SEFCU and University of Albany Unveil Outdoor Wall Sign & Electronic Message Center For SEFCU Arena - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – SEFCU, the largest credit union in the Capital Region, and the University at Albany unveiled on Wednesday, May 13 an outdoor wall sign with an electronic message center. The sign, located on the west side of SEFCU Arena, is visible from University Drive on campus. On hand for the sign’s display were UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip, SEFCU President Michael J. Castellana and UAlbany Director of Athletics Lee McElroy.

SEFCU Arena is the home for UAlbany’s men’s and women’s basketball programs and has seating for capacity crowds of 4,538. The facility hosted the 2009 America East Conference Men’s Basketball Championship and becomes the home of the New York Buzz, the current Advanta World Team Tennis (WTT) champion, this summer.

“It is a terrific opportunity for the university and its partnership with SEFCU to have this fabulous sign that will advertise all of the activities, whether it’s the home of the Buzz, the New York Giants or most importantly our world class Division I athletics,” Interim President Philip said.

The SEFCU Arena sign, designed by Daktronics, has dimensions of 12-feet, 4 1/2-inches by 18-feet, 6 inches. The electronic message center features a three-line display.

“The University at Albany is one of the best kept secrets in the Capital Region,” Castellana offered. “We have had a number of events here for the community and we will continue to do that. Our membership has been very supportive of this relationship; I do believe we are just getting started.”

In November 2006, SEFCU and UAlbany entered into a 10-year agreement that renamed the school’s basketball facility and provided for promotional opportunities. That relationship continues to be a successful public-private partnership.

Added McElroy, “Today’s unveiling allows SEFCU and UAlbany to enhance its partnership, increases interest between both institutions and organzations, and makes the community better.”

Defending America East Champion University of Albany Field Hockey Announces 2009 Schedule - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Tuesday, May 12 the school's field hockey schedule for the 2009 season. The Great Danes, who are coming off their first-ever America East Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, face a 17-game schedule. The non-league schedule features Syracuse and Connecticut, two programs that made the NCAA Tournament field last season. In addition, UAlbany battles five America East Conference opponents.

The Great Danes begin the season at home, with five of the first six games being played at Alumni Turf Field. UAlbany will host Bucknell (Aug. 29) and Radford (Aug. 30) to kick off the season, before visiting Hofstra on Sept. 5. The Great Danes will then welcome 2008 NCAA Tournament teams Massachusetts and James Madison in back-to-back games on Sept. 11 and 13, respectively. Massachusetts spent the 2008 season nationally ranked before taking the Atlantic 10 Conference championship, while James Madison claimed the Colonial Athletic Association title. Northeast Conference opponent Saint Francis, Pa. will visit the Capital Region on Sept. 18. The Great Danes hit the road to visit Temple (Sept. 20) and Colgate (Sept. 23) before closing out the month with a home tilt against Providence (Sept. 27).

UAlbany will start America East play on Oct. 3, hosting Fairfield. The Great Danes will then be on the road against Syracuse, a team that earned a No. 1 national ranking last season, on Oct. 4. Conference opponents Maine and Vermont slide into the schedule in mid-October, with the Great Danes traveling to Orono to play the Black Bears on Oct. 10 before hosting the Catamounts on Oct. 17. Siena makes the annual trip across the Capital District on Oct. 18. UAlbany will also visit league foe Boston University on Oct. 24 and NCAA Tournament participant Connecticut on Oct. 28. The Great Danes close out the regular season with a home contest against New Hampshire on Oct. 31.

The America East Conference Championship will be held at the highest seed on Nov. 6-7, while the NCAA Tournament’s first round begins Nov. 13.

Phil Sykes, who was named the 2008 America East coach of the year after leading UAlbany to its first-ever conference title, returns for his sixth season on the sidelines. Senior Nicole Savage, who was recently named a team captain for the 2009 season, leads a group of veterans for the Great Danes. Savage started all 22 games last season, and scored nine goals, while also tallying two assists. Vice captain Jess Lindsey, who already stands first on UAlbany’s career assists chart, recorded a team-high 14 helpers last season. Fellow vice captain Ashlyn Bach helps anchor a defense that allowed just 2.04 goals per game.

2009 University at Albany Field Hockey Schedule

August -- 29 (Sat.) Bucknell, 1 p.m.; 30 (Sun.) Radford, 2 p.m.

September -- 5 (Sat.) at Hofstra, 1 p.m.; 11 (Fri.) Massachusetts, 2:30 p.m.; 13 (Sun.) James Madison, 2:30 p.m.; 18 (Fri.) St. Francis, Pa., 6 p.m.; 20 (Sun.) at Temple, 1 p.m.; 23 (Wed.) at Colgate, 6 p.m.; 27 (Sun.) Providence, 1 p.m.

October -- 3 (Sat.) Fairfield*, 1 p.m.; 4 (Sun.) at Syracuse, 2:30 p.m.; 10 (Sat.) at Maine*, 1 p.m.; 17 (Sat.) Vermont*, 1 p.m.; 18 (Sun) Siena, 2 p.m.; 24 (Sat.) at Boston U.*, 1 p.m.; 28 (Wed.) at Connecticut, 6 p.m.; 31 (Sat.) New Hampshire*, 1 p.m.

November -- 6-7 (Fri.-Sat.) America East Conference Championship.

*America East Conference Opponent

All Times Eastern

University of Albany's Jessica Signorelli Earns America East All-Academic Golf Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Junior Jessica Signorelli was named to the America East Conference Golf All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

Signorelli, a communication major, posted a 3.78 cumulative grade point average to earn the first all-academic accolades of her career. Signorelli finished tied for third at the America East Conference Championship, helping to lead the Great Danes to their second straight league title. She was also named to the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

University of Albany's John Moore Breaks 1,500-Meter School Record at NYC Qualifying Challenge - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Randall’s Island, N.Y. – University at Albany’s John Moore broke the school record in the 1,500-meter run and qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the New York City Qualifying Challenge at Icahn Stadium on Saturday, May 9. In addition, Kyle Nadler met the IC4A standard in the long jump.

Moore clocked in a time of 3:47.73, eclipsing the old program standard of 3:47.92 recorded by Gered Burns in 2005. Nadler’s third-place leap in the long jump was 23-feet, 10.25-inches. He became the fifth Great Dane to qualify for the IC4A meet in the event.

The UAlbany outdoor track and field teams will travel to Princeton University to compete at the IC4A and ECAC championship meets from May 15-17.

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UAlbany Men’s Results

110-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 12. Garrett Askew 15.67, 13. Mohamed Kanu 15.75. 110-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 9. Garrett Askew 14.92, 10. Mohamed Kanu 15.38. 800-Meter Run: 25. Aaron Lozier 1:58.99, 34. Joe Belokopitsky 2:00.68, 51. Tyler Fogarty 2:10.20. 1,500-Meter Run: 2. John Moore 3:47.73 (NCAA Regional, School Record), 7. Aaron Lozier 3:53.69, 16. Paul Lagno 4:02.61. 5,000-Meter Run: Brian Yurkewecz 15:37.44. Long Jump: 3. Kyle Nadler 23-10.25 (IC4A). Discus Throw: 5. Stephen Hassard 134-6.

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 9. Christen Griffin 15.04. 100-Meter High Hurdles (Finals): 7. Christen Griffin 14.71. Triple Jump: 5. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-5. Pole Vault: 2. Celine Cauderlier 10-8. Discus Throw: 3. Catie Coxon 126-3. 4. Ashley Lewis 125-2. Javelin Throw: 8. Ashley Lewis 115-9, 14. Rebecca Power 103-7.

Baseball Drops Non-Conference Tilt to NYIT on Senior Day

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore third baseman Effery Valdez went 4-for-5 with five runs scored and three RBI to lead New York Tech to a 14-7 win over UAlbany in the finale of a four-game non-conference baseball series on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Field. The Great Danes honored their 11 graduating seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

NYIT jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the third and four in the fourth. Valdez recorded his first RBI single of the game in the third, and later scored on a UAlbany fielding error. Sebastian Grazziani also scored a run for the Bears in the frame. In the fourth, Ryan Campbell and Brian Smith knocked out back-to-back singles before Denton Neill hit a double into right center that scored the baserunners. Valdez drove a homer over the right field wall to score Neill and give NYIT a 7-0 lead.

UAlbany broke the shutout with one run in the fourth. Left fielder Gary Pitcheralle scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rowland. NYIT added three runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to gain a commanding lead. After Neill sent Smith home with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, Valdez drove a double into left center. The Bears loaded the bases and Valdez added a second run as he came home on a hit by pitch. Christian Dienna added the third run in the frame, getting driven in by catcher George Carroll.

In the seventh, Smith hit a double down the left field line to score Campbell, who led off the inning with a base hit. Valdez was hit by a pitch to reach base and was later driven across home on an Eric Cos single. Dienna also hit a double in the inning to score Smith.

After giving up one run in the top of the ninth, the Great Danes attempted to mount a comeback in the final inning. Ryan Gugel and Dave West hit consecutive singles and UAlbany loaded the bases as Chris Bouchard drew a walk off reliever Steve Faulkner. Gugel crossed home on a ground out by Mike Tirri, and the Great Danes kept the bases juiced as designated hitter Ralph Keppler was walked. With two outs, Joe Ilacqua knocked out a base hit to score West, before Pitcheralle hit a double into left center to send all three baserunners home. Pitcheralle was responsible for the final UAlbany run as well, scoring on an RBI double by Sean Donovan.

Andrew Guarassi earned the win for NYIT (18-25-21), going 8.1 innings while striking out two. UAlbany used a staff of six seniors for the final home game of the season. Starter Cory Warrings took the loss on the mound, going four innings and striking out two. Each of the remaining pitchers tossed one inning each, with all recording at least one strikeout.

UAlbany (22-27-1) will conclude the regular season over the weekend, visiting Harford for a four-game America East Conference series, starting on Friday.

University of Albany Baseball Takes First Half of Non-Conference Doubleheader with NYIT - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Senior catcher Ryan Gugel recorded a three-run homer as well as a double to lead UAlbany to a 7-3 win over New York Tech in the first game of a non-conference baseball doubleheader at Varsity Field on Saturday afternoon. The second game ended in a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning after being called for rain.

NYIT took an early lead with one run in the second, as Christian Dienna, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a fielder’s choice by George Carroll. UAlbany responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Centerfielder Dave West knocked a lead-off single and scored on an RBI double down the right field line by second baseman Kyle Crean. Crean later crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Jim Banks.

The Great Danes increased their lead with Gugel’s three-run smash out to right centerfield that scored Brendan Rowland and Gary Pitcheralle. NYIT cut the lead to two runs, scoring a pair in the top of the fourth. Eric Cos singled with a bunt and advance to third on a double by Sebastian Grazziani. Cos scored on a base hit by Ryan Campbell, and was followed across the plate by Campbell, who made it home on a single by Brian Smith.

In the fifth, UAlbany took advantage of a hit by pitch and a walk which got Pitcheralle and Rowland on base. The baserunners advanced on a passed ball by Bears pitcher Eric Johnson and scored on Gugel’s RBI double to set the final score. UAlbany reliever Ryan White, who earned the win in his three inning performance, got three quick outs in the sixth, while closer Sean Gregory shut down the NYIT hitters in the seventh to seal the win for the Great Danes. Starter Matt Doran took the loss for the Bears, going 3.1 innings with one strikeout.

UAlbany took a 3-0 lead in the second inning of game two, as Gugel and Dave West knocked out back-to-back singles, with Gugel getting called out trying to make it home on the play. Third baseman Pete Eichner and catcher Ralph Keppler then hit consecutive doubles to score two runs, while Jamie Liebowitz followed with a single up the middle to send Keppler home.

NYIT scored two runs in the third and took a 4-3 lead with two additional runs in the fourth. Effery Valdez hit a base hit to score Campbell and Smith made it home on a double play in the third, while Carroll and Campbell both scored in the fourth on RBI singles by Grazziani and Smith.

The Great Danes tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth on an RBI single by Rowland that scored Pitcheralle, who hit a base hit to start off the frame. After three scoreless innings, the game remained tied and was forced into a 30-minute delay for lightening with no outs and one man on in the bottom of the eighth. The thunderstorms continued past the delay and the game was called as a tie.

Starter Zach Kraham went three innings for the Great Danes, fanning three opposing batters while allowing just two hits. Eric Cortland fanned two in a two-inning relief appearance for UAlbany. Preston Wasmund recorded two strikeouts in three innings of work for NYIT. Steve Falkner and Mike Roth both recorded single strikeouts in relief.

UAlbany (22-26-1) and NYIT (17-25-1) will conclude the four-game series with a nine-inning game at noon on Sunday. The Great Danes will honor their 11 graduating seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

University of Albany Softball Beats Stony Brook In Semi-Final, Loses To BU In America East Championship Final - UAlbany Sports 2009

Senior pitcher Cassidi Hardy tossed a five-hitter in leading Boston University to a 7-1 victory over UAlbany in the championship final of the America East Conference Softball Tournament on Saturday, May 9 at Stony Brook’s University Field. The Terriers, who earned an automatic NCAA berth, won their first conference crown since 2003 and seventh overall.

Hardy, the championship’s most outstanding player, was in complete in control in winning her third tournament game in as many days. She struck out one and walked none in improving to 25-5 in the circle and recording her 26th complete game this spring. Boston U. (41-16) became the third consecutive team to sweep all three tourney games en route to the title. Stony Brook and UAlbany also accomplished that feat in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The Terriers built a 5-0 lead after three innings. Brooke Hudson and Emily Roesch put together consecutive doubles in the second, before Rachel Hebert added an RBI single. Shayne Lotito and April Setterlund led off the third with back-to-back home runs. Melissa Dubay singled and later came across on Nora Militz’s sacrifice fly.

The Great Danes, who dropped a 4-3 extra-inning decision to Boston U. in Friday’s first round, got on the scoreboard in the fourth when the America East co-player of the year Meagan Butsch belted a two-out home run, her school-record 16th of the season. Boston U. added two more runs in the sixth that were aided by three errors and a wild pitch.

“We are very disappointed with the outcome,” said UAlbany coach Chris Cannata, whose program had worked its way to the championship round for the fifth consecutive year. “However, we still have a lot to be proud of. We broke the school record for victories, and 38 wins is a great season for us. Getting to the championship game is a big accomplishment.”

In the loser’s bracket final that preceded the championship in this double-elimination tournament, Gina Mason slammed a three-run homer, her eighth of the season, in the fifth inning to lift UAlbany (38-16) past defending conference champion Stony Brook, 4-1. After a two-hour weather delay, Stony Brook (36-14) took a 1-0 lead in the second when all-conference third base Kelly Oberto hit a solo blast over the right-field fence. UAlbany tied the contest in the third. Jessica Bergin led off with a double, but Seawovles’ ace Alyssa Struzenberg struck out the next two batters. Butsch followed with a run-scoring single to right field.

UAlbany starting pitcher Leah McIntosh ran into some mild trouble with two runners aboard and one out in the fourth. But McIntosh got Kendall Blumenthal to pop out to the shortstop and Jade Clare to strike out swinging. McIntosh, who recorded five strikeouts, was then lifted for reliever Marissa Powell in the top of the fifth after throwing 73 pitches.

The Great Danes broke the tie in the fifth in advancing to their fifth consecutive championship final. Bergin walked to start the inning and was sacrificed to second. After Struzenberg struck out Nicole Kothe looking, Butsch was intentionally walked. Mason then drilled a 3-1 pitch to dead center that cleared the fence by nearly 40 feet for a 4-1 lead.

University of Albany's Rafael Nguti Gets NFL NY Giants Minicamp Workout - UAlbany Sports 2009

Raphael Nguti The CFL will have to wait... the Giants want UAlbany's Raphael Nguti.

The mammoth 6-6, 330 lb. offensive lineman was set for a private workout with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian League. That workout was contingent on Nguti not getting an NFL invite.

That invite came today from the team Nguti watches practice all last summer. He'll be in mini-camp with Big Blue all this weekend in New Jersey trying to get a contract that will bring him back to UAlbany's campus in August for training camp.

Nguti, an All-American selection as a senior with the Danes, was seen by just about every NFL team last season. Raphael is represented by National Sports Management of Niskayuna.

Courtesy: Fox23sports

UAlbany Softball Upends UMBC, Moves On To America East Semi-Final Saturday @ Noon - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Meagan Butsch homered, doubled twice and scored three runs to lead UAlbany to a 5-1 victory over UMBC in the loser’s bracket of the America East Conference Softball Championship on Friday, May 8 at Stony Brook’s University Field. The Great Danes, who lost in extra innings to start the day, will face Stony Brook on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in an elimination game.

UAlbany (37-15) trailed 1-0 with two outs in the third inning when Butsch slammed her school-record 15th home run of the season over the left-field fence. The Great Danes scored times in the fifth to break the tie. Butsch doubled into the right-field gap to start the uprising, before Gina Mason was hit by a pitch. Michelle Connors pushed Butsch across with a fielders’ choice ground ball. Bailey Van Deest, who had two hits, drove in another run with a ground ball to the shortshop. The throw went to the plate, but catcher Amanda Page couldn’t hang on to the ball which allowed a sliding Mason to score. Connors also came home on the same play as the ball went to the back of the fence.

The Great Danes, who set the program’s single-season standard with their 37th win, tacked on an insurance run in the sixth. Butsch, the America East co-player of the year, delivered a one-out double before moving to third on a passed ball. Connors, who totaled two hits with two RBIs, then doubled to right field.

Starting pitcher Marissa Powell upped her record to 19-10 by scattering four hits, while striking out four and walking one. Powell, who threw her 25th complete game of the season, sent UMBC hitters down in order in four of seven innings, including one-two-three in the final frame. The Retrievers finished 34-21 overall.

“We had a very disappointing loss to start the day, and we could have packed our bags up because it was very emotional,” said UAlbany coach Chris Cannata, whose team has won three previous America East championships. “However, we battled back and Marissa threw a great game. We have to continue taking it one game at a time.”

In first-round play, Nora Militz’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning led Boston University to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over UAlbany. The Great Danes built a 3-0 lead after four innings. Mason belted her seventh home run of the season over the center-field fence in the second. After Kristine Bill doubled, Van Deest sent an RBI single through the left side. Catcher Kat Smith, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, drilled the first pitch of the fourth to left field for her third homer of the spring.

Boston U. picked up a run in the fifth after UAlbany hurler Leah McIntosh had struck out the first two batters of the inning. Rachel Hebert lined a double down the right-field line and later came across on error by the UAlbany center fielder. The Terriers, who have won six conference championships in their history, came up with another two-out rally in the sixth. Militz singled to right and Brooke Hudson followed with a two-run blast that tied the contest at three apiece.

In the seventh, shortstop Andriana Walraven led off with a double and was sacrificed to third, but the heart of the the Great Danes’ order failed to get her across. Boston U. broke through in the first extra frame when Melissa Dubay singled up the middle, took second on a sacrifice bunt, and came home on Militz’s RBI double into the left-field gap.

Baseball Falls to New York Tech in Non-Conference Action

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior centerfielder Denton Neill went 4-for-6 with a double and a stolen base to lead New York Tech to a 15-5 win over UAlbany in non-conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field.

New York Tech had taken a 5-0 lead into the fourth behind singles by Neill in the second and third innings. George Carroll added an RBI single in the second inning to score two runs while Christian Dienna knocked a base hit through the right side in the third that scored Neill. Sebastian Grazziani hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Bears the five run lead.

UAlbany scored four runs in the fourth to cut the NYIT lead to one. Gary Pitcheralle was hit by a pitch and advanced on a single by Brendan Rowland. The Great Danes loaded the bases when NYIT pitcher Louie Bernardi hit Ryan Gugel with a pitch. Pitcheralle scored the first run on a ground out by Dave West, and Rowland crossed home on a fly out by Mike Tirri. After Kyle Crean drew a walk, Pete Eichner smacked a double down the right field line to score the next two runs for the Great Danes.

NYIT held UAlbany without another run until the eighth, but added three to the visitor’s side of the scoreboard in the sixth. Ryan Campbell hit an RBI single, stole third and later scored on a passed ball. The Bears added another run in the inning, taking advantage of a UAlbany error that allowed Brian Smith to score. The Great Danes put a single run up in the bottom of the eighth, as Pitcheralle made it home on a ground out by West.

The Bears exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth. Effrey Valdez led off the frame with a solo homer over the left field fence. Dienna made it home when Carroll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Campbell and Smith both drove in runs in the inning and Neill added an RBI double. Dienna was responsible for two more runs in his second at bat of the inning with a single through the right side that scored Neill and Campbell.

Bernardi earned the win on the mound for NYIT (17-24), going five innings with two strikeouts. Dave Kubiak took the loss for the Great Danes, striking out three in four innings of work, while allowing four earned runs. Seven other pitchers saw action for UAlbany, while John Eichhorn made a four-inning appearance for the Bears, fanning three.

UAlbany (21-26) will host NYIT in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon and will conclude the four-game series on Sunday.

University of Albany Softball's Butsch & Kothe Voted to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Ithaca, N.Y. - University at Albany’s Meagan Butsch and Nicole Kothe have been named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Softball Team, as announced on Thursday, May 7 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Both players were chosen to the all-district second team.

Butsch, a senior biology major with a 3.35 cumulative grade point average, was named a NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete and to the America East Conference All-Academic Team last year. In addition, she has been named to the league’s academic honor roll twice.

The third baseman is batting .379, which ranks fifth among the league’s top hitters, and has broken school records for home runs in a single season (14) and a career (29). Butsch ended the regular season leading the conference in home runs, on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.780). In addition, she leads the team with 50 hits, 45 runs scored, 41 RBI and 24 walks. Butsch has helped the Great Danes advance to two NCAA Tournaments and make four America East postseason appearances. She has been named to the all-championship team twice.

Kothe, a junior psychology major with a 3.68 cumulative grade point average, is a two-time NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete who has been a starter in the outfield for the past three seasons. A two-time member of the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Kothe is batting .282 with a .419 on-base percentage, nine RBI and five stolen bases. Her on-base percentage ranks second on the team. Defensively, she has a .949 fielding percentage with just two errors.

University of Albany Softball's Butsch Named America East Co-Player of the Year; McIntosh Chosen Top Pitcher - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Meagan Butsch has been named the America East Conference Co-Player of the Year and Leah McIntosh earned conference pitcher of the year honors, as announced on Wednesday, May 6 by the league office. Butsch and McIntosh were members of the All-America East first team for the second straight season.

Butsch is the second player to garner player of the year honors, joining Andee Lindgren who was the program’s first honoree in 2004. The third baseman is batting .379, which ranks fifth among the league’s top hitters, and has broken school records for home runs in a career (29) and a single season (14). Butsch, who started all 50 games, also ended the regular season leading the conference in home runs, on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.780). In addition, her 50 hits, 45 runs scored, 41 RBI and 24 walks were team highs. Batting in the heart of the order, she only struck out just six times in 132 at-bats.

McIntosh becomes the fourth Great Dane player to be named the league’s pitcher of the year after Lindgren, Amanda Morin and Casey Halloran. She has hurled a national-best four perfect games this season. The junior holds Division I program records for career strikeouts (610) and no-hitters (6), while boasting a league-best 1.27 ERA and an 18-4 record. McIntosh, who posted 10 shutouts, is second among the NCAA leaders nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (11.02). She needs18 more strikeouts to break the single-season record of 252 held by Halloran, who established that standard when she the league’s pitcher of the year in 2006.

Sophomore Kristine Bill, who appeared in all 50 games and made 48 starts, was one of three Great Danes to be placed on the all-conference second team. After collecting eight hits in her first collegiate campaign, the center fielder has 25 RBI and is batting .306 with 41 hits this year. In addition, two of her three home run provided victories in the team’s most recent America East wins to close out the regular season.

Gina Mason makes her first appearance on the all-conference second team after garnering all-rookie team honors last year. She started all 50 games at first base and finished the regular season with a .297 batting average, six home runs and 37 RBI. The sophomore was also the team’s second-best slugger with a .523 percentage and 16 extra-base hits. Mason joined Butsch and Bill as one of three Great Danes to belt a grand slam in an eight-day span this season.

Kat Smith, a catcher who has started 49 contests this spring, is being recognized on the second team for the first time. From behind the plate, she has been a key figure in helped the UAlbany pitching staff account for five no-hitters, four perfect games and 20 shutouts this season. Offensively, she hit .264 with two home runs and 18 RBI. One of her homers decided a 4-3 eight-inning victory against league opponent UMBC.

Freshman Katie Wambold was voted by the coaches to the league’s all-rookie team, marking the seventh consecutive season that at least one Great Dane has been honored. Wambold made 36 appearances and 28 starts, the most of any freshman on the squad, as the team’s designated player. She totaled 15 hits, including four doubles, and drove in seven runs while scoring eight times.

UAlbany has produced 54 all-conference players, including 28 first-team selections, since joining the America East Conference in 2002.

University of Albany's Small Business Development Center Among Top Ten in Nation - UAlbany

The Small Business Development Center is part of UAlbany's School of Business, one of the top 15 graduate schools most highly rated by students in The Princeton Review.

The New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), based at the University at Albany, has been named among the top ten centers in the nation by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The center, part of UAlbany’s School of Business, was named the Region II winner for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Center was recognized for the “innovative way it champions small businesses while providing programs and services for entrepreneurs.”

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the key engine of job growth and improvements in our economic performance,” said School of Business Dean Dr. Donald Siegel. “This award confirms what we've long known -- that UAlbany’s Small Business Development Center provides local entrepreneurs with the key advisement services they need to launch and sustain a profitable company."

"For 25 years, UAlbany's Small Business Development Center has helped startup and existing companies develop strategic business plans and identify funding sources,” said UAlbany SBDC director William Brigham. “The center’s goal is to provide Capital Region entrepreneurs with the facts and business acumen they need to help their organization succeed."

With the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University at Albany, the UAlbany SBDC contributes to the local, regional, and state economies. The center is the state's leading provider of small business management and technical services. Since its inception in 1984, the UAlbany SBDC has provided business assistance to 17,263 entrepreneurs with 146,948 counseling hours, resulting in more than $224 million in economic investment and 8,586 created or saved jobs. In 2008, the economic investment of UAlbany SBDC clients exceeded $34 million.

University of Albany's School of Public Health Hosts Geographical Information Systems And International Health Conference

As public health officials continue to track the path of swine flu around the world, it becomes evident that the technology used for such monitoring -- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) -- is an indispensable tool.

The University at Albany's School of Public Health is hosting a conference May 5-6 on the applications of GIS to international health. Guest speakers will address topics including the clustering of Dengue virus in Thai villages, and tracking the polio virus down the Congo River.

GIS links data and geography digitally in order to make maps. This technology often provides a useful way to reveal spatial and temporal links among data and can help monitor the global spread of a pandemic.

"The swine flu outbreak is a good example of how GIS is used to track and share information," said Assistant Professor of epidemiology and biostatistics Mike Zdeb. "When you click on a world map on a news Web site such as The New York Times and see the clusters of dots of documented cases, you are seeing GIS at work. The sooner public health officials share this information, the more quickly they can respond to an outbreak like swine flu."

This is the fifth year of the conference, which has covered the role of GIS in tracking environmental health problems and the incidence of cancer in the past. It includes internationally known experts on how GIS helps public health officials battle the spread of infectious disease around the world.

"The University at Albany's School of Public Health has developed a reputation for drawing top experts in the field on the issues that matter most in global public health," said Dean Philip C. Nasca.

Ellen K. Cromley, a senior research associate at The Institute for Community Research in Hartford, Conn., and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Community Medicine, in the University of Connecticut's School of Medicine, is the keynote speaker. In August, she will present the results of research on the role of alcohol in sexual risk behavior among adult males in slum communities in Mumbai, India. At UAlbany, her topic is developing spatial databases for social and behavioral research in communities outside the U.S.

Raoul Kamadjeu, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gives technical support to nations in Africa and Asia as they fight preventable diseases, including polio. A disturbing pattern has developed in Africa in the past year and a half, with polio being reported in 15 countries in Africa. Kamadjeu will discuss Tracking the Polio Virus down the Congo River: a Case Study on the Use of Google Earth in Public Health Planning and Mapping.

Other speakers include:

• Molly E. Brown, a research scientist from the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, on Climate Change and the Famine Early Warning System;
• Jared Aldstadt, of the University at Buffalo's Department of Geography on Spatial and Temporal Clustering of Dengue Virus Transmission in Thai Villages;
• Wayne Myers, professor of Forest Biometrics and co-director of the Office of Remote Sensing of Earth Resources at Pennsylvania State University's School of Forest Resources on using GIS to cope with complex social/environmental issues;
• Deborah Balk, associate professor of Baruch College/CUNY School of Public Affairs, on how a spatial view of urbanization can be used to understand the impact on health of issues like climate change and poverty.

University of Albany's Ashley Ross & Jenn Gurrant Nominated for America East Woman of the Year - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Ashley Ross and Jenn Gurrant are among eleven student-athletes who are institutional nominees for 2009 America East Woman of the Year, as announced on Tuesday, May 5 by the conference office.

Binghamton’s Ashley Allen (volleyball), Boston University’s Christy Leath (softball) and Marisha Schumacher-Hodge (soccer), Hartford’s Kacey Busque (soccer), Maine’s Ashley Waters (softball), UMBC’s Cornelia Carapcea, New Hampshire’s Michaela Hardy (lacrosse), Stony Brook’s Kaitlin Leggio (lacrosse) and Vermont’s Kristen Millar (lacrosse) have also been chosen as the senior female student-athletes on their respective campuses that best exemplified a commitment to service, leadership, athletics and academics during their collegiate careers.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2008-09 academic year, completed intercollegiate athletic eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2009 spring season or received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2009 term and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

Ross, a goalkeeper on the UAlbany field hockey and lacrosse teams, received an ECAC Merit Medal as the school’s top senior female student-athlete during the current academic year. A three-time All-America East performer in field hockey, Ross was named the conference championship’s most outstanding player when she led the program to both its first America East title and NCAA Tournament appearance. She has a 3.70 cumulative grade point average in communication.

Gurrant, a member of the track & field squad, won the 2009 ECAC indoor triple jump with a leap of 42-feet, 6.25-inches. She also captured the America East indoor title in the same event and was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay. Gurrant helped UAlbany win the America East outdoor team championship for the first time since 2007. She placed second in the triple jump with a school-record mark (42-0.75) and ran on two second-place relays. She has a 3.19 GPA in communication.

In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the NCAA Woman of the Year, the America East Woman of the Year award was established in the 2005-06 athletic season. Beginning in 2006, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) started receiving conference-designated nominees in lieu of the previous institution- and state-based nomination format.

The nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists on Wednesday, May 27 with the America East Woman of the Year being announced on Tuesday, June 9.

The America East Woman of the Year will be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year.

University of Albany's Student-Athletes & Nineteen Sports Programs Honored at Ninth Great Dane Awards - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy presented Steward Ceus and Ashley Ross with ECAC Merit Medals at the ninth annual Great Dane Awards, held at SEFCU Arena on Monday, May 4. The event celebrates UAlbany Athletics in the 2008-09 academic year. Presidential Scholar-Athlete Awards were given to Vanessa Walter, Renee Levitin and Chris Ott. Each of the 19 intercollegiate men’s and women’s programs handed out their most valuable player awards.

ECAC Merit Medals are annually awarded to the school’s top senior male and female student-athletes who have shown excellence in the classroom and as competitive athletes during the current academic year. Presidential Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented to the Department of Athletics’ top students.

Ross, a senior goalkeeper on the women’s field hockey and lacrosse teams, has a 3.70 cumulative grade point average in communication. Ross, a three-time All-America East Conference selection, led field hockey to both its first-ever conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. She was named the championship’s most outstanding player. Ross posted a .741 save percentage and shut out five opponents in 22 starting assignments. She is field hockey’s all-time leader in saves (318) and shutouts (15).

Ceus, a senior goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team, has a 3.61 GPA in biology. He became UAlbany’s first soccer All-American since 1991 when he was named to the NSCAA third team. Ceus was voted America East Conference goalkeeper of the year after recording an .856 save percentage with seven shutouts. He was the first Great Dane to be drafted by an Major League Soccer franchise when he was taken by the Colorado Rapids in the third round. UAlbany equaled the program’s Division I win standard with a 12-4-2 campaign.

Walter has a 3.87 GPA in human biology with a minor in anthropology. A member of the field hockey squad, Walter started all 22 games for a defense that allowed 1.64 goals per game. She earned NFHCA national academic recognition and was a member of the conference all-academic team. Levitin owns a 3.88 GPA in political science with a dual minor in English and education. She played in all 16 games as a midfielder and defender in lacrosse. UAlbany registered its first winning campaign since 2000. Levitin was chosen to the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.

Ott, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, is majoring in biology and has a 3.81 cumulative grade point average. He has made 42 career appearances as both a starter and reliever. The Great Danes are currently in second place in the America East standings. Ott has also earned a place on the UAlbany Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll.

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2008-09 University at Albany Team MVP Awards

Fall: Brian Yurkewecz (Men’s Cross Country), Laura Cummings & Emily Fung (Women’s Cross Country), Ashley Ross, Michele Polizois & Michelle Simpson (Field Hockey), David McCarty (Football), Claudio Dantas & Erik DiLorenzo (Men’s Soccer), Rebecca Lee (Women’s Soccer), Kamisha Kelliam (Women’s Volleyball).

Winter: Tim Ambrose (Men’s Basketball), Britney McGee (Women’s Basketball), Jean Juste, Mike McCadney & Luke Schoen (Men’s Indoor Track & Field), Jenn Gurrant & Kamilah McShine (Women’s Indoor Track & Field).

Spring: Corrin Conroy & Annemarie Kissane (Women’s Golf), TBD (Baseball), Brian Caufield & Mark Kelly (Men’s Lacrosse), Katie Neer & Mel Rorie (Women’s Lacrosse), Meagan Butsch & Leah McIntosh (Softball), Charlotte Tatler & Kim Weltman (Women’s Tennis), TBD (Men’s Track & Field), TBD (Women’s Track & Field).

Spirit Awards: Jackie Mahoney, Nickie Mineau (Cheerleading), Alex Cerasi (Dance).

University of Albany Earns Third Seed for America East Conference Softball Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany was tabbed as the third seed for this week’s America East Conference Softball Championship, which will be hosted by top-seeded Stony Brook from May 7-9. The Great Danes, who have won three tournament titles and advanced to the championship game in five of the past six seasons, are making their eighth consecutive conference postseason tournament appearance.

UAlbany (36-14, AE 12-7) will take on No. 2 Boston University (38-16, AE 14-6) in the second game on Thursday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m. Top-seeded Stony Brook (35-12, AE 15-5) will face No. 4 UMBC (34-19, AE 12-8) in the first game, scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. The winners of the first two games will face off on Friday, May 8, starting at 11 a.m., while the losers of Thursday's games will play at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. A second team will go home later on Friday when the winner of previous game and the loser of the day's first game meet at 4:00 p.m. The 2009 America East champion will be named on Saturday, May 9. The final two teams standing will play at 12 noon with a second game slated for 2:30 p.m., if necessary. If inclement weather occurs, the champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 10. The winner will earn an automatic berth in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

The Great Danes have been led by junior pitcher Leah McIntosh and senior third baseman Meagan Butsch. McIntosh has hurled a national-best four perfect games this season. She holds Division I program records for career strikeouts (610) and no-hitters (6) while boasting a league-best 1.27 ERA. McIntosh is also first in strikeouts per seven innings (11.02). Butsch is hitting .379 this season and has broken the school records for home runs in a career (29) and a single season (14). She leads the conference in home runs, on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.780). Sophomore center fielder Kristine Bill is also hitting over .300, while junior pitcher Marissa Powell has won 16 of her last 19 decisions in the circle.

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2009 America East Conference Softball Championship

(played at Stony Brook’s University Field)

Thursday, May 7
Game One: #1 Stony Brook (35-12, AE 15-5) vs. #4 UMBC (34-19, AE 12-8), 1 p.m.
Game Two: #2 Boston U. (38-16, AE 14-6) vs. #3 UAlbany (36-14, AE 12-7), 3:30 p.m.

Friday, May 8
Game Three: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game Four: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
Game Five: Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 9
Game Six: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 12 p.m.
Game Seven: (if necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 p.m.

University of Albany's Gary Pitcheralle and Zach Kraham Earn America East Weekly Baseball Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Senior left fielder Gary Pitcheralle and freshman right hander Zach Kraham earned America East Conference Baseball weekly awards for the first time this season, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. Pitcheralle was named the conference’s player of the week while Kraham earned rookie of the week honors as they both helped lead UAlbany to a four-game sweep of Maine in America East play over the weekend.

Pitcheralle hit .500 for the week with 10 hits, including three doubles, one triple and one home run for a .900 slugging percentage. Pitcheralle scored seven runs and drove in another five while starting all five games in left field and recording 12 putouts without an error. He had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs in Friday’s 7-5 nightcap win over Maine, scoring the eighth-inning insurance run for the Great Danes in a one-run game after leading off the inning with a double. In Saturday’s first game, he went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, driving a homer over the left field fence in the first inning.

Kraham earned the win for UAlbany on the mound in the final game of an important four-game sweep of Maine in America East Conference action. In 5.2 innings, the rookie scattered five hits without allowing an earned run. Kraham issued just one walk while striking out four batters. He moves to 4-2 on the season with 32 strikeouts in 37.0 innings of work.

UAlbany (21-24, AE 13-7) currently stands in sole possession of second place in the America East standings. The Great Danes visit Le Moyne on Tuesday before hosting New York Tech over the weekend in non-conference action.

University of Albany Men Capture Fifth Consecutive America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene was a double-winner in the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles to lead his team to its fifth consecutive America East Conference outdoor track & field championship on Sunday, May 3 at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex. The Great Danes were comfortable winners with team total of 243.33 points.

UAlbany’s Kamilah McShine and Fey Adaramola each won two events in leading their team to its first women’s outdoor track & field championship since 2007. The Great Danes scored 176.50 points, while runner-up New Hampshire had 153. UAlbany has garnered three America East women’s outdoor titles in its history.

Greene, who suffered a hamstring injury during the 2008 indoor season and never recovered to full strength, pulled off the 400-dash and 400-hurdles double for third time in his career. An NCAA All-America selection in 2007, he was named the championship’s most outstanding track performer for the third time in his career and won the coaches’ award for accumulating the meet’s highest individual point total. He set a school and meet record of 46.49 seconds in the 400-meters and lowered another conference mark in the 400-hurdles in 49.97. Greene also anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a winning time of 3:13.20. He was joined on the relay by Andrew Overbaugh, Jeffery Barnes and Alie Beauvais.

“Last year was very frustrating for Joe and he wanted to go out on top,” said UAlbany coach Roberto Vives, whose team has an extraordinary year after winning their first-ever IC4A indoor championship in March. “He is very team-oriented, but today he established himself as one of the top hurdlers in the country.”

Middle-distance runner John Moore was also a key figure as the Great Danes surged from their second-place standing after the first day of competition. Moore won the 800-meter run in an IC4A-qualifying time of 1:51.25 and was second in the 1,500-meter in 3:51.56. He also ran the final leg on the winning 4x800-meter relay that finished in 7:32.37. Nick Santos, Ricardo Estremera and Joe Belokopitsky competed on the first three legs.

“John Moore did a great job on the relay with a 1:49 split to hold off the other teams,” Vives offered. “The seniors have never tasted defeat in indoors or outdoors (at conference meet) and they talked about going out that way.”

Jean Juste successfully defended his 110-meter hurdles crown by setting a conference record with a time of 14.40 seconds. A defensive back on the UAlbany football team, Juste was one of nine individual men’s champions. Freddie Wills came from behind on the second day to win the decathlon with 6,250 points. Wills was a winner in 110-hurdles and long jump in the 10-evert competition. Michael McCadney took first in the triple jump for the second consecutive year with a leap of 49-feet, 8.25-inches.

In the women’s championship, McShine won the conference title in the 100-meter hurdles for third year in a row as she was clocked in 13.90 seconds. She completed the hurdles double for the first time in her career when she was the first to hit the tap in the 400 event. McShine posted a time of 59.74 that automatically qualified her for the NCAA East Regional.

Adaramola, who ran the second-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries, bettered that mark to win the 100-meter dash final in 11.96. She later came back to take the 200-meters in an ECAC-qualifying time of 24.27. Adaramola, a Central Florida transfer, and McShine were both members of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that each finished second.

Ritshell Verdier set a school record in the hammer throw to win the conference championship for the second time in her career. Verdier broke her own standard by more than two feet with a toss of 159-feet, 9-inches. She was also third in the shot put with a mark 42-0. Jenn Gurrant, who also competed on both second-place relay squads, was the runner-up in the triple jump. Gurrant shattered the UAlbany record with a leap of 42-0.75. Vives and his assistants were named America East Conference Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

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America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships

(Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex)

Men’s Team Standings

1. UAlbany 243.33, 2. New Hampshire 159.50, 3. Binghamton 119.33, 4. UMBC 118.50, 5. Boston U. 81, 6. Vermont 57, 7. Maine 44.33, 8. Stony Brook 16, 9. Hartford 15.

University of Albany Women Win First America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship Since 2007 - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Kamilah McShine and Fey Adaramola each won two events in leading their team to its first America East Conference women’s outdoor track & field championship since 2007 on Sunday, May 3. The Great Danes had 176.50 points, while runner-up New Hampshire scored 153 at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex. UAlbany has garnered three America East women’s outdoor titles in its history.

UAlbany’s Joe Greene was a double-winner in the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles to lead his team to its fifth consecutive men’s outdoor track & field championship. The Great Danes were comfortable winners with team total of 243.33 points.

McShine won the conference title in the 100-meter hurdles for third year in a row as she was clocked in 13.90 seconds. She completed the hurdles double for the first time in her career when she was the first to hit the tap in the 400 event. McShine posted a time of 59.74 that automatically qualified her for the NCAA East Regional.

Adaramola, who ran the second-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries, bettered that mark to win the 100-meter dash final in 11.96. She later came back to take the 200-meters in an ECAC-qualifying time of 24.27. Adaramola, a Central Florida transfer, and McShine were both members of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that each finished second.

“This has been a magical year for our program,” explained Vives, whose men’s and women’s program also captured outdoor titles in the same year in 2006 and 2007. “The missing piece has been the women winning the conference. Kamilah was composed and confident and Fey was our secret weapon, a real competitor.”

Ritshell Verdier set a school record in the hammer throw to win the conference championship for the second time in her career. Verdier broke her own standard by more than two feet with a toss of 159-feet, 9-inches. She was also third in the shot put with a mark 42-0. Jenn Gurrant, who also competed on both second-place relay squads, was the runner-up in the triple jump. Gurrant shattered the UAlbany record with a leap of 42-0.75. Vives and his assistants were named America East Conference Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

In the men’s championship, Greene, who suffered a hamstring injury during the 2008 indoor season and never recovered to full strength, pulled off the 400-dash and 400-hurdles double for third time in his career. An NCAA All-America selection in 2007, he was named the championship’s most outstanding track performer for the third time in his career and won the coaches’ award for accumulating the meet’s highest individual point total. He set a school and meet record of 46.49 seconds in the 400-meters and lowered another conference mark in the 400-hurdles in 49.97. Greene also anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a winning time of 3:13.20. He was joined on the relay by Andrew Overbaugh, Jeffery Barnes and Alie Beauvais.

“Last year was very frustrating for Joe and he wanted to go out on top,” UAlbany coach Roberto Vives said. “He is very team-oriented, but today he established himself as one of the top hurdlers in the country.”

Middle-distance runner John Moore was also a key figure as the Great Danes surged from their second-place standing after the first day of competition. Moore won the 800-meter run in an IC4A-qualifying time of 1:51.25 and was second in the 1,500-meter in 3:51.56. He also ran the final leg on the winning 4x800-meter relay that finished in 7:32.37. Nick Santos, Ricardo Estremera and Joe Belokopitsky competed on the first three legs.

Jean Juste successfully defended his 110-meter hurdles crown by setting a conference record with a time of 14.40 seconds. A defensive back on the UAlbany football team, Juste was one of nine individual men’s champions. Freddie Wills came from behind on the second day to win the decathlon with 6,250 points. Wills was a winner in 110-hurdles and long jump in the 10-evert competition. Michael McCadney took first in the triple jump for the second consecutive year with a leap of 49-feet, 8.25-inches.

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America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships

(Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex)

Women’s Team Standings

1. UAlbany 176.50, 2. New Hampshire 153, 3. Boston U. 140.50, 4. Maine 111, 5. Binghamton 80, 6. Vermont 69, 7. Stony Brook 50, 8. Hartford 39, 9. UMBC 34.

Softball Drops Final Game of Weekend Series on Senior Day

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kelly Oberto was one of four Seawolf players to club a home run and ended the afternoon with four RBI as Stony Brook defeated the UAlbany softball team, 10-2, in America East Conference action on Senior Day at Albany Field on Sunday, May 3. Kat Smith homered for the Great Danes, who honored Meagan Butsch prior to the game and finished the regular season in the top half of the league standings for the eighth time in as many years.

The Great Danes earned the No. 3 seed for the America East championship, a double-elimination tournament which runs from May 7-9, and will open up against second-seeded Boston University at Stony Brook’s University Field.

Stony Brook (34-12, AE 14-5) hit two home runs to take a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Crista Cerrone hit a two-run homer to start the scoring, and Kelly Oberto blasted a three-run shot to center a few plays later. Oberto singled in the sixth run for the Seawolves in the top of the second.

UAlbany (36-14, AE 12-7) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second to close the gap to four. Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) was hit by a pitch, and Kat Smith went yard to left center on the next play. Stony Brook got solo home runs from Kendall Blumenthal and Marissa Fleury in the third and fourth, respectively, before extending their lead to eight in the top half of the fifth. The Great Danes failed to score in the bottom half of the frame, and the game ended due to the eight-run rule.

UAlbany’s Powell fell to 18-10 this year in the losing effort. She surrendered 12 hits, 10 runs (nine earned) and issued one walk while fanning three. Stony Brook’s Alyssa Struzenberg improved to 21-5 this season with the victory. She yielded two hits and two runs which were earned while issuing one walk and striking out six.

University of Albany's Valete Graham Wins Second Consecutive America East Conference Men's Long Jump Title - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham won the long jump with a school-record leap and Ricardo Estremera was first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to highlight their team’s performances on the first day of competition at the America East Conference Track & Field Championships. The two-day event is being held at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex.

Graham captured the long jump title for the second straight year and met the NCAA East Regional qualifying standard with a mark of 24-feet, 9.25 inches. He broke Felipe Reyes’ previous school standard of 24-6.25. UAlbany’s Fred Casimo (23-7.50) and Michael McCadney (23-10.25) finished second and third, respectively.

Estremera, who did not compete last year, captured his second conference steeplechase crown in the last three years. He set a facility record with a time of 8:59.45. Freddie Wills, who also sat out the 2008 outdoor season, is in second place after the first five events in the decathlon. Wills scored 3,393 points and won the long jump competition. UMBC’s Dominic Devaud has a 17-point lead going into the second day. Defending conference pole vault champion Luke Schoen did not compete due to a leg injury.

In preliminary races, defending America East champion Jean Juste advanced to Sunday’s 110-meter hurdles final by sprinting 14.57 seconds, the best time of the day. Joe Greene turned in the second-fastest time in the 400-meter dash (48.22) in working his way to the championship race. Alie Beauvais and Greene went one-two in qualifying for the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Beauvais and Greene were clocked in 52.09 and 53.34, respectively.

University of Albany Baseball Completes Four-Game Sweep of Maine in America East Action - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior centerfielder Dave West hit a walk-off single that scored two runs to lead UAlbany to a 6-5 comeback win over Maine in the first game of an America East Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field. That win, combined with an 8-2 victory in the nightcap, gave the Great Danes their second four-game sweep of a conference opponent this season and moves the team into sole possession of second place in the league standings.

Scoring in game one started quickly, with both teams hitting solo homers in the first inning. Maine got on the scoreboard first with a shot by Billy Cather over the wall in center, while UAlbany’s Gary Pitcheralle drove the ball out to left center in the bottom half of the frame. The Black Bears added a second run in the next inning on a sacrifice fly by Danny Menendez that scored catcher Joe Mercurio, who reached on a UAlbany fielding error.

The Great Danes tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third on a solo homer by Sean Donovan. Maine responded with a single run in the top of the fourth as Jarrett Lukas drove the fourth home run of the game over the right field fence to give the Black Bears a one-run lead. Maine added two more runs in the sixth. Myckie Lugbauer hit a sacrifice fly to left to advance baserunners Kevin McAvoy and Justin Leisenheimer, and McAvoy made it home on a UAlbany error. Leisenheimer scored later in the inning, getting driven home by Menendez to give the Black Bears a 5-2 advantage.

Needing a rally in the bottom of the seventh, UAlbany got it started with a double by Kyle Crean. Pete Eichner followed with an RBI single to right to score Crean and cut the Maine lead to two. Designated hitter Jim Banks drew a walk before Maine starter AJ Bazdanes was replaced on the mound by Alejandro Balsinde. Pitcheralle knocked an RBI double up the middle to score pinch runner Pete DiResta, while Donovan, who reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to third. Maine intentionally walked Brendan Rowland to load the bases and allowed Balsinde to face Ryan Gugel with one out. Gugel hit into a fielder’s choice, with the Black Bears making the play at home on Donovan to keep UAlbany down by a run. West, who was 0-3 coming into his at bat, came to the plate with two outs and drove a single through the left side, sending Rowland and Pitcheralle home to give the Great Danes the win.

UAlbany starter Ryan White went five innings on the mound and struck out four in the no-decision. Closer Alexander Beaulieu earned the win with his two-inning performance, fanning one. Balsinde took the loss for Maine after replacing Bazdanes, who struck out five in six innings of work.

UAlbany jumped out to an early lead in game two and never looked back, scoring two runs in the first and third innings to take a 4-0 advantage. Gugel hit a two-run homer that scored Donovan in the first frame, while West hit an RBI single in the third to send Pitcheralle home. The Great Danes added one more in the frame as starter Keith Bilodeau walked in Rowland, who reached on a single.

Maine scored a single run in the fourth, as Menendez made it home on a passed ball. UAlbany scored single runs in the next four innings. Mike Tirri scored on a Maine fielding error in the fifth, while Donovan hit his second solo homer of the day in the sixth. Maine scored one run in the seventh, but a third solo shot, this time by Eichner, in the bottom of the frame kept the Great Danes ahead, 7-2. UAlbany added one last insurance run in the eighth, taking advantage of another Maine error that sent Pitcheralle home. Beaulieu entered in the top of the ninth to shut down the Maine hitters and give UAlbany the series sweep.

UAlbany freshman Zach Kraham earned the win with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work to improve to 4-2. Bilodeau took the loss for Maine (26-19, AE 9-7), allowing four earned runs while fanning two over four frames.

UAlbany (21-24, AE 13-7) will return to action on Tuesday, visiting non-conference opponent Le Moyne for a 4 p.m. start.

University of Albany Softball Splits With Stony Brook and Clinches America East Conference Postseason Berth - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Kristine Bill hit a two-run homer and Marissa Powell threw her sixth shutout of the season as UAlbany was able to salvage a split against Stony Brook in a pivotal America East Conference softball doubleheader at Albany Field on Saturday, May 2. The Seawolves won game one, 5-0, and the Great Danes took game two, 2-0. UAlbany also clinched a conference postseason berth for the eighth time in as many years.

After Vicki Kavitsky was called out for leaving first base early in the top of the third in the nightcap, the Great Danes responded with all the runs they would need in the bottom half of the inning. Kat Smith was hit by a pitch, and Bill followed up with a hit that graced over the fence in center to give Powell all the run support she would need.

“It was very early in the game, so I did not know it was going to be the winning hit,” said Bill on her second game-winning home run in the past three conference games. “I was just trying to hit it hard.”

Stony Brook (34-12 AE 14-5) made its biggest threat to score in the sixth. Kavitsky was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Crista Cerrone singled through the left side to put the tying run on first with nobody out. Powell retired Kelsi Fannelli by forcing her to fly out to right, and she was able to get out of the jam on the next play due to another baserunning mistake by Kavitsky. Marissa Fleury flew out to Bergin in deep right field for the second out, but Kavitsky was once again called for leaving early to end the threat to rally in the frame.

“Jack Coons, our pitching coach, noticed she left early from the dugout while I was worried about the tying run on first,” said head coach Chris Cannata on the crucial third out. “I went and told the girls what happened, and they got the out. Fortunately, the umpire saw it too.”

The Seawolves had one more attempt to rally in the top of the seventh. Kendall Blumenthal was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Jade Clare grounded out to the pitcher which allowed the Great Danes to seal their 36th victory and match the program’s all-time mark for wins in a season.

UAlbany’s Powell, who earned her 16th victory in her last 18 decisions, improved to 18-9 with the five-hit shutout. She struck out three batters and issued only one walk.

“It was a huge game, and I came in really nervous,” said Powell. “However, I knew my team was going to be behind me and score some runs. I thought from the very beginning that we were going to win this game, and it feels great.”

Stony Brook’s Casey Jacobs fell to 10-4 this year in the losing effort. She gave up three hits, two runs which were earned and did not issue a walk.

“We did not want to get into the tournament by backing into it,” said Cannata. “We wanted to win and earn it. I thought we came out tight in the first game. We did not get many hits in the second game, but our approach was much better. That was the biggest game Marissa (Powell) has ever pitched for us. It was crucial for us to win, and she really stepped up. That was one of the best games I have ever seen her pitch.”

In game one, the Seawolves used the long ball to score all five of their runs. Kelly Oberto hit a two-run homer to center in the second inning, Kavitsky hit a solo shot in the third and Oberto blasted another ball over the fence with one runner on base in the fourth to give Stony Brook all the insurance it needed to win.

UAlbany’s Leah McIntosh was tagged with the loss and dropped to 18-4 this season. She struck out six batters and did not issue a walk while giving up seven hits and five runs which were all earned. Stony Brook’s Alyssa Struzenberg, the reigning conference pitcher of the year, improved to 20-5 with the three-hit shutout. She struck out eight and issued six walks.

UAlbany (36-13 AE 12-6) wraps up its three-game series with Stony Brook tomorrow at noon. Prior to the regular season finale, senior Meagan Butsch will be honored for her contributions to the program over the past four years.

2009 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship

The 2009 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship will be held at Binghamton University where the University at Albany men will pursue their fifth consecutive title while the Boston University women will look to repeat as champions. The Championship begins Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. and will conclude Sunday with the awards ceremony.

The Great Danes enter the Outdoor Track & Field Championship with nine student athletes, seven men and two women, and one relay squad already qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship. The men’s squad is pursuing its fifth-consecutive outdoor title after earning its fourth crown at this year’s indoor championship. The Albany men won the 2009 Indoor IC4A Championship for the first time in conference history and its sprint medley relay team has already been named IC4A Champion for the outdoor event. In their senior seasons, standouts Joe Greene, Jean Juste and Ricardo Estremera will look to continue their dominance in the Track & Field Championships, already having won the team trophy every single conference meet of their careers so far. On the women’s side, seniors Laura Cummings, who qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Kamilah McShine, who qualified in the 100-meter high hurdles and 400-meter intermediate hurdles, look to regain their title after Boston University dethroned them last year.

The Bearcats, the host of the 2009 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship, were chosen to finish third among the men’s squads and sixth among the women. Erik van Ingen will face Boston University’s David Proctor in the 1,500-meter run in what could be one of the most exciting races of the weekend. Proctor and van Ingen are seeded first and second, respectively, just over two seconds apart. Joanel Lopez, a senior, is the second seed in the shot put and will lead the Bearcats in the throwing events. For the women, junior Jasmine Hinson is seeded third in the 400-meter dash and classmate Caitlin Wright is in the third spot for the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Senior Carly Gross and junior Kiki Gifft are seeded third and fourth, respectively, in the pole vault and will be the leaders for the women in the field events.

The Terriers have a strong graduating class that could be the difference-maker this weekend. For the women, who were preseason favorites to defend their title, Tahari James will be a major point-scorer in the field events as last year’s Coaches’ Award recipient and the defending champion of the long jump and triple jump events. Andrea Walkonen, who has automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 10,000-meter run, holds the second fastest time in the nation and is en route to being named an All-American for the third time this academic year. For the men, the throwing pair of Jan Bicanic, a senior, and Dan Withrow, a sophomore, will be valuable assets to the Terriers in the field.

Hartford’s senior Anthony Oluwanifise and freshman Nigel Nimoh have both had breakout years in the field and will look to break in to the top 10 finishers in the triple jump. For the women, the Hawks will rely heavily on Elizabeth Foster who is qualified for the NCAA Regional Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and is seeded third in the field. Kaycee Martinez is seeded fifth in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and could have an impact for the Hawks as a point-scorer.

The Black Bear women return last year’s Most Outstanding Track Performer Allyson Howatt, a junior, and will look for her to break out at the tournament and score points. Vicki Tolton, a senior, also returns to defend her title in the 400-meter dash. For the men, freshman Riley Masters hopes to make an impact in the distance category and is seeded second in the 5,000-meter run behind Stony Brook’s Tim Hodge. Masters edged Hodge out of first place to capture the 2009 indoor title in the 3,000-meter run. Junior Miles Bartlett has the third-fastest time in the conference for the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and will look to improve upon his third-place finish at last year’s championship.

UMBC’s Imani Colbert missed first place in the 55-meter hurdles by a mere 0.07 seconds for this year’s indoor title and the freshman will look to take first with the experience of an America East Championship now under her belt. The Retriever men hold the top seed in the 4x100-meter relay and will rely on Victor Gilreath, who has qualified for the NCAA Regional Championship in the triple jump, to score points for the Retrievers. Adrian Arthur, a junior, holds the fastest 200-meter dash time in America East, and is expected to lead his squad on the track.

The Wildcat men, who were chosen to finish second by the coaches in the preseason poll, finished just behind the Great Danes last year and will rely on a strong showing from senior Robert Edgerton, the defending champion of the 1,500-meter run. Edgerton will need to pick up the points lost to the graduation of last year’s Most Outstanding Track Performer and Coaches’ Award recipient Jordan Horowitz. In the field, sophomore Brice Paey has qualified for the NCAA regional tournament in the shot put and enters the championship as the high seed. Patrick Casey, the high jump’s top seed, will look to end his career on a high note and improve upon his second-place finish in the event last year. For the women, Camille Quarles is expected to continue her successful sophomore season after breaking her own school record in the triple jump just last weekend. Quarles is seeded fourth in the triple jump but will have to out leap last year’s first- and second-place duo of Boston University’s James and Whitney Ford, respectively.

The Van Dalen twins from Stony Brook will be sure to turn some heads at this year’s championship as Lucy has broken the school’s 3,000-meter steeplechase record in her last three races and is seeded atop the field in the 800-meter run. Sister Holly, 2008’s Rookie of the Year, returns to defend her title in the 1,500-meter run. The men’s strength is in the distance events and the junior trio of Tim Hodge, the 2008 Cross Country individual champion, Alex Felce, runner up in last year’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Daire Bermingham will be dangerous on the track.

The Catamount women were chosen to finish fourth while the men were tabbed seventh in the preseason coaches’ poll. Senior standout Jan Carlson is seeded second in the 200-meter dash and seventh in the 400-meter dash and should be a major point-scorer for her squad. Freshman Elyse Ogletree is in the second slot for the women’s javelin, leading the squad in the field events. For the men, junior Aaron Campbell enters the championship leading the conference with his time of 10.38 in the 100-meter dash and will look to defend his title in the event from last year. Classmate Doug Maisey holds the second-fastest time in America East in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, and the Catamounts return their entire 4x100-meter relay squad that won the title last year.

Courtesy: AESports

University of Albany Baseball Sweeps Maine in America East Conference Doubleheader - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Senior right hander Sean Gregory earned two saves on the mound to lead UAlbany to a doubleheader sweep of Maine in America East Conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Varsity Field. The Great Danes defeated the Black Bears 3-2 in game one and followed up with a 7-5 win in the nightcap.

Game one was a pitcher’s duel and remained scoreless until the sixth inning. Maine got on the scoreboard first, loading the bases before Billy Cather knocked an RBI single to center field to send Tony Patane home. UAlbany responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, led off by a Jim Banks single. Sean Donovan drew a walk off reliever Alejandro Balsinde and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Gary Pitcheralle. After the Black Bears intentionally walked Brendan Rowland to lead the bases, catcher Ryan Gugel drove a single into center to score the Great Danes’ first run. Centerfielder Dave West followed with a base hit to right scoring the remaining baserunners.

Gregory took over for starter Dave Kubiak, who earned the win with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings, in the seventh. Gregory struck out Joey Martin and induced a fly out by Danny Menendez to earn his first save of the day. Balsinde took the loss on the mound for Maine after taking over for Jonathan Balentina, who fanned two opposing batters in 5.0 innings of work.

The Great Danes took an early 2-0 lead in the second game, as West drove a single up the middle to score Rowland, who knocked out a double, and Pitcheralle, who reached on a fielder’s choice. The Black Bears responded with four runs in the top of the second to take the lead. Menendez hit a two-run double to right, while Cather and Ian Leisenheimer both recorded RBI singles.

UAlbany regained a one-run advantage in the second as Mike Tirri, Pete Eichner and Ralph Keppler hit three consecutive doubles. Pitcheralle was responsible for the third run scored with an RBI single up the middle. In the bottom of the third, the Great Danes tacked on another run with a solo homer by Gugel that sailed over the right field wall. Gugel sent another run home in the bottom of the eighth with a base hit through the left side that scored Pitcheralle, who led off the frame with a double. Maine attempted a late-inning comeback with a single run scored in the ninth, but Gregory, who took over for set-up man Dave Noble in the eighth, held off a rally to earn his second save of the day.

Starter Josh Willmott clamed the win on the mound for the Great Danes to improve to 2-2 on the season. Jeff Kaier also saw 1.2 innings of action, striking out two. Matt Jebb took the loss for Maine, allowing six earned runs in 3.2 innings of work.

UAlbany (19-24, AE 11-7) and Maine (26-17, AE 9-5) will conclude the four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.

2008 - 2009 University News: Year In Review

Renowned Cancer Expert, University of Albany Professor JoEllen Welsh Discusses Impact of Nutrition on Cancer Development

UAlbany Counseling Center Garners National Recognition for Best Practices in Health

University of Albany's Small Business Development Center Among Top Ten in Nation

University of Albany's School of Public Health Hosts Geographical Information Systems And International Health Conference

UAlbany's Brenner is 1st physician to create a nanobioscience rotation at the College of Nanoscale Science, helping initiate a nanotoxicology program

Rudolph Technologies and SEMATECH Extend Collaboration at UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

University of Albany Professor Don Byron Wins Fellowship Awarded By The American Academy In Rome

University of Albany's Life Sciences Research Laboratory Conducting Electrophysiology / Laser Analysis

University of Albany's School of Public Health Hosts International Conference on Infectious Disease in Latin America

University of Albany's MBA Ranked #15 For General Business by Princeton Review

UAlbany's Frank Whaley, Actor In Ironweed, Field of Dreams, and Born on the Fourth of July, Honored For Professional and Community Service

Bronx Hill Health and NYS DoH Grants of $114,000 Kick Off UAlbany "Healthy Hearts on the Hill" Initiative

UAlbany NanoCollege Receives the Distinguished Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation for Cancer Research

IBM Committed $1 billion at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering through 2013

University of Albany Showcases Best High School Science Students Statewide At The Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering To Host Trio Of Prestigious Global Nanotechnology Conferences

University of Albany's Trudi E. Jacobson wins the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Award

State University of NY SBDC, Administered by University of Albany, Is Awarded Small Business Sustainability Grant

University of Albany NanoCollege and Commerce Technologies Create Joint Information Technology Workforce Development Program

University of Albany Anthropologist's "Hobbit Research" is one of Top 100 Science Stories of 2008

Four Decades of Academic Excellence For University of Albany's School of Criminal Justice

University of Albany's Kaloyeros helped persuade New York to put $900 million into a UAlbany operation that now employs 2,200 researchers

Richard Perez, a renewable-energy researcher at the University of Albany Is Unconnected

UAlbany and the University of Russia Solidify Partnership

UAlbany MBA Program Garners Top-10 National Ranking from Princeton Review

UAlbany Education Professor David Yun Dai Travels to China as Fulbright Scholar
IBM Unveils Plans To Invest Over 400 Million At UAlbany

Princeton Review Ranks UAlbany Business MBA Program #9 in the United States
Africana Studies Graduate Program Ranks Second in Nation

UAlbany, Albany Med to collaborate on bio-medical center

UAlbany and Albany Law School Partner to Offer J.D./M.B.A. Degree

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

UAlbany Teams With Peace Corp Master's Program

University of Albany Research Grants Total Record $391.7 Million in '07-08

UAlbany Welcomes Campus with Grand Entry Plaza Dedication Celebration

UAlbany Dedicates Site of New School of Business Building

SPH Researcher Studies Impact of Changing Health Behaviors on Aging with $1.2 Million NIH Grant

UAlbany Professor Muraven Receives Department of Defense Grant

Trade Expert Lori Wallach Joins UAlbany to Launch Globalization Studies Major

UAlbany School of Public Health Establishes Center for Global Health

Outstanding Contributions to Public Administration Propel Dean Jeffrey Straussman to NAPA Fellowship

UAlbany Hosts 7th Annual Conference on Effective Practices for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

UAlbany Spearheads New National Child Welfare Workforce Institute

IBM Icon and Alumna Frances Allen Delivers Keynote Address at UAlbany's Winter Commencement

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