Joe Resetarits Named USILA Division I Honorable Mention All-American

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - After leading the Great Danes to the America East Championship, senior attackman Joe Resetarits was named a USILA Division I Honorable Mention All-American, as announced by the organization on Thursday, May 24.

Resetarits led UAlbany and the America East in scoring as a senior, tallying 47 goals and 19 assists for 66 total points. Resetarits scored a goal in every game in his career, running his streak to 50 consecutive games, ending with a tally in the America East Championship game this season.

Resetarits was named the America East Conference Player of the Year this season, and wrapped up his career with 27 hat tricks, which led all active players in 2012. Resetarits, who finished his career with 170 total points, was drafted by the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse, and joined the team for its home opener on May 18

Great Danes On The Big Screen – UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse Well Represented in “Crooked Arrows”

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany men's lacrosse players Ty, Miles and Lyle Thompson, along with former standout Mike Banks, are all making appearances in "Crooked Arrows," Hollywood's first feature film about the sport of lacrosse. The movie, produced by J. Todd Harris, Mitchell Peck and Adam Leff, is set to open this Friday, May 18, with showings locally at Crossgates Cinema.

"Crooked Arrows" is a sports movie in the tradition of classics such as "The Mighty Ducks," "Hoosiers," and "Bend it Like Beckham." The film follows a Native American high school team as they compete in the Prep School League against better equipped and trained players. Led by newly anointed head coach Joe Logan, the Crooked Arrows learn about their heritage as Native American lacrosse players, and take their new-found potential to the state championship against Coventry Academy.

The Thompsons, who are current student-athletes on the UAlbany lacrosse team, are featured in the film as players on the Crooked Arrows squad. Brothers Miles and Lyle are members of the Onondaga Nation, while cousin Ty is a member of Mohawk Nation, both of which have several representatives in the film. Former Great Dane Mike Banks, a 2011 graduate of UAlbany, makes an appearance as a player on the Coventry Academy team.

More information about the film can be found at www.crookedarrows.com.

UAlbany Athletics Launches Multi-Sport Complex Webcam

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic department has launched its Multi-Sport Complex Webcam, allowing Great Danes fans to easily follow the construction of Bob Ford Field. The camera will take pictures now through the end of construction and will provide images that are archived throughout the process.

Using the camera control on the left side of the screen, visitors can zoom in and out and select archived images from the calendar. In addition, fans can click on the time lapse link and get an accelerated view of the process.

The University broke ground on the Multi-Sport Complex in April 2012. The project is phase I of a three-phase plan, replacing UAlbany's current football venue with a state of the art athletic and recreational complex.

The complex, which is east of the SEFCU Arena, on the site of the current soccer field, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. Upon completion, the complex will be home to the Great Danes' NCAA Division I football and men's and women's soccer teams.

Phase II includes the creation of a synthetic turf field designed for year-round recreational, intramural and club sport activities by the student body. This field will be located east of the campus tennis courts and south of Dutch Quad, and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2012.

Phase III will include repairs and upgrades to the track and field facilities, which is currently housed in the existing football venue.

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University of Albany Men's Track & Field Defends America East Title For The Eighth Consecutive Year - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Orono, Maine- UAlbany men's track and field team took home the gold at the America East Conference Championship with a team score of 181 on Sunday, May 6. The Great Danes completed the "Triple Crown" by winning the America East Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships all in one year. The last time the triple crown was achieved was back in the 1988-89 season which was done by Northeastern.

The Great Danes took home five gold medals, one on the track and four in the field events. Kadeem Howell was highlighted as the Most Outstanding Field Performer with his 7.08 meter-mark in the long jump and the 14.73-meter mark that placed him first in the respective events.

On the track, the 4x100-meter relay team of Earnest Waters, Rashawn Simpson, Donald Williams Jr. and Jonathan Santana, Jonathan took home the gold with an IC4A qualifying time of 41.25.

In the field, Alexander Bowen took the high-jump crown with a mark of 2.10 meters. Alfonso Scannipieco took home first place in the pole vault with 4.95 mark.

Men - Team Rankings - 22 Events Scored

1) Albany 181

2) Binghamton 147

3) Boston U. 145.50

4) Maine 97.50

5) New Hampshire 84.50

6) UMBC 78.50

7) Vermont 56

8) Stony Brook 43

9) Hartford 23

University of Albany Women's Track & Field Takes Home Fourth Consecutive America East Crown - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Orono, Maine- UAlbany women's track and field squad defended its America East Conference Title for the fourth consecutive year with a team score of 185 on Sunday, May 6. The Great Danes coaching staff was named America East Conference Championship Coaching Staff of the Year.

On the track, Tynelle Taylor-Chase took home the gold in the 400-meter hurdles with an ECAC qualifying time of 1:00.62. Teammate Brittany Eveleth followed right behind Taylor-Chase in second with an ECAC qualifying time of 1:01.29.

The 4x400-meter relay team of Kamilah Williams, Brittany Eveleth, Tynelle Taylor-Chase and Allison Rogers continued its dominance on the track with a gold-medal finish time of 3.45.61 which was an ECAC qualifier. Brianne Bellon, Jonelle White, Sherez Mohamed and Kathryn Fanning finished first in the 4x800-meter relay with an ECAC qualifying time of 9:02.07.

In the field events, Patricia McNish took home golds in the long (6.00 meters) and triple jump (12.51 meters) both of which are ECAC qualifying marks. Catherine Coxon placed first in the discus throw with an ECAC qualifying mark of 47.34 meters.

Women - Team Rankings - 22 Events Scored

1) Albany 185

2) Boston U. 130

3) Binghamton 124.50

4) UMBC 105

5) Vermont 90

6) New Hampshire 88.50

7) Maine 56

8) Stony Brook 48

9) Hartford 30

University of Albany Repeats As America East Women's Lacrosse Champions - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass.- UAlbany's Mel Rorie, with her three-goal performance, was named America East Conference Championship MVP in the win over Stony Brook, 9-7, on Saturday, May 5 at Nickerson Field. The Great Danes have now won the last two America East Championships and will wait on Sunday, May 6 at 9 pm to find out who they will play in the NCAA Tournament.

Stony Brook, in the second half, came back with a resurgence to tie the game up 7-7 with 4:59 remaining. The Seawolves were led by a 5-2 run with Demmianne Cook's two points (1 goal, 1 assist) and capped by Claire Petersen's second goal of the game.

The Great Danes would take possession for the final four minutes of the game, as Maureen Keggins scored the game-winning goal at the 3:52 mark from a perfect pass by teammate Amanda Pollock. Pollock would then finish off with 11 seconds an open-net goal to give UAlbany its second NCAA apperance in as many years.

UAlbany goalkeeper Anna Berman (11-5) arguably played her best game between the pipes this season, shutting down the number one offense in the conference (14.38 goals per game) with five saves on 12 chances. Stony Brook goalkeeper Hannah Perruccio (6-4) also tallied five saves on 13 chances.

UAlbany (12-5) began the first half as it did in the America East Semifinals, 2-1, with 19:04 remaining. The first goal was setup up with Jess Antelmi receiving a pass from Amanda Pollock. Then Nicole Eamer from the back of the net made a perfect pass to a cutting Ariana Parker for the Great Danes second goal.

In between UAlbany's two goals, Stony Brook (14-5) made a bang-bang play with America East Player of the Year Claire Petersen making a great pass to teammate Demmianne Cook for her first goal of the postseason.

The Great Danes then went on a 3-0 goal stretch to extend its lead to four, 5-1, with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. Mel Rorie tallied two of the Danes three goals and teammate Amanda Pollock added two points in the mix, one goal and one assist.

Right before the half, the Seawolves Petersen went the entire half of the field of the draw to score in eight seconds to cut the deficit to three, 5-2, before the half ended. The Great Danes would lead the Seawolves in both shots, 11-6, and in ground balls, 8-4.

University of Albany Softball Completes Home-And-Away Series Sweep Over Siena - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Loudonville, N.Y.- Vicky McFarland and Alexa Toole each tally a home run en route to non-conference double header sweep over crosstown rival Siena, 8-0 and 6-2, on Tuesday, May 1 at Siena Field. UAlbany improves to 33-10 overall while Siena falls to 18-30.

Brittany MacFawn (17-4) threw her fourth consecutive one-hitter in game one, striking out 10 batters and not allowing one walk. This was MacFawn's eighth 10-plus strikeout performance of the season.

After through two scoreless innings, UAlbany (33-10) scored two in the top of the third with a Charlise Castro two-run double up the middle. Then in the fourth, the Great Danes would load up the bases and Siena pitcher Jessica Sandrini would walk in two more to add onto the deficit, 4-0.

Both McFarland and Toole would each hit two-run homers, one to deep center and one to right, in the top of the fifth to enforce the "eight-run" rule after MacFawn went 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning.

Game two, UAlbany jumped out to a 2-0 lead from a two-run double off the bat of catcher Kylie Apostolina.

Siena would cut into the lead, 2-1, with a Sandrini RBI-single to left to drive in Sarah Milligan.

The Great Danes would score four more, two in third, one in the fourth and one in the fifth, as insurance runs for Brittany Schwieger (14-4). Schwieger would allow just two runs in her 12th complete game, giving up seven hits and striking out seven.

UAlbany would finish out the 2012 season with its final America East weekend series against Stony Brook, beginning on Saturday, May 5 at Stony Brook, N.Y. (1pm).

Joe Resetarits Named America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Player Of The Year - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. - Senior attackman Joe Resetarits was named the 2012 America East Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Resetarits led a group of nine Great Danes honored by the conference this season. The all-conference teams are voted on by the America East's head coaches, who cannot vote for their own players.

Resetarits was joined on the all-conference first team by senior long stick defender Travis Lyons. Sophomore attackman Miles Thompson, sophomore midfielder Cody Futia and senior faceoff specialist Keith Olson were all-conference second team honorees. Freshmen Mike Miller, Will Stenberg and Lyle Thompson all garnered all-rookie team accolades, while senior Daley Baker earned a spot on the all-academic squad.

Resetarits, who led the conference in scoring this season, also ranks fifth nationally with 4.21 points per game and 2.93 goals per game. A first-team selection for the third time in his career, Resetarits performed at an even higher standard during league play, averaging 5.60 points per game against America East Conference opponents. Resetarits, who earned Player of the Week honors on April 16, follows in brother Frank's footsteps, as he earned the Player of the Year honors in 2007.

Lyons led the Great Dane defense this season, picking up 35 ground balls, while also recording five assists, en route to his first all-conference selection. Miles Thompson earns all-league second team honors after finishing second in points with 52 after the regular season. The 2011 Rookie of the Year, Thompson has scored 30 goals and leads the Great Danes with 21 assists. Futia is making his first all-conference appearance after becoming one of UAlbany's most tenacious defenders. Futia played in 12 games this season, picking up 12 ground balls. Olson also earned the first all-conference accolades of his career after starting all 14 games in the faceoff circle this season. Olson picked up a team-high 62 ground balls and went 116-of-235 in faceoff attempts.

Myle Thompson followed brother Miles to an all-rookie selection this season, after finishing fourth on the team - behind Miles and cousin Ty - with 16 goals and 13 assists. He is also third on the team with 34 ground balls. Miller made an immediate impact on the UAlbany program, scoring one goal and adding four assists from the defensive side of the field. Stenberg has become a key component to the Great Danes' success in the conference schedule, and has tallied nine goals and five assists for 14 total points.

Baker, a public policy major, holds a 3.82 grade point average and is a starting defensive midfielder for the Great Danes. He has scored two goals for the Great Danes and has picked up 13 ground balls.

UAlbany (4-10, AE 3-2) is ranked third in the America East Conference Championship, and will take on second-ranked UMBC on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Track & Field Places First In Eight Events At The Capital District Classic - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Troy, N.Y.- UAlbany women's track and field squard was able to place eight first-place finishers at the Capital District Classic hosted by RPI on Saturday, April 28. The Great Danes featured an ECAC qualifying mark in the discus throw from Catherine Coxon.

In the field events, Catherin Coxon placed first in the discus throw with an ECAC qualifying mark of 43.80 meters.Teammates Samantha Kosa in the shot put (12.85 meters), Katie Dowd in the javelin throw (36.50), Michelle McCrae in the long jump (5.31 meters) and Rochelle Reid in the high jump (1.60) placed first in their respective events.

On the track, Tynelle Taylor-Chase finished first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.41. Melissa Del Rosario (4:56.45) and Brianna Service (4:56.53) finished one and two in the 1500-meter run. Emily Finnegan's time of 17:22.37 was good for first place in the 5000-meter run.

UAlbany women's track and field will continue its outdoor schedule on Saturday, May 5 for the America East Conference Championships in Orono, ME.

Men's Track & Field Takes Six Events In Capital District Classic Meet - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany men's track and field place first in six events at the Captial District Classic meet on Saturday, April 28. The Great Danes meet was highlighted in the 800-meter run, having eight of the top ten finishers.

On the track, UAlbany took the 800-meter run having placed eight of the first ten finishers as Tyler Fogarty led the charge with a time of 1:54.96. Then in the 1500-meter run, John DeLallo finished first with finals time of 4:00.58.

Shane Wagner took home first place in the 400-meter hurdles with a meet time of 54.03. Finally, in the 4x400-meter both "A" and "B" squads finished in the top two with "A" grouping finishing first with a time of 3:27.97.

In the field events, Nicolas Matteras placed first in the pole vault with a mark of 4.50 meters. Christopher Stevenson triple jump mark of 13.46 meters placed him first.

The Great Danes will continue the outdoor season with the America East Championships, beginning on Saturday, May 5 in Orono, ME.

UAlbany FCS Football: Defense Posts A 69-24 Win Over Offense In Spring Football Game - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Abany, N.Y. - Junior Dean Mercuris finished with four tackles, a sack for a four-yard loss and one forced fumble to lead the defense to a 69-24 over the offense in UAlbany football's annual Spring Game, held on Saturday afternoon at University Field. The squad completed 102 plays in the controlled scrimmage.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman Nick Beach finished with a 25-yard interception return and recorded a tackle, while sophomore safety Justinian Mason added one tackle and an interception with a 26-yard return. Junior linebacker Dave Plungas recorded one sack for a 10-yard loss, and finished with one tackle, while freshman safety Ian Blair recorded two tackles and a 10-yard fumble recovery. Freshman defensive lineman Mike Smith finished with three of the defensive squad's 10 sacks. The Great Danes totaled 56 tackles and four interceptions.

Buddy Leathly led the quarterbacks, going 6-of-13 for 62 total yards, including a long pass of 49 yards to wide receiver Kevin Chillis. Will Fiacchi went 6-of-16 for 46 yards, with a long of 15 yards, also to Chillis. Freshman Ryan Smith completed four passes for 43 yards, as he ended the scrimmage with back-to-back passes of 12 and 30 yards, respectively. Ryan Spelman went 2-of-7 on the day for 13 yards, with a long of eight yards to Nate Papso.

Chillis led the UAlbany receivers with 72 yards on four receptions on the day. Ryan Kirchner picked up seven yards on two catches, while Cole King totaled 23 yards on two receptions, including a 12-yard pass from Leathly. Seven other players had catches for the offense, including freshman Pat O'Connor, who caught Smith's 30-yard pass at the end of the game. Omar Osbourne and Karl Allison led the UAlbany rushers, with 78 and 41 total yards, respectively. Osbourne posted a long run of 12 yards, while Allison had two runs of 10 yards. King had one rushing attempt for 30 yards, while Fiacchi had the longest run of the quarterback corps with a five-yard rush.

The UAlbany kickers were led by Paul Layton, who totaled 134 punting yards on three attempts. Layton also went 1-for-1 on field goal attempts. Sean Kenney punted twice for 105 yards and went 1-for-2 on field goal attempts. Freshman Tom O'Riordan connected on a 30-yard field goal as well.

"I think we made too many mistakes," said UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, who will be entering his 40th varsity season this fall. "There were some simple interceptions and turnovers, mostly on balls we shouldn't have thrown. The defense played well overall, but I am a bit concerned with our pass protection. We answered some questions, but not all of them. The rest we will have to answer in preseason. We came out healthy, which is our number one priority."

Women's 4x400-Meter Relay Breaks School Record On Day One At Penn Relays - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa.- On day one of the Penn Relays, the women's track and field 4x400-meter relay team of Allison Rogers, Brittany Eveleth, Tynelle Taylor-Chase and Sherez Mohamed broke the UAlbany school record with a time of 3:43.38. The squad previously broke the school's record last weekend at the Larry Ellis Invitational finishing at 3:44.27. Their mark of 3:43.38 qualified them for the Eastern College Athletics Conference Championships on Saturday, April 28.

Other notable finishes on day one included the college women's distance medley team finishing third with a time of 11:46.22. Kathryn Fanning ran the 1200-meter leg in 3:34, Elia Francis ran the 400-meter leg in 56.9, Jonelle White ran the 800-meter leg in 2:13.4 and Miranda McConnell finished off the final 1600-meters in 5:00.9.

Patricia McNish finished seventh in the eastern women's long jump with a mark of 18-feet 7 and 1/4 inches.

Antelmi and Resetarits Nominated for America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information Cambridge, Mass.-

UAlbany women's lax junior attack/midfielder Jess Antelmi and men's lax senior attack Joe Resetarits were nominated for the America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year in their respective sports. One player from each of the conference's 13 lacrosse teams are listed on the ballot. Voting for the 2012 America East Men's and Women's Lacrosse Fans' Choice Players of the Year will go until 12 p.m. (noon) on Monday, April 30. The winners will be announced that afternoon via release at AmericaEast.com. Resetarits, a Hamburg, N.Y. native, has helped jump start the UAlbany men's lacrosse team after starting out the season 0-7.

The Great Danes have won their last four of six games, including three of four conference games to put them tied for first in the conference standings. The senior attack leads his team in goals (37), assists (17) and points (54). Both his goals and points totals are best in the America East Conference. He and the rest of the UAlbany squad look to finish out the season with a win on senior day against Stony Brook on Saturday, April 28 (7pm) at John Fallon Field.

To vote for Resetarits click here: https://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/poll?pid=AB_MiTNZHmI Antelmi, a Bridgeport, N.Y. native, looks to assist her UAlbany women's lax squad to clinch the fourth and final spot in the America East Tournament. The Great Danes will need to win their final game over Vermont and have Stony Brook defeat New Hampshire to grab the final spot. The junior attack has totaled 23 goals and has a team-leading 21 assists and 44 points on the season. Antelmi and the Great Danes finish their 2012 schedule on the road against Vermont on Saturday, April 28 (2pm). To vote for Antelmi click here: https://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/poll?pid=AB_Mg_zRHIg&ref=nf

UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse Holds On For A 14-13 Victory Over Crosstown-Rival Siena

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany had three players with hat tricks, led by senior Joe Resetarits, who finished with a team-high five points, as the Great Danes defeated crosstown-rival Siena, 14-13, on Tuesday night at John Fallon Field. It was the 15th win over the Saints for UAlbany in the last 16 meetings between the two teams.

Siena, which had won eight straight coming into the game, jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter, as Chris D'Alberti scored first, followed by goals by Chris Roth and Evan Gallina, both assisted by Bryan Neufeld. The Great Danes got on the board at 7:45, with an unassisted shot by Miles Thompson. Resetarits netted his first goal of the game less than a minute later, taking an assist from Thompson to cut the Siena lead to one. Casey Dowd won the ensuing faceoff for the Saints and carried the ball into the offensive end, to put Siena up, 4-2.

However Miles Thompson netted his second goal and Will Stenberg took an assist from Resetarits on a man-up opportunity to tie the game at 4-4 after one. Siena scored the first two goals of the second quarter before UAlbany exploded, scoring the next seven goals. Four of those happened before the half. Will Fuller started the run, cutting the score to 6-5 off an assist from Jack Reynolds. Lyle Thompson netted the next two for the Great Danes, taking an assists from Rocky Bonitatibus on an extra-man opportunity before netting an unassisted goal to put UAlbany on top, 7-6. Mike Miller added one more for UAlbany before the halftime break, taking a long pass from Travis Lyons and finding the back of the net with 36 seconds to play.

Coming out of halftime, UAlbany scored three more to extend the lead to 11-6. Bonitatibus connected with Stenberg on a man-up to start the third quarter. Miles Thompson passed the ball off to brother Lyle at 9:17 to push the Great Dane lead to 10-6, before cousin Ty Thompson got in on the action on an assist from Resetarits with 3:33 left to play. The Saints would end their scoring drought in the final minutes of the third quarter, getting unassisted goals from Dowd and Conor Prunty.

The Great Danes kicked off the fourth quarter with a goal by Resetarits in the first minute. Siena started to mount a comeback with a goal by Chris Roth at 8:34, but UAlbany responded as Resetarits completed his 25th career hat trick on an assist from Lyons. Neufeld got in the goal-scoring column to cut the Saints' deficit to 13-10, before Stenberg netted his third goal of the game on an assist from Ty Thompson. Siena was not done, however, getting three goals in just over a minute of play. Roth scored two, while Colin Clive netted the final goal to pull the Saints within one. Siena picked up two late penalties, however, giving UAlbany control off the ball, and the Great Danes held on in the offensive end for the one-goal win.

The teams played fairly evenly on the stats sheet, with Siena (9-4) holding a 51-40 advantage in shots, including 17-7 in the final period, and a 34-30 advantage in ground balls. Both teams were 17-of-19 on clear attempts, while the Saints won 16-of-29 faceoffs. UAlbany used its special teams effectively, however, as the Great Danes were successful in 3-of-7 extra-man opportunities, while Siena when 0-for-3 with its man-up unit. Freshman goalkeeper Max Huber played all 60 minutes in the net for the Great Danes, making 10 saves. Siena's Tom Morr took the loss, playing 58:56 with 11 saves, before Matt Sharp came in for the final minute of play.

UAlbany (4-9) will return to action on Saturday, hosting Stony Brook in the final regular-season game. The game will have America East Championship implications, as the Great Danes are currently tied with the Seawolves atop the league standings. The game will be televised on Time Warner Cable Sports at 7 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Breaks Ground For New Multi-Sport Complex - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information Albany, N.Y. -

UAlbany President George M. Philip, along with Vice President and Athletic Director Lee McElroy, was joined by public officials, coaches, student-athletes, alumni and supporters as the University broke ground on the construction of its new multi-sport complex, on Tuesday morning. Also announced was a $1 million challenge as part of a $2 million campaign to name the new field for head football coach Bob Ford, as presented by Dan Nolan '73, a member of UAlbany's President's Club of outstanding contributors.

"It's a bit surreal," said Ford, who will be entering his 40th varsity season at the helm of the UAlbany program this fall. "I think it speaks to the longevity, commitment and effort over an extended period of time. When something gets named after you, it means that someone thought you've given something, and been dedicated to a high degree. And I hope that's what I have done." The project is phase I of a three-phase plan, replacing UAlbany's current football venue with a state of the art athletic and recreational complex. The complex, which is east of the SEFCU Arena, on the site of the current soccer field, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013.

Upon completion, the complex will be home to the Great Danes' NCAA Division I football and men's and women's soccer teams. Phase II includes the creation of a synthetic turf field designed for year-round recreational, intramural and club sport activities by the student body. This field will be located east of the campus tennis courts and south of Dutch Quad, and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2012. Phase III will include repairs and upgrades to the track and field facilities, which is currently housed in the existing football venue. Once completed, scheduled for early winter 2013, the area will be used strictly for track and field activities. "We are thrilled to be implementing this very long-awaited plan," said President Philip. "Already, this project is heightening team spirit as we provide Great Dane athletes and our students with the facilities of which they are so deserving."

The announcement included project contractors Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, principle architect and designer, Heery International Inc., and site engineer, Clough Harbor & associates.

Men's Soccer Adds 12 To The Upcoming 2012 Season - UAlbany Sports 20121

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y.- Attempting to build upon a 2011 season that saw an America East semi-final appearance for just the fourth time in program history, UAlbany men's soccer head coach Trevor Gorman has announced the addition of 12 new faces for 2012. "This large class has a tremendous mix of in-state talent and international experience", said head coach Gorman on the recruiting class. "We are looking forward to the addition of these young men to our program, and to the impact they will undoubtedly have over the next four years."

Kristian Alexieff: DEF - 5'10 - 160lbs. - West Nyack, NY (Don Bosco Prep) Quick Facts: A member of two league championship teams at Don Bosco, Alexieff led the team in scoring his senior year with 15 goals and 9 assists. He has competed in the USSD Academy with both Met Oval and New York Cosmos, acting as a starting left back for both. Gorman on Alexieff: "Kit is an energetic, athletic, wide player with a great engine that will allow him to get up and down the sideline. He has trained, and played, at a very high level and just loves the game in general. I think he will be an excellent addition to our left side." Tim Allen: GK - 6'4 - 180lbs. - Brisbane, Australia (Queensland University of Technology) Quick Facts: A former member of the Australian Goalkeeping Academy, Allen comes to Albany as a transfer from Queensland University of Technology. While in high school he was a regular starter for St. Peter's Lutheran College, and currently plays for University of Queensland FC. Gorman on Allen: "Tim is a player who has all the physical tools to be a top Division 1 goalkeeper, and brings with him the experience of playing at a very good standard in his home country. We're delighted to add him to the Great Danes program." Max Aronica: MF - 5'9 - 145lbs. - Massapequa, NY (Massapequa HS) Quick Facts: A standout at Commack and Massapequa High Schools, Aronica is a multiple time all-league and all-conference performer. As a member of Commack SC, ranked as high as #2 in the country, he has helped the team to championships in the New York state cup and Disney Showcase. Aronica is also a three time state ODP selection. Gorman on Aronica: "Max comes to us from an excellent Commack team that has competed at the highest level for years. He's is a creative player with the vision to pick out good passes when he's on the ball. His technical ability in tight spaces will allow him to transition well to the college game." Phil Denara: MF - 5'7 - 140lbs. - West Islip, NY (West Islip HS) Quick Facts: As a team captain with West Islip High School in 2011, Denara was named both all-league and all-county. During his four year career he amassed over 50 points. A teammate of Aronica with Commack SC, Denara has twice won the Disney Showcase, and competed in the USYSA National League. Gorman on Denara: "Phil first impressed us at various camps last summer. He's a quick, athletic, player with good technical ability. I look for Phil to compete for a position on our right side early in his career at UAlbany." Bart DeProspo: DEF/MF - 6'2 - 175lbs. - Groshen, NY (Don Bosco Prep) Quick Facts: As a team captain in 2011, DeProspo helped lead traditional high school powerhouse Don Bosco to another successful season. He has competed with Met Oval in the USSD Academy, and currently plays with TSF Academy. Gorman on DeProspo: "Bart is a player who we saw at our camp last summer. He comes from a good soccer family, and has a tremendous work rate - enabling his success at both high school and club level. I think he will only continue to get better and will be a fantastic addition to our program." Ivan Martinez: MF/FW - 5'5 - 135lbs. - Mamaroneck, NY (Rye Neck HS) Quick Facts: Despite missing his senior season, Martinez enjoyed a highly decorated career at Rye Neck High School earning player of the year honors in Section 1 in 2010. That same year he was also named 1st Team All State. Martinez plays for FC Westchester in the USSD Academy, helping them to a division title and playoffs appearance in 2011. Gorman on Martinez: "Ivan is a dangerous attacking player who always pops up in good positions on the field. He's capable of playing multiple positions, and has the potential to transition very well to Division 1 soccer. I fully expect him to be a dynamic attacking member of our team throughout his career." Philip Persson: FW - 5'10 - 170lbs. - Norrkoping, Sweden (John Bauergymnasiet HS) Quick Facts: Hailing from Norrkoping, Sweden, Persson has been a member of the youth system at IFK Norrkoping and Smedby AIS. In the 2011 season he contributed eight goals to his team's quest to win the youth division. Gorman on Persson: "Philip is another international player who has been exposed to a good standard of play throughout his development. He has the ability to put the ball in the net, and will be an exciting attacking option. We will look forward to welcoming to UAlbany in the fall." Fabrizio Petralia: MF - 5'10 - 140lbs. - West Hempstead, NY (St. Anthony's HS) Quick Facts: As a team captain at St. Anthony's, Fabrizio tallied 15 goals and 7 assists on his way to being named an all-county selection, while helping the squad to a finals appearance. He has participated for BW Gottschee, New York Cosmos, and Albertson in the USSD Academy. Gorman on Petralia: "Fabrizio is another excellent addition to our left side of the field. He's enjoyed success at the highest level of club soccer, and will bring good vision, movement, and understanding to our team. He will certainly be in a position to make an impact upon his arrival." Sergio Petralia: MF - 5'10 - 140lbs. - West Hempstead, NY (St. Anthony's HS) Quick Facts: A teammate of his brother at St. Anthony's, Sergio produced 7 goals and 13 assists in his senior year helping his team achieve a finals appearance. He has played his club soccer for BW Gottschee, New York Cosmos, and Albertson in the USSD Academy including a playoff appearance in 2011. Gorman on Petralia: "Sergio brings numerous qualities to our team for the fall. Like his brother he understands the game, and has the technical ability to make an impact from various positions on the field. He will, undoubtedly, hit the ground running and look to contribute from day one." Luca Quinn: DEF - 6'4 - 170lbs. - New York City, NY (The Beacon School) Quick Facts: A member of the 2010 PSAL championship squad at The Beacon School, Quinn contributed 7 goals and 5 assists to that campaign and served as team captain in 2011. Having formerly competed with New York Cosmos in the USSD Academy, he now plays with Bayside Aston Villa Flames. Gorman on Quinn: "Luca is another player who came to our attention through our camp. He reads the game very well, and has an excellent touch for a player who is still growing in to his frame. I see him as a player who will only get better throughout his time here and look forward to seeing his development." Anthony Rozzano: FW/MF - 5'10 - 150lbs. - Webster, NY (Webster Schroeder HS) Quick Facts: As a senior, Rozzano scored 29 goals and led his Webster Schroeder team to the New York state championship game. For his efforts he was named the Greater Rochester Player of the Year, an All-State selection, and a NSCAA All American. Rozzano competes for Empire United in the USSD Academy. Gorman on Rozzano: "Anthony is a constant threat going forward. He's a proven goal scorer, but can also play a number of different roles within a team. His quickness, with and without the ball, will be a major asset to him at the college level. I look forward to him bringing those talents to the Great Danes." Keith Traut: DEF - 6'2 - 180lbs. - College Point, NY (Brooklyn Technical HS) Quick Facts: As captain of Brooklyn Technical High School in 2011, Traut earned an invitation to participate in the NYC Mayors Cup showcase for the top players in the area. He is a regular starter for New York Cosmos in the USSD Academy. Gorman on Traut: "Keith is a player with the size and athleticism to compete right away in college. He's benefiting from the consistent training, and matches, within the academy and is getting better every week. I look forward to that continued growth, and expect him to challenge to contribute early in his UAlbany career."

University of Albany FCS Football Begins Preparations for 2012 Season - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Spring practice for the University at Albany football program began on Saturday March 31 and the team will be having their first intra-squad scrimmage this Saturday. The scrimmage is scheduled from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on University Field. The Great Danes, who are allowed 15 practices, are slated to play the annual Spring Game at University Field on Saturday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m., to conclude the spring season. UAlbany established a program record with its 6th consecutive winning season in 2011.

The Great Danes, who have won five Northeast Conference championships since 2002, recorded a non-league win over Columbia during a 8-4 campaign that took the Great Danes in to their first ever FCS Playoff appearance. Head coach Bob Ford, the active Division I FCS & FBS leader with 255 career victories, has 47 letterwinners returning, including 13 starters on both offense and defense. "In spring football is when you establish who your team is going to be" explains Ford, who is entering his 40th varsity season, "the saying goes; 'you drive your stake in to the ground to establish your identity.' I think we have a decent nucleus on both sides of the football coming back. Our major challenges will be solidifying an offensive line with two definite spots open and deciding on who will be our starting quarterback."

The Great Danes will have to replace their starting quarterback, Dan DiLella, who led the Great Danes to their first-ever FCS Playoff appearance with a single season school record of 2,548 yards passing. Returning on offense are top tailbacks Andrew Smith and Dillon Romain and leading receiver Ryan Kirchner. "We have a very good stable of running backs, two good tight ends and an excellent core of receivers" says Coach Ford about the offense. Kirchner registered the fourth-best single-season total in school history with 56 receptions for 615 yards and ten touchdowns. He also averaged 7.8 yards per punt return. The offensive side of the ball will have eight starters and 22 letterman returning for the 2012 campaign.

The defense had an All-Northeast Conference player at every position last year with exception of outside linebacker, where Kyle Jordan earned Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year honors. The defense will have to replace two All-Conference defensive linemen in Zach Gallo and Eddie Delaney. Delaney, a recipient of the Maxwell Football Club's Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award, led the Great Dane defense with 54 tackles and recorded a team-best 11.5 hits for a loss. He also established the program's FCS single-season record with 8.5 sacks. "On the defensive side it appears that we're four-over-two at almost every position with the exception of the defensive line which is a little thin," said Ford. "Our linebacker core will probably be the heart and soul of our defensive unit." Jon Morgan, a senior inside linebacker, led the team in tackles with 106 on his way to earning First-Team All-Northeast Conference Honors. The defense will have to replace six starters this spring and will have 24 letterman returning.

On special teams, Paul Layton, an All-Northeast Conference Punter, who finished the 2011 season ranked 9th at the FCS level, returns and will look to improve on his 2011 average of 42.6 yards per punt attempt. SPRING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Mon 4/9 3pm Wed 4/11 3pm Fri 4/13 3pm Sat 4/14 10am (Intra-Squad Scrimmage) Mon 4/16 3pm Wed 4/18 3pm Fri 4/20 3pm Sat 4/21 10am (Intra-Squad Scrimmage) Mon 4/23 3pm Wed 4/25 3pm Fri 4/27 3pm (Rain Date if Needed) Sat 4/28 3pm (Annual Purple & Gold Game)

UAlbany Releases 2012 Football Schedule; Great Danes Will Visit Youngstown State & Maine

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Albany, N.Y. - For the first time in seven years, UAlbany will start its schedule at home, as the Great Danes will host Colgate on Sept. 1, 2012. Vice President and Athletic Director Lee McElroy, along with head football coach Bob Ford, announce the team's upcoming fall schedule on Thursday, March 29, 2012. UAlbany will host five games at University Field, while taking on three non-conference opponents.

After kicking off the fall with Colgate, the Great Danes hit the road for three straight contests, visiting conference foe Robert Morris on Sept. 8, before traveling to Youngstown State (Sept. 15) and Maine (Sept. 22). The Black Bears were NCAA Playoff participants last season, finishing 9-4 after falling to Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals. UAlbany will return home on Sept. 29, hosting Northeast Conference opponent Monmouth on Hall of Fame Weekend.

The Great Danes will visit Bryant (Oct. 6), to start October before hosting St. Francis (Pa.) at 1 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend. After a bye week on Oct. 20, the Great Danes wrap up the league slate, visiting Sacred Heart (Oct. 27) and Duquesne (Nov. 10) while hosting Wagner (Nov. 3).

UAlbany will close out the season at home, welcoming NEC rival Central Connecticut State to University Field on Nov. 17. "I think it is a very fair schedule," said Ford, who is entering his 40th varsity season at the helm of the UAlbany program. "We are going to have a bullseye on our back as we defend our conference title. We have a habit of playing national champions, and Youngstown State is a four-time champion. We are playing Colgate for the third straight season, and both of those games have been tight, tough ballgames. We have also built a good rivalry with Maine, so we're looking forward to playing up there.

We are looking forward to continuing to build on the successes we've had."

University of Albany Women’s Basketball Falls To Texas A&M, 69-47, In First-Ever NCAA Tournament - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information College Station, Texas - Despite 14 points and nine rebounds from junior Ebone Henry, UAlbany fell to Texas A&M, 69-47, in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday evening at Reed Arena. In their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, the Great Danes outrebounded the defending National Champions, 48-33. UAlbany got on the board first with a basket by Julie Forster. Texas A&M responded, getting a conventional three-point play from Tyra White, but a layup by Henry kept the Great Danes on top. Adaora Elonu then recorded a steal on the Great Danes and hit a jumper in the paint to give the Aggies a 5-4 lead at the first media timeout. The teams exchanged baskets to alternate the lead again, before Texas A&M got two free throws from Adrienne Pratcher to extend the lead to 9-6. The two defensive-minded teams continued to battle through the first half, and a steal by Adrienne Jones and basket by Sarah Royals pulled UAlbany to within 15-13 with just over seven minutes left to play. A basket by Forster in the paint tied the game at 17-17 with just over five minutes on the clock. However, a basket by White and two free throws by Skylar Collins put the Aggies back on top by four. UAlbany's Tabatha Makopondo grabbed a rebound and hit a jumper, and Forster went 1-of-2 from the free throw line, cutting the lead to 20-21, but A&M got a 3-pointer by Kristi Bellock just before the shot clock expired to put the Aggies up by four at the four-minute media timeout. With just under two minutes left to play in the first, Henry hit back-to-back baskets, taking an assist from Cassandra Callaway to drain a long three from the right side of the arc, tying the game at 25-25 with 1:41 on the clock. However, White, who finished with 12 points in the half, hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, while Makopondo was only able to hit 1-of-2 free throws, as the team hit the locker rooms with Texas A&M on top, 30-26. A quick basket by the Aggies gave A&M a six-point lead to start the second half, but UAlbany got six straight points to tie the game back up at 32-all. Texas A&M fired back and forced the Great Danes into two turnovers, getting a layup by Elonu and a 3-pointer from the right corner from Carter to take a 37-32 lead and prompt UAlbany to take a time out. The Aggies continued on a 12-2 run, getting up by ten, 44-34, with just over 14 minutes left to play. Texas A&M continued to roll, as Alexia Standish nailed a 3-pointer to put the Aggies up by 13, 49-36. Henry and Forster both hit jump shots to try to spark a UAlbany rally, but Karla Gilbert sank a bucket to keep A&M on top. Standish nailed another long-range shot to put the Aggies up, 57-41, at the eight-minute media timeout. UAlbany refused to fold, and continued its relentless defense against the bigger, more experienced Aggies. A&M built up a 19-point lead, 64-45, on a fourth 3-pointer by Standish as the clock wound down under three minutes. The Aggies, who shot 46.6 percent (27-58) from the floor in the game, continued their hot shooting, and extended their lead out to 22 points before the final buzzer. White led the Aggies with 18 points, while Elonu and Standish totaled 13 and 12 points, respectively. Texas A&M (23-10), forced UAlbany into 24 turnovers and shot 58.3 percent (7-12) from 3-point range. Freshman Megan Craig totaled nine points and seven rebounds, while also recording all three of UAlbany's blocks in the game. Forster finished with eight points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. The Great Danes shot 31.7 percent (19-60) from the floor and recorded eight steals, led by Henry with three. Henry played all 40 minutes for UAlbany.

Newman's Own Awards UAlbany’s (R.A.C.E.) A $10,000 Grant For Their Community Partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters

NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION UNVEILS CAMPUS COMMUNITY SERVICE CHALLENGE GRANT RECIPIENTS
Over $100,000 Awarded in Innovative Student-Engagement Initiative

Westport, Connecticut ─ Yesterday, during the America East Conference Basketball Championship, Newman’s Own Foundation unveiled the top grant recipients of its third-annual Campus Community Service Challenge.

Engineers Without Borders, in partnership with University at Maine, received the top grant of $25,000. Earth Day Southern Tier working with Binghamton University’s SUNY VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments) received $15,000. Two student group/non-profit partnerships tied for the third-place grant. Both Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, who partnered with University of Albany’s Reclassifying All Children Equally (R.A.C.E.), and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports who partnered with University of Vermont’s Adaptive Sports, will receive a $10,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation. In total, over $100,000 was awarded to nonprofits throughout the tournament.

The Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge was developed to encourage the practice of philanthropy among younger generations, specifically on college campuses. One student group, chosen from each of the America East’s nine member universities, nominated and partnered with a local nonprofit for a Newman’s Own Foundation grant.

“A priority of the Foundation is to encourage the practice of philanthropy among as broad a population as possible,” said Bob Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation. “These student volunteers represent the next generation of leadership. We are inspired by their work and proud to support them through the Campus Community Service Challenge.”

Grant recommendations were based on the student groups’ involvement with their chosen nonprofit, and the impact of the partnership on those served by the nonprofit as well as on the students themselves.

The Newman’s Own Foundation also presented “charity stripe shootouts” throughout the tournament. University students, selected from the crowd, played to win $1,000 for a local charity of choice. In total, $7,000 was awarded to nonprofits per the recommendations of these students.

To learn more about the challenge and the nine student group/non-profit partnerships, please visit http://newmansownfoundation.org/competition/.

Newman’s Own Foundation (www.newmansownfoundation.org)

Paul Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place. To carry on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation turns all net royalties and profits from the sale of Newman’s Own products into charitable donations. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $340 million to thousands of charities around the world.

About America East (www.americaeast.com)

Since its beginning as a men’s basketball conference in 1979, America East has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with 20 championship sports serving more than 3,400 student-athletes. Supporting the missions of its nine member institutions – Albany, Binghamton, Boston University, Hartford, Maine, UMBC, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Vermont – America East is committed to developing champions in academics, athletics and leadership.

Maggie Carril
Sunshine Sachs
carril@sunshinesachs.com
212-691-2800 phone
781-424-9223 cell

Tickets to Go On Sale For America East Women’s Basketball Championship Today

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Tickets for the America East Conference Women's Basketball Championship game will go on sale tomorrow at 12 noon, through the UAlbany ticket office. The game, which tips off at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening, will feature the UAlbany Great Danes, taking on the UMBC Retrievers. The winner of the game will earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

UAlbany season ticket holders will have the opportunity to reserve and pay for their seats prior to opening sales to the public. Ticket prices are $30 for chairback seating and $25 for reserved seating. Students, with an America East school ID are $10, while youth tickets (18 and under) will be available for $5. Due to press table arrangements for America East Championships, there will not be courtside seating for the championship game.

Please call the UAlbany ticket office at 518-442-4683 to reserve your seats and cheer on the Great Danes in their first-ever America East Women's Basketball Championship! Visit www.ualbanysports.com for more information.

Seven Great Danes Make 2011 NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - Seven University at Albany field hockey student-athletes were represented by the 2011 Gladiator by SGI/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic Squad as announced Monday, March 5.
Kristi Troch, Taylor Luke and Brianna Schwoyer are making their third straight appearance on the list. Nina Walters, Daphne Voormolen, Chantae Miller and Karlijn van Dijsseldonk join the group as well for the first time.

The National Academic Squad recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2011-12 academic year. Seventy-seven division one institutions had student-athletes recognized on the academic list.

The entire field hockey program was recognized as well for accumulating a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. UAlbany were among 65 division one schools to receive this honor. The National Academic Squad recognized teams with a minimum 3.0 GPA during the first semester of the 2011-12 academic year.

UAlbany Posts 58-50 Win Over Binghamton; Will Host America East Women’s Basketball Championship - UAlbany Sports 2012

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics

West Hartford, Conn. - Nineteen points from Defensive Player of the Year Ebone Henry led UAlbany to a 58-50 victory over Binghamton in the America East Conference Women's Basketball quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at Chase Family Arena. With the win over the Bearcats, UAlbany advances to the program's first-ever America East Conference Championship game. The Great Danes will host fifth-seeded UMBC on Saturday at 8 p.m. at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany jumped out to a 13-6 lead seven minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Henry. Binghamton cut the advantage to three, 13-10, with back-to-back jumpers by Mallory Lawes and Andrea Holmes. A bucket from Viive Rebane pulled the Bearcats to within one, with just over 10 minutes to play, but UAlbany went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-12 lead on a layup by Cassandra Callaway. Binghamton responded, continuing the trend of runs in the first half, and closed the gap back to five, 23-18, on another Rebane jumper. The Bearcat senior would add one final bucket just before time expired, cutting the UAlbany advantage to three, 23-20, as the teams hit the locker room.

Henry led the Great Danes out of halftime and scored the first five points, putting UAlbany up by eight, 28-20, at 18:41. Holmes ended the run for Binghamton, but UAlbany's offense remained hot, as the Great Danes pulled ahead, 38-27, on a trey by Callaway with just under 15 minutes to play. Lindsey Lowrie sank a long range shot next, while a conventional three-point play by Henry gave UAlbany its largest lead of the game, 44-27, with 11:35 left to play.

Binghamton rallied back to cut the deficit to single digits, as Holmes was fouled on a good jumper and hit the ensuing free throw, pulling to within 50-41 with 5:40 left to play. The teams exchanged baskets and free throws, as UAlbany clung to a nine-point lead with under two minutes to go. Orla O'Reilly would not let the Bearcats fade, however, nailing a 3-pointer, before Holmes hit two free throws to pull Binghamton to within four, 54-50, with just a minute to go. UAlbany was not about to let the victory and ensuing championship game slip away, as Adrienne Jones converted a fast-break layup and Henry dropped in two free throws to seal up the win.

Holmes led Binghamton (13-18) with 17 points, while Rebane posted a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jasbriell Swain also finished with a double-double for the Bearcts, totaling 12 points and 11 boards.

Lowrie finished with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, while Julie Forster controlled the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds while chipping in with seven points, three assists, two steals and a block. UAlbany forced Binghamton into 22 turnovers, including 13 steals, led by Henry's four thefts.

"Will power. The team had will power and determination today," said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who has orchestrated an incredible turnaround in just two seasons with the UAlbany program. "We focus on one game at a time. That's been our motto all season. We are very excited, but also very humble that we are in this position. We have a tough opponent ahead."

UAlbany (21-9) will host UMBC at 8 p.m. on Saturday for the America East Championship and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The game will also be available on ESPN3.

"Phil [Stern] is a great coach and he's going to chess-match this game and come prepared, so are we," said Abrahamson-Henderson, whose team swept UMBC in the regular season. "And they've got some great seniors and players that don't want to go home just yet. We're not going to think about that right now. We're going to enjoy this, go to the men's game and cheer them on like crazy, and then take a nice day off. We are going to enjoy this journey and then we'll get back to business."

Pat McNish Topples Long Jump School Record Again @ ECAC Indoor Track & Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2012

Boston, Mass. - Pat McNish soars in the long jump to trump the school's record for the third time this season at day one of the ECAC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.

After the first day of competition and four scored events, the Great Danes are placed 8th among 28 scoring teams. Six schools are tied for second place with six points and Cornell leads all teams with 12 points.

McNish recorded a 19 foot and 9.50 inch long jump to place second overall. Kathryn Fanning ran in the 1,000 meter run preliminary round to finish at 2:52.23. The time qualifies Fanning for tomorrow's final event.

The Great Danes are set to compete in the distance medley, 3,000 meter, 1,000 meter and triple jump events in the final day of the ECAC Championships.

One the men's side, after the first day of IC4A Men's Indoor Track & Field Championships at Boston University, the squad sits in a three-way tie for 12th spot amongst 22 scoring teams. Four events were completed in the first day of competition.

Kadeem Howell finished third in the long jump event with a leap of 23' 9.75" collecting six points for the Great Danes. Kareem Morris, also competing in the long jump, finished 11th overall. UAlbany is set to compete in the high jump event tomorrow.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Men's Basketball Soars Past New Hampshire, 63-45, In America East Quarterfinals - UAlbany Sports 2012

West Hartford, Conn.- Gerardo Suero's 24-point, nine-rebound and four-assist performance led UAlbany over New Hampshire, 63-45, in the America East Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 3 at Chase Family Arena. Along with Suero's 21st 20-plus point performance, Mike Black scored 11 points in the contest which put him at 1,000 points for his career at UAlbany. The Great Danes move on to the semifinals to face the No. 1 seed Stony Brook on Sunday, March 4 at Chase Family Arena with the tip-off set for 5:02 p.m.

Suero had a game-high 24 points and was one rebound shy of his third career double-double, shooting 8-for-24 from the floor. Black was the only other Great Dane with double-figures, 11, and added four assists and four rebounds. Blake Metcalf, Jayson Guerrier and Sam Rowley each tallied at least seven rebounds with Metcalf leading the group with nine, five of which were offensive.

New Hampshire's Patrick Konan had a team-high 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting and six rebounds. Brian Benson had a game-high 13 rebounds, seven of which were offensive and five points.

A slow start to the first half as both teams mustered up only 11 points each through the first eight minutes of play. Gerardo Suero led UAlbany with six points on 3-of-9 shooting. The Great Danes would grab a seven-point lead, 23-16, with a 12-5 run that was capped by a Mike Black layup.

New Hampshire would look to cut the deficit with consecutive baskets by Ferg Myrick but Suero would add onto the UAlbany lead with two free throws then followed by an up-and-under play by Sam Rowley to grab the game's largest lead of ten, 30-20, with 1:46 remaining in the half. Jordon Bronner would get fouled with 2.3 seconds left and would make one-of-two to end the half at a nine-point deficit, 30-21.

UAlbany would extend its lead to 17 points to open the second half, 52-35, with 7:14. Black led the Great Danes with seven points and a key steal and assist to teammate Tanner Gibson to spark 12-6 run during the 12 minute stretch.

New Hampshire would cut the deficit down to 11 with a 6-0 run , 52-41, with 4:11 remaining forcing UAlbany head coach Will Brown to call a timeout. The run was capped by a steal and layup by Ferg Myrick who finished the game with 11 points and three rebounds.

But the Great Danes would hold onto the lead for the final four minutes, going four-for-four from the free-throw line and topped the game off with a Gibson three pointer with nine seconds remaining to put the game up 18 points.

UAlbany held New Hampshire under 30.0 percent shooting from the floor (28.1%) and from three-point land (26.3%) while out rebounding UNH as well, 47-35. The Great Danes shot 36.2 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from behind the arc.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Royals Tabs 21 Points To Lead Women's Basketball Past Vermont, 74-61; AEast Semifinals On Sunday - UAlbany Sports 2012

West Hartford, Conn. - Sarah Royals recorded a career high 21 points, hitting 14 of 18 free throw shots, to lead University at Albany to the America East semifinal round with a 74-61 victory over Vermont in Friday's quarterfinal match.
Royals ties an America East tourament record with free throws made (14) and sets a new record for free throw attempts (18). Julie Forster recorded her eighth double-double of 18 rebounds and 13 points, while Lindsey Lowrie led the Great Danes in the first half with 14 points.

This quarterfinal match featured multiple lead changes and did not reach a scoring margin larger than ten points until the final minute.

With 2:13 remaining, the Great Danes held a 63-61 lead. Making it to the free throw line twelve times to finish the game, UAlbany missed only one shot. Forster and Ebone Henry each knocked in two, while Royals went 7-for-8 en route to the victory.

Vermont came out of the mid-game break with a 5- 0 run to cut a UAlbany lead down to 36-34. Over the next several minutes both teams played close and it wasn't until after the second media timeout that UAlbany began to widen the scoring margin. The Catamounts would come within three points twice in the final minutes, but with less than two minutes to play, the Great Danes hit the foul line to pull away.

Going into the locker room, UAlbany led 36-29. Lowrie finished the half with 14 points, tied with Vermont's Niki Taylor, who lead the Catamounts in the first half.

Vermont (10-20) began the game with first possession and a 4-0 run. Going into the first media timeout, UAlbany had committed four turnovers and was shooting 25 percent from the floor. Lowrie finished off two treys in a minute to collect the Great Danes' first lead of the night at 12-9 with 14:32 on the clock. Vermont regained momentum to produce their biggest lead of the half at 18-12 just a few minutes later before Adrienne Jones swiped a steal at mid-court to make the lay-up at 8:46, to start a 16-4 run in a three minute span for UAlbany. The Great Danes managed a ten-point lead with 1:22 left in the half.

Taylor played a key role in the Catamounts efforts to stay in the game as she tallied a career-high 22 points to lead her team. Kayla Burchill and Ashley Hoyt each chipped in 15 points in the losing effort. Shanai Heber led on the boards as she grabbed ten.

UAlbany (21-9) will play in the second semifinal game Sunday afternoon against the Hartford/Binghamton.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Suero, Black and Aronhalt Honored With 2011-12 America East Conference Men's Basketball Accolades - UAlbany Sports 2012

Cambridge, Mass.- UAlbany Men's Basketball had three players honored for 2011-12 America East Conference regular-season accolades. Junior guards Gerardo Suero (1st team), Mike Black (2nd team), and Logan Aronhalt (3rd team) all received America East honors with Aronhalt making the All-Academic team for the second year in a row. The three junior guards and the rest of the Great Danes will prepare to play New Hampshire in the America East Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 3 at 2:15 p.m.

Gerardo Suero, a Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native, was one of the top America East players, leading all scorers with 21.7 points per game and scored a league-high 20-plus points 20 times. The junior guard was America East Player of the Week four times this season for his outstanding performances in a week. Of Suero's 630 points this season, 201 of them came at the free-throw line which put him third all-time in America East history for made free throws.

Mike Black, who was a 2011 America East Third team selection, improved his game play from last season , averaging 13.5 points (12.3 last season), 4.2 assists (2.8 last season) and 2.8 rebounds (1.9 last season) this season. He has gone over 20 points four times this season, having only surpassed 20 points once last season. The Chicago, Ill. native was named America East Co-Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 9 through Jan.15, having tallied nine rebounds twice in a week for a point guard.

Logan Aronhalt, repeating as America East third team and all-academic team selection, even with an ailing knee throughout the season still performed well. Aronhalt surpassed the 1,000 point mark against Vermont and is currently ranked 25th all-time at UAlbany with 1,089 points. The Zanesville, Ohio native went 74 straight games that he started, which started back in 2010 against New Hampshire before ending the streak against Maine this season. He currently is in graduate school having graduated earlier this season with a 3.78 GPA and was honored on the 2012 CoSIDA All-America Academic Second team.

First Team
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School/Previous School
*Gerardo Suero Jr. G Albany Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Our Savior New American
*Darryl Partin (1) Sr. G Boston University Seattle, Wash./Charis Prep/La Salle
Tommy Brenton (2) Jr. F Stony Brook Columbia, Md./River Hill/Hargrave
Bryan Dougher (3) Sr. G Stony Brook Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Matt Glass Sr. F Vermont Underhill Center, Vt./Mt. Mansfi eld/UMass

Second Team
Mike Black (4) Jr. G Albany Chicago, Ill./Oak Park Fenwick
D.J. Irving So. G Boston University Chester, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Gerald McLemore (5) Sr. G Maine San Diego, Calif./Worcester Academy
Chase Plummer So. F UMBC Plainfi eld, N.J./St. Patrick
Alvin Abreu (2) Sr. G New Hampshire Lynn, Mass./Boys to Men Academy (Ill.)

Third Team
Logan Aronhalt (4) Jr. G Albany Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville
Andres Torres Sr. G Hartford Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio
Alasdair Fraser So. F Maine Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk Clark Eriksson Fury
Dallis Joyner Sr. F Stony Brook Norfolk, Va./Granby
Brian Voelkel So. F Vermont Pleasantville, N.Y./Iona Prep

All-Rookie
Ben Dickinson Fr. F Binghamton Alexandria, Va./Gonzaga (D.C.)
Mark Nwakamma Fr. F Hartford Leander, Texas/Leander
Nate Sikma Fr. F Hartford Bellvue, Wash/Bellvue
*Justin Edwards Fr. G Maine Whitby, Ontario/Anderson CVI
*Four McGlynn Fr. G Vermont York, Pa./Dallastown

All-Defensive
*Patrick Hazel (6) Sr. F Boston University Jamaica, N.Y./Blair Academy (N.J.)/Marquette
Mike Allison Jr. F Maine Lynden, Ontario/National Elite Development Acad.
Chandler Rhoads (6) Jr. G New Hampshire Berryville, Va./Air Force Prep
Tommy Brenton (7) Jr. F Stony Brook Columbia, Md./River Hill/Hargrave
Brian Voelkel So. F Vermont Pleasantville, N.Y./Iona Prep

All-Academic Team
Name Yr. School Major GPA Hometown/High School

*Logan Aronhalt (8) Jr. Albany human biology 3.78 Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville
Andrew Rogers (9) Sr. Maine kinesiology/physical eduction 3.86 Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan
Brian Benson (9) Sr. New Hampshire kinesiology/pedagogy 3.48 Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Athena
Luke Apfeld So. Vermont English 3.82 Wolfeboro, N.H./Brewster Academy
Sandro Carissimo So. Vermont business 3.42 Sleepy Hollow, N.Y./Iona Prep

Rookie of the Year
Four McGlynn, Vermont

Defensive Player of the Year
Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook

Kevin Roberson Player of the Year
Darryl Partin, Boston University

Coach of the Year
Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook (10)

* Unanimous Selection
(1) First-Team - 2011
(2) Second Team - 2010
(3) Second Team - 2010, 2011
(4) Third Team - 2011
(5) First Team - 2010, Second Team - 2011
(6) All-Defensive - 2011
(7) All-Defensive - 2010
(8) All-Academic - 2011
(9) All-Academic - 2010, 2011
(10) Coach of the Year - 2010

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson Named America East Women’s Basketball Coach Of The Year - UAlbany Sports 2012

West Hartford, Conn. - UAlbany head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson was named the America East Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year, announced at the 2012 awards reception held on the University of Hartford campus on Thursday. Junior guard/forward Ebone Henry was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, for the second straight season. Junior forward Julie Forster was also an All-Conference Second Team selection.

Abrahamson-Henderson, in just her second year at the helm of the UAlbany program, led the Great Danes to a 20-9 record and the second seed in the conference tournament. It is the first time in Division I history, and the first time since the 1991-92 season, that UAlbany has reached the 20-win plateau. Abrahamson-Henderson took over a squad that went 11-19 in 2009-10, and guided them to the program's first winning season in 2010-11 with a 16-14 record. Under her guidance, the Great Danes continued to show a remarkable improvement this season, going undefeated on the road during the league slate to post a 14-2 conference record.

Henry, an All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, has blossomed under Abrahamson-Henderson's tutelage, and was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Henry, the first player to earn the award for UAlbany, was also an All-Conference First Team selection this year, after leading the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. She was also first in the league in steals, recording 2.7 thefts per game. Henry, a native of San Diego, Calif., scored her 1,000th career point this season. She has reached double-figure scoring totals in 22 games, including the last six straight, and has also recorded seven double-doubles on the season while averaging 7.2 rebounds per game.

Forster moves up to the All-Conference Second Team after a third-team appearance last year, and was also named to the All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive season. Forster, who is currently second on UAlbany's all-time career rebound chart with 836 caroms in three seasons, led the conference in rebounding for the third straight season. A native of Huntington, N.Y., Forster averaged 9.8 boards per game during the regular season, pulling down double-figure totals in 16 games. She is also averaging 8.8 points per game and leads the Great Danes with 30 blocks.

Forster, who holds a 3.97 cumulative grade point average in business administration, was also named to the All-Academic Team, for the second year in a row.

UAlbany will kick off the conference tournament on Friday evening, taking on the seventh-seeded Vermont Catamounts at 6:05 p.m.

-agate-

2012 America East Women's Basketball All-Conference Awards

First Team: Ebone Henry, Jr., UAlbany; Chantell Alford, Jr., Boston U.; Mo Moran, Jr., Boston U.; Erin Brown, Sr., UMBC; Denise Beliveau, Sr., New Hampshire.

Second Team: Julie Forster, Jr., UAlbany; Andrea Holmes, Sr., Binghamton; Ruthanne Doherty, Jr., Hartford; Michelle Kurowski, Sr., UMBC; Morgan Frame, Jr., New Hampshire.

Third Team: Viive Rebane, Sr., Binghamton; Rashidat Agboola, So., Boston U.; Daphne Elliott, Jr., Hartford; Nikkia Smith, Jr., Hartford; Samantha Baranowski, Sr., Maine.

All-Defensive Team: Ebone Henry, Jr., UAlbany; Julie Forster, Jr., UAlbany; Rashidat Agboola, So., New Hampshire; Denise Beliveau, Sr., New Hampshire; Shanai Heber, Jr., Vermont.

All-Rookie Team: Amber Bepko, Hartford; Danielle Walczak, Maine; Lauren Chase, UMBC; Tierra Shumpert, Vermont; Niki Taylor, Vermont.

All-Academic Team: Denise Beliveau, Sr., New Hampshire; Erin Brown, Sr., UMBC; Julie Forster, Jr., UAlbany; Alex Hall, Jr., Hartford; Michelle Kurowski, Sr., UMBC; Viive Rebane, Sr., Binghamton.

Coach of the Year: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, UAlbany

Rookie of the Year: Lauren Chase, UMBC

Defensive Player of the Year: Ebone Henry, UAlbany

Player of the Year: Chantell Alford, Boston U.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

Logan Aronhalt Named To The 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-America Men's Basketball Division I Second Team - UAlbany Sports 2012

Towson, Md.- University at Albany's Logan Aronhalt has been chosen to the Capital One 2012 Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team Division I Second Team, as selected and announced on Thursday, Feb. 23 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). This is Aronhalt's first time being honored for All-America Division I second team. He has also graduated a semester early and is currently enrolled in the educational administration and policy studies graduate program at UAlbany.

Aronhalt, a junior guard from Zanesville, Ohio, has a 3.78 cumulative grade point average in human biology. He is fifth among the America East Conference scoring leaders at 14.6 points per game, plus is sixth in three-point field goals (2.1 per game) and second in free-throw percentage and 17th in the nation (.889). He is also averaging 4.5 rebounds.

Aronhalt, who is having a great junior season, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark as a Great Dane against Vermont earlier this season. He became the 32nd UAlbany basketball player to reach the plateau and is currently 25th all-time at UAlbany with 1,087 points.

SECOND TEAM

Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major

Logan Aronhalt Albany Jr. Zanesville, Ohio 3.78 Human biology
Brian Conklin Saint Louis Gr. Eugune, Ore. 3.54 MBA (G); Busin. Admin (UG)
Drew Crawford Northwestern Jr. Naperville, Ill. 3.40 Economics
Ronald Nored Butler Sr. Homewood, Ala. 3.64 Early, Middle Childhood Ed.
Scott Saunders (2) Belmont Sr. New Orleans, La. 3.84 Finance & Marketing

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports