631) and on AT&T’s U-verse (channel 702).

UAlbany won its second straight NEC title this year by going undefeated in league play for the second consecutive season (7-0, 8-3 overall). Its seven-game win streak is tied for third longest among FCS teams. The Great Danes’ offense is led by senior tailback David McCarty, UAlbany’s single-season and career record holder in rushing yards.

Jacksonville won its first Pioneer Football League title this fall with a 7-1 conference record despite being picked to finish fifth prior to the season. The Dolphins, coached by former University of Florida standout quarterback Kerwin Bell, are 9-3 overall and, like Albany, are riding a seven-game win streak. This is only Jacksonville’s 11th season of fielding a football team.

Pioneer Football League representatives have won the first two Gridiron Classics, with Dayton defeating UAlbany 42-21 in 2007 and San Diego besting Monmouth 27-7 in 2006.

The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country the past five years, features exclusive telecasts of the 26-time World Champion New York Yankees and the New Jersey Nets In addition to the Yankees and Nets, YES televises college games, as well as Emmy Award-winning biography, interview and magazine programs. Further YES Network information can be found at www.yesnetwork.com.

Women's Basketball Drops Decision to Army in Non-Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

West Point, N.Y. – Erin Anthony scored a game-high 17 points while Megan Evans finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Army to a 69-54 win over UAlbany in non-conference women’s basketball action on Wednesday evening.

The teams played evenly through the opening minutes of the first half, with a layup by UAlbany’s Amira Ford tying the score at 14-14 with 11:15 on the clock. Army would then embark on a 14-0 run over the next five minutes, kicked off by two free throws and a three pointer by Alex Maguire.

Junior guard Charity Iromuanya stopped the run for the Great Danes, hitting a jump shot at 6:08 to set the score at 30-16. Iromuanya would cut the lead to 34-21 at 4:18, but the Black Knights would go on a 5-1 run to get up by 18, 40-22, with 2:31 to play in the stanza. Janea Aiken took an assist from Britney McGee to the hoop and McGee would drop in one free throw with just under a minute left to set the score at 40-25 heading into the locker room.

Army (3-4) would score the first basket of the second half, but UAlbany scored 14 unanswered points to pull within three, 42-39, with 15:16 on the clock, on a three pointer by Aiken. Tiffanie Johnson, who posted her first career double-double for UAlbany with 10 points and 10 rebounds, scored three points and recorded one steal and one assist in that run. Army regained composure and hit four straight attempts from the floor to pull ahead, 51-39, with just over 12 minutes left to play.

The Great Danes would pull within single digits with 6:02 remaining on an Iromuanya shot from beyond the three point arc, cutting the lead to 59-51. The Black Knights dropped six straight points before McGee hit her third trey of the evening to get within 67-54 with just under three minutes to play. Evans would score the final points of the game from the free throw line to set the final margin.

"We knew we had to get stops and come right back,” said Iromuanya. “I think (during the 14-0 run) we were finally getting stops and started playing with a lot of energy."

UAlbany (1-7) received 14 points from both McGee and Iromuanya, despite being held to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor as a team. McGee added five assists while Iromuanya recorded three helpers and five rebounds. The Black Knights had four players in double-figures scoring, led by Anthony and Evans, while Nalini Hawkins added 14 points and McGuire netted 11. Army outrebounded the Great Danes by a 43-25 margin and shot 56.6 percent (30-52) from the floor as a team.

"I thought that once again, we are not playing 40 minutes of basketball,” said head coach Trina Patterson, whose team will return home to play New Jersey Tech on Tuesday, Dec. 9. “Early in the second half, we came out with lots of intensity. This is not a 70-point team that we just played. This was a 56-point team, but we let them loose. It was not so much what they did to us. It was what we did to ourselves."

UAlbany Men's Basketball Records Fifth Straight Victory in 57-47 Non-League Win Against Bryant University

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Freshman Anthony Raffa scored 17 and Brian Connelly added a season-high 13 points as UAlbany posted its fifth consecutive win in a 57-47 victory over Bryant in a non-league game on Monday, Dec. 1 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes, who improved to 5-2 overall, are off to their best start since the 1997-98 campaign.

UAlbany led 32-26 early in the second half, but then exploded with nine unanswered. Tim Ambrose, a 6-foot sophomore who did all of his scoring after the break with 13 points, drilled a three-point field goal from right of the key to push the lead to double digits. Jerel Hastings canned a 19-foot jumper in transition, before Raffa connected on a conventional three-point play. Following a stolen inbounds pass at mid-court, Ambrose fed the first-year guard who was fouled while making a layup for a 41-28 lead.

The Great Danes, who have won five in row for the first time since the late stages of the 2006-07 season, pushed their advantage to as much as 47-28 midway through the period. Ambrose converted a fastbreak and Louis Barraza drilled a 3-pointer from the top arc off an inbounds play during that span. Bryant (1-4) never got closer than the final score after that point.

“We shot the ball terrible against a team that played zone for 35-40 minutes,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team made just 32.1 percent on 18-of-56 attempts. “You need to be aggressive and attack against the zone and we settled for jump shots. However, our defense was solid and we are getting guys experience and minutes.”

The first half produced six ties and two lead changes as neither team was effective offensively. The Great Danes broke a 15-15 deadlock as Brian Connelly scored off an offensive rebound and made a pair of free throws. Connelly, a 6-foot-8 senior, had 12 of his final scoring total in the period. Bryant’s Barry Latham, who led his team with 16 points, closed the gap to 22-20 with a pair of free throws. But Barraza and Raffa each sank a three-point field goal over the next two minutes to give their team a six-point halftime cushion.

“We didn’t bring any energy at the tip and it was like a hockey game out there (in the first half),” offered Connelly, whose team was meeting Bryant for the second time this season after winning the first contest, 76-67, on Nov. 19. “But when you are not scoring you have to play defense.”

The Bulldogs, who are in their first season as a Division I program and were coming off a 30-point loss to second-ranked Connecticut, shot 32.7 percent from the floor. Chris Birrell, one of four starters returning from last year’s NCAA Division II Tournament team, added nine points and seven rebounds.

“We started slow and came out flat,” explained Raffa, who added six rebounds and five assists. “But it is nice to put together five wins and get some confidence going with a young team."

UAlbany Womens Basketball Upends Detroit, 62-49, In Non-Conference Matchup

Albany, N.Y. – Janea Aiken had 19 points and Tiffanie Johnson added 13 in leading the University at Albany women’s basketball team to its first win of the season in a 62-49 victory over Detroit on Monday evening at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (1-6) snapped a 35-35 deadlock in the second half with a 16-4 run. Aiken made one of her career-best five three-pointers to break the tie. Johnson canned a pair of long-range jumpers in that stretch, including a three-point field goal from the right wing for a 51-39 advantage.

Still leading 54-46 with less than four minutes remaining, the Great Danes put the game away by running off six straight markers. Charity Iromuanya, who had eight points, a career-high 11 rebounds and six assists, made a pair of free throws before Aiken sank a 16-footer that beat the shot clock.

Detroit (2-4), which stunned No. 23 nationally-ranked Georgia in its home opener earlier this year, led 24-22 at halftime in a sloppy opening period that featured four ties and three lead changes. The Titans, who shot 52 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers in the half, held a 15-12 lead after Sandi Brown made a pair of free throws.

The Great Danes, who managed just 34-percent shooting in the stanza, regrouped to take a 20-17 advantage. Johnson hit a turnaround in the lane and Britney McGee canned a 3-pointer from the left wing. Brown put her team back in front three minutes later with a jumper in the lane, and the Titans carried a 24-22 lead at halftime.

“We are now finding our identity as a team,” said McGee. “Hopefully December will be our month.”

In addition to Iromuanya, freshman Tabitha Makopondo finished with six points, five rebounds and two steals which were all career highs. Detroit was led by Brown’s 14 points and three steals as well as Lauren Allen’s 12 points and six rebounds.

“Sometimes when (you are on a losing streak), your confidence goes down,” said head coach Trina Patterson. “However, we came out really loose in the second half and played with a lot more confidence to get the monkey off our back.”

UAlbany will play its third game in five days when it travels to West Point for a 7 p.m. game at Army

UAlbany Great Danes Place 13 on All-Conference Football Team; Bob Ford Named Coach of the Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Somerset, N.J. -- University at Albany’s Raphael Nguti and Tom Pandolf lead a group of twelve players who have been named to the 2008 All-Northeast Conference Football Team, as announced on Monday, Dec. 1 by the conference office. The Great Danes, who matched the 2002 squad’s total with eight first-team selections, placed 13 players on the all-conference squad. Bob Ford was voted NEC Coach of the Year after leading the program to its second consecutive conference championship and back-to-back undefeated league records.

Nguti, a senior offensive tackle, and Pandolf, a senior defensive tackle, are first-team all-conference members for the second year in row. Nguti, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound left tackle, blocked for an offense that is ranked 22nd among the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) leaders in rushing at 190.5 yards per game, including a 221.6 average against conference teams. Pandolf leads a defense that has kept five straight teams under 300 total yards and is 23rd nationally in points allowed (19.8 ppg). He has 63 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three pass deflections.

David McCarty, the nation’s third-leading rusher and 2008 team MVP, punter Chris Lynch and safety Dave West each make their second appearance on the all-conference squad. McCarty, who averages 143.7 yards per game, moved up to the first team this season. He established the program’s single-season rushing (1,581) and career rushing (3,082) standards on Nov. 15. McCarty, who has scored a touchdown in 19 straight contests, also eclipsed records for single-season (10) and career (18) 100-yards rushing games. Lynch, who was also a first-team selection two years ago as a sophomore, is averaging 40.6 yards per punt. He has a pair of 70-yard kicks this season. West also worked up to the All-NEC first team this year. He was fourth on the team in tackles (59) and added two forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and one interception.

Free safety Dave Casale, inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio and wide receiver Tim Bush were also voted to this year’s first team. Casale established the program’s FCS single-season record with six interceptions. He also had 73 tackles and six PBUs. Brancaccio led the team in tackles with 83 and anchored a run defense that limited five opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground. Bush hauled in 58 passes for 697 yards and five touchdowns. He broke the single-season receptions mark held by Dan Gmelin since 1997.

Kevin Richards, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound center, is among five players who received second-team All-NEC recognition. Richards, who is on the squad for the second consecutive year, was named along with offensive tackle Jon Leible (6-5, 285) and offensive guard Nik Schultz (6-2, 285). UAlbany’s offensive line, which blocked for a unit that averaged 354.7 yards per game, had four linemen on the all-league team for the third straight season. Defensive end Eddie Delaney, a redshirt freshman who plays without a left hand and takes daily insulin shots to control diabetes, also made the second team. Delaney (6-6, 235) has 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks and is tied for first on the team in PBUs (6). Justin Gannon was chosen as a return specialist. He averaged 81.2 all-purpose yards as a tailback, punt returner and kick returner.

Ford, at age 71, was named the NEC’s top coach for the third time in his career after having previously won the award in 2002 and 2007. Under his direction, the Great Danes captured their fourth conference title. UAlbany became the second team in league history to go undefeated against conference opposition in back-to-back seasons. Ford, who is first among active Division I FCS coaches with 233 career victories, led his team to its second straight Gridiron Classic berth.

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-0) hosts Pioneer Football League champion Jacksonville (9-3, PFL 7-1) in the third annual Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Dec. 6 at University Field. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. YES Network will televise the postseason game to a regional and national audience.