Football Overcome By Old Dominion, 66-10

NORFOLK, Va. – Taking on a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) transition team for the first time in program history Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium, the University at Albany football team battled Old Dominion University in front of a sell-out crowd of 20,118. While the Great Danes scored a touchdown on their first drive of the game, the Monarchs responded with a controlling offensive surge, overcoming UAlbany 66-10. With the victory, Old Dominion improved to 3-2 on the season, while UAlbany fell to 1-4 overall.

Led by the 2012 Walter Payton Award winner – the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy – junior quarterback Taylor Heinicke led the Monarchs with 365 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 28-of-33 passes. In all, ODU totaled 614 yards of total offense and had 36 first downs.

For the Great Danes, Will Fiacchi threw for 221 yards and a touchdown, as he completed 15-of-26 passes. Senior Cole King served as the top target, recording five catches for a total of 73 yards. On the ground, junior Omar Osbourne carried the ball 10 times, netting 49 yards, while freshman Andre Martin rushed 11 times for 27 total yards. UAlbany finished with 325 yards of total offense.

Defensively, TJ Idowu and Michael Nicastro both broke double-digits, recording 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.

Entering the game with some of the top offensive numbers in the nation, Old Dominion quickly made a statement driving 66-yards in less than three minutes for a 7-0 head start. Heinicke connected an eight-yard pass to Larry Pinkard to cap the scoring drive.

The Great Danes hastily responded, tying the game, 7-7, with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter. After two third-down conversions, Fiacchi connected with tight end Brian Parker for a 55-yard touchdown reception. Catching the ball on the Great Danes’ sideline, the 6-foot-4 Parker broke three tackles as he scampered over 20-yards after the grab.

However, ODU went on an offensive tear, converting five straight touchdown scoring drives leading up to halftime. Cam Boyd made it 14-7 with a two-yard rush with 6:35 remaining in the first.

As a result of some early trickery, UAlbany started its next drive with good field position after a failed ODU onside kick. However, the Great Danes’ fleaflicker pass to Parker got batted skyward and into the hands of ODU’s Fellonte Misher. The Monarchs then drove 67-yards on eight plays to take 21-7 advantage with 3:20 remaining in the opening quarter.

In the second stanza, ODU used only 51 ticks off the clock to find the end zone, as Heinicke capped the three-play drive with a 21-yard pass to Zach Pascal.

Looking to get back on the board, UAlbany kicked a 40-yard field goal, but the Monarchs got a hand on it and the missed attempt led to an eight-play 67-yard touchdown drive. Colby Goodwyn crossed the goal line with a five-yard rush, giving Old Dominion a 35-7 lead.

Old Dominion continued to keep momentum on its side, blocking UAlbany’s punt at the 18 and recovered the pigskin at the 24-yard line. The Monarchs then used seven plays to punch in another touchdown at the four-minute mark. Heinicke’s one-yard rush capped the drive, giving the Monarchs’a 42-7 halftime lead.


Out of the break, Goodwyn finished ODU’s 92-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush.
However, the Great Danes responded with Tom O’Riordan’s 36-yard field goal, making the score 49-10 with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter.

Slowing ODU’s pace, UAlbany held the Monarchs to a 37-yard field goal of their own with 30 seconds on the clock, making the score 52-10 at the end of the stanza.

In the fourth, Old Dominion capped the contest with Gerard Johnson’s two-yard touchdown run with 6:15 remaining, and David Washington’s five-yard TD rush with 30 seconds left in the ballgame.
“I give Old Dominion credit. They are a very good football team,” said Head Coach Bob Ford. “We moved the ball tonight, but we just couldn’t finish the drives.”

UAlbany was 7-for-15 on third-down conversions and were 0-for-2 on fourth-down. In the red zone, the Danes finished 1-for-3, while ODU was a perfect 9-for-9.

Up next, the Great Danes return to the state of Virginia, taking on CAA foe James Madison Oct. 5^th at 1:30 p.m.

Scoring Summary (Final)
ALBANY (1-4,0-1) vs. Old Dominion (3-2)

Date: Sep 28, 2013 • Site: Norfolk, Va. • Stadium: S.B. Ballard • Attendance: 20118

Score by Quarters	1	2	3	4	Score
ALBANY	7	0	3	0	10
Old Dominion	21	21	10	14	66

SCORING SUMMARY				ALBANY -ODU
1st	12:03	ODU	L. Pinkard 8 yd pass from T. Heinicke (J. Brown kick)
			10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:57	0 - 7
	08:59	ALBANY	Parker, Brian 55 yd pass from Fiacchi, Will (O'Riordan, Tom kick)
			7 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:56	7 - 7
	06:35	ODU	C. Boyd 2 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:16	7 - 14
	03:20	ODU	C. Goodwyn 1 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:17	7 - 21
2nd	14:28	ODU	Z. Pascal 21 yd pass from T. Heinicke (J. Brown kick)
			3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:51	7 - 28
	08:05	ODU	C. Goodwyn 5 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:17	7 - 35
	04:00	ODU	T. Heinicke 1 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			7 plays, 24 yards, TOP 1:36	7 - 42
3rd	08:18	ODU	C. Goodwyn 1 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			9 plays, 92 yards, TOP 3:09	7 - 49
	03:09	ALBANY	O'Riordan, Tom 36 yd field goal
			12 plays, 55 yards, TOP 5:09	10 - 49
	00:30	ODU	J. Brown 37 yd field goal
			8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:33	10 - 52
4th	06:15	ODU	G. Johnson 2 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			15 plays, 85 yards, TOP 7:55	10 - 59
	00:30	ODU	D. Washington 5 yd run (J. Brown kick)
			8 plays, 30 yards, TOP 4:24	10 - 66

Kickoff time: 6 p.m. • End of Game: 8:40 PM • Total elapsed time: 2:40 Referee: Steve Barth • Umpire: Gregory Adams • Linesman: Jerry Harris • Line judge: George Geiss • Back judge: Ivan Daniels • Field judge: Victor Sanchez • Side judge: Tony Meyer • Temperature: 69 • Wind: NE 14 • Weather: CLOUDY

Brandon Wilson's Comeback Effort Not Enough for Men's Soccer in 2-1 Loss at Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – Junior forward Brandon Wilson scored in the 67th minute on Saturday night in a comeback effort that fell short for the Great Danes 2-1 against Dartmouth. UAlbany (1-6-2) dropped its third road contest of the season.

“Today’s game was a close one,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. “It illustrated how close we are to beating very good programs on the road. Our effort and commitment was excellent, and now we need to use these experiences to help us as we enter conference play next weekend.”

Dartmouth’s Gabe Hoffman-Johnson opened scoring in the 28th minute, taking advantage of early shots and corners in the UAlbany end. Tim Allen made five saves in the first half to preserve a 1-0 deficit going into the second half of play.

The Big Green scored again mid-way through the second half after UAlbany was looking for an offsides call on a give-and-go in Great Dane territory.

Wilson converted on a header deflection three minutes later to prevent a shutout. The junior is now the squad’s leading goal-scorer with two.

The Great Danes got two good looks late in regulation, with Thomas Manz getting his own corner kick back to fire a shot on goal. Philip Persson put the ball on net again two minutes later, but Big Green goalie Stefan Cleveland made the save to preserve the win.

The Great Danes return to action on Friday at 7 p.m., as they face Stony Brook on the road to open America East play.

ORANGE TO PLAY IN TWO FALL LACROSSE EVENTS

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team will participate in a pair of events as part of its 2013-14 fall practice season. The Orange will scrimmage the Israeli National Team and the Iroquois Nationals Sunday, Sept. 29 at SUNY Cortland. In addition, Syracuse wraps up fall ball on Saturday, Oct. 12 by hosting the fourth-annual Orange Alumni Classic at the Carrier Dome.

This weekend’s exhibitions at Cortland Stadium are part of a fundraiser for the Iroquois, who are coached by Cortland head men’s lacrosse coach Steve Beville. Tickets for the event are $8 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 10- and-under. The schedule of games is as follows:

Saturday, Sept. 28 – Iroquois Nationals vs. Israel, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29 – Israel vs. Siena, 10 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29 – Israel vs. Syracuse, 11 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29 – Iroquois Nationals vs. Syracuse, 12 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29 – Iroquois Nationals vs. Siena, 2 p.m.

One of most exciting events of the college lacrosse fall season is the Orange Alumni Classic. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, the event once again features two games. The first is a “Legend’s Game” beginning at 1:30 p.m. The second match, which will begin at approximately 3 p.m., pits a team of recent SU alums against the 2013-14 Orange squad.

Both games of the Orange Alumni Classic are open to the public. Tickets are $10 and can be purchasedonline or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). All proceeds go directly to the men’s lacrosse program. Parking is free in the surface lots across from the Dome.

Led by five-time NCAA champion head coach John Desko, Syracuse is coming off a 16-4 season in which it won the BIG EAST Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA title game for the 17th time.

Syracuse returns seven of its 10 starters from a year ago, including goalieDominic Lamolinara (Arnold, Md.) who posted a 13-3 record in 16 starts and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team for his performance during championship weekend.

Senior Derek Maltz (Ashburn, Va.) and junior Kevin Rice (Skaneateles, N.Y.) are back to lead the offense. Maltz was second on the team with 32 goals in 2013. Rice was SU’s second-leading scorer with 55 total points (23 goals, 32 assists).

The team that will oppose this year’s Orange features some of the sport’s premier players, including 2013 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Stars Matt Abbott, Steven Brooks and Tommy Palasek. USILA 2013 All-Americans JoJo Marasco, Brian Megill and Luke Cometti are also expected to suit up for the Alumni All-Stars.

UAlbany Men’s Soccer Falls to Siena 2-1 in Double Overtime Thriller at Bob Ford Field

SEASON STATS
ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany men’s soccer team (1-5-2) dropped a 2-1 decision in double overtime to local rival Siena (4-2-0) on Wednesday night. In the second contest for the Great Danes under the bright lights of Bob Ford Field, UAlbany posted another close result.


The Great Danes took an early lead in the first half on a penalty corner deflection converted by Thomas Manz in the 40th minute. The senior captain converted on service from Pomare Te Anau. Manz’s goal marks the first time this season that the Great Danes have scored in the first half. UAlbany won the corner kick battle in the first half 9-3.

Siena got on the board mid-way through the second half on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. James Beeston tallied his fourth goal of the season.

The teams entered overtime with UAlbany holding an 11-8 advantage on corners and Siena winning the shooting battle 12-9.
The Saints only needed two minutes in the second overtime period to end the contest, sprinting down the left side of the field. Nathan Olukanmi fired a shot to the near post from David Itoafa to earn the 2-1 win early in the second overtime.

Tim Allen made seven saves for the Great Danes in goal.
Siena won on UAlbany soil for the first time in 26 years, and extended its winning streak in the series to three games.

UAlbany posted another attendance record against Siena, punching 1,869 tickets to Bob Ford Field for the local rivalry game. The previous record was set in Sept. 15 against then-No.22 Fairleigh Dickinson at 1,148.

UAlbany Football Looks To Turn Tides At FBS-Transitioning Old Dominion

ALBANY, N.Y. – After two tough home losses, the University at Albany football team will look to turn the tides Saturday, traveling to take on Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) transition program Old Dominion in the 64th edition of the Oyster Bowl – an annual game to help support the Shriners Hospital for Children. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

CATCH THE ACTION AUDIO: The game can be heard in the Capital Region on WGY 810AM/103.1FM or anywhere online here. To listen on your mobile device, download the iHeartRadio app and search for WGY. Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye will have the call. VIDEO: Saturday's action will be live streamed through Monarch Media.

TWITTER: Follow @UAlbanySports on Twitter for live updates, photos and highlights. LIVE STATS: Live stats can be found here. A full recap and box score will be available at the conclusion of the game at UAlbanySports.com.

GAME NOTES: An in-depth look at the weekend's matchup. ON THE ROAD AGAIN UAlbany’s game at Old Dominion marks the first of three consecutive road trips, as well as the first of three games set in the state of Virginia this season. The Danes travel to No. 14 James Madison next week (10/5) and then to Delaware on Oct. 12th. After hosting Towson for Homecoming and a bye week, UAlbany heads back to Virginia, taking on No. 20/22 Richmond Nov. 2nd.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES 2013 Record: 1-3, 0-1 CAA 2012 Record: 9-2, 7-1 NEC (T-1st) 2013 CAA Preseason Poll: 10th/11 Head Coach: Bob Ford (41st varsity season at UAlbany/44th overall at UAlbany/45th overall as head coach) (256-162-0 / 265-183-1) THE COACH: Bob Ford ranks first among active NCAA Division I FCS coaches with 265 career victories and is also fourth on the all-time FCS chart. Ford, the architect of the UAlbany program, has led the Great Danes to a 256-162 record in his 41st varsity season. Under his direction, the Great Danes have moved from the club level in 1970 to its present NCAA Division I FCS status. At the team’s media day on Aug. 13th, Ford announced that his 44th season at the helm in 2013 will be his last. More than 100 of Bob Ford’s assistant coaches are currently working in the professional, college and high school ranks. LAST TIME OUT
 Despite a touchdown lead heading into the fourth quarter, the University at Albany football team suffered its second straight home loss at Bob Ford Field Saturday night, as the visiting Central Connecticut State Blue Devils scored 10 unanswered points in the final stanza to steal a 20-17 victory. CCSU’s Steven Calitri hit a 40-yard field goal with 17 seconds remaining after driving 61-yards down the gridiron, improving the Blue Devils’ record to 1-3 on the season, while the Great Danes also fell to 1-3 overall. UAlbany tried to respond quickly in the closing seconds, throwing a 40-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired. Jameel Gay caught Will Fiacchi’s toss but he was brought down at the 10-yard line, ending the game. Leading UAlbany’s strong running attack, Omar Osbourne earned his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, totaling 119 yards with two touchdowns. Also leading the Great Dane offense, Fiacchi finished with 140 passing yards on 12 completions in 21 attempts. Gay totaled 50 receiving yards on two catches. Defensively, Cody Greenhagen led the Great Danes with eight tackles, including one for a loss. SCOUTING THE MONARCHS 2013 Record: 2-2 2012 Record: 11-2, 7-1 CAA (1st) Head Coach: Bobby Wilder (5th season at ODU) (40-12 / Same)

THE COACH: Bobby Wilder was hired on February 13, 2007, resurrecting the Old Dominion football team from a 69-year absence. Since restarting its football team in 2009, Old Dominion has compiled a four-year total of 40 wins and only 12 losses and has twice advanced to the FCS Playoffs. Wilder led the Monarchs to a school-record 11-2 record in 2012. Under Wilder's tutelage, the Monarchs led the FCS in scoring offense, total offense and passing offense in 2012 as the Monarchs won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship in its final season in the FCS. Wilder was named American Football Monthly Coach of the Year as well as CaptainU Coach of the Year. OLD DOMINION OVERVIEW: In 2012, ODU earned the No. 4 national seed in the FCS Playoffs, advanced to the quarterfinals and ranked No. 6 in the final The Sports Network and coaches polls. Old Dominion featured 10 student-athletes on the CAA All-Conference team including the Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke's honors continued to roll in, earning six All-America honors, as well as the Dudley Award for the top division I

player in Virginia and the Walter Payton Award for the top player in the FCS. The Monarchs also continued to be the hot ticket in town finishing fourth nationally in attendance with capacity crowds at all eight home contests and in 2013 has extended its streak to 31 consecutive sellouts at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. This season, the Monarchs are transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA. They will play a full C-USA schedule in 2014.

 

ODU LAST TIME OUT: The Monarchs enter Saturday’s meeting with a two-game win-streak, topping both Howard (76-19) and The Citadel (59-58) in two home offensive-heavy contests. Most recently, Larry Pinkard caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Heinicke with 3:36 to go in the fourth quarter and Reggie Owens tackled Ben Dupree on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:39 to play to clinch a 59-58 victory over The Citadel. ODU totaled 542 yards of offense led by Heinicke’s 363 passing yards and three touchdowns (35-42-0) and Antonio Vaughan’s 11 receptions for 107 yards and a TD. OSBOURNE TOPS 100 AGAIN Leading UAlbany’s strong running attack, Omar Osbourne earned his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, totaling 119 yards with two touchdowns against CCSU. With 96 points scored in his career, Osbourne is now tied with Orin Griffin (1973-76) – a member of the 1974 team that was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame last weekend – for 23rd all-time in the program’s archives. Osbourne carried the ball 32 times against CCSU, and also made a 10-yard reception, totaling 129 all-purpose yards.

MARTIN’S STRONG PUNTING PERFORMANCE Jonathan Martin punted seven times, totaling 299 yards, against CCSU. Martin averaged 42.7 yards per kick, including a 73-yarder that was downed at the 15. The booming kick ties for the sixth-longest punt in program history. In the first quarter, Martin’s line-drive punt proved tough to handle for the Blue Devils, as they fumbled the fair catch attempt at midfield, and UAlbany recovered. The Great Danes tied it up, 3-3, as a result of the play. Through four games in his rookie season, Martin is averaging 42.2 yards per punt.

FIACCHI BREAKS 3,000 Against Central Connecticut (9/21), Will Fiacchi became the sixth quarterback in program history to pass for over 3,000 career yards. Fiacchi (257-436-8, 14 TD) has currently thrown for 3,003 yards in just his second season as a starter, and is 150 yards away from becoming top-5 all-time.

KING CLIMBS INTO TOP-10 With 78-career reception (1,263 yards), senior Cole King is tied with John Donnelly (1983-85) for 10th all-time in UAlbany’s archives. He is six receptions away from ninth place.

TOP CROWDS The largest crowd UAlbany has ever played in front of was 23,097 at Montana on Sept. 22, 2007. With Old Dominion selling out in 31 consecutive games (20,118), the Great Danes are expected to play in front of the fourth-largest crowd in program history. UAlbany has a 1-2 record in games played with 20,000+ in attendance.

UALBANY’S TOP FOOTBALL ATTENDANCE MARKS 1. 23,097 vs. Montana, 9-22-07 – L (35-14) 2. 22,196 vs. Delaware, 9-27-08 – L (38-7) 3. 22,016 vs. Delaware, 9-16-06 – W (17-10) 4. 19,511 vs. Montana, 9-7-02 – L (45-7) 5. 18,118 vs. Georgia Southern, 9-5-09 – L (29-26) 6. 15,840 vs. Youngstown State, 9-15-12 – L (31-23) 7. 15,112 vs. Massachusetts, 8-30-08 – L (28-16) 8. 14,000 vs. Central Florida, 11-8-80 – W (28-27)

UP NEXT UAlbany hits the road for two more away games, traveling to James Madison (10/5), and Delaware (10/12) before returning home on Oct. 19th to host Towson for Homecoming.

Action-packed weekend ahead for DIRTcar 358-Modified, Sportsman Modified and Pro Stock Series

Race weekends at Brighton Speedway and Le RPM Speedway

WEEDSPORT, N. Y. - With NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week just a few weeks away, some of the DIRTcar series are heating up for their final races before the "Moody Mile."
The DIRTcar 358-Modified Series will be running this Friday, Sept. 20, at Le RPM Speedway in St. Marcel de Richlieu, Quebec, and Saturday, Sept. 21, at Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario.
Erick Rudolph leads the series in points after a strong fourth-place finish Sunday, Sept. 15, at Mohawk International Raceway. DIRTcar stars Carey Terrance, Mat Wililamson, David Hebert and Mario Clair are all vying for the point lead, all within 100 points of Rudolph.
The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series is also running at both Canadian tracks, with the Sporstman Modified Series kicking off Brighton Speedway's Applefest Weekend Friday, Sept. 20, and then heading to Le RPM Speedway for a 50-lap special Saturday, Sept. 21.

Last year's DIRTcar Pro Stock Series Champion Joey Ladouceur leads in points for the DIRTcar Sportsman Series heading into the weekend's event, but Mathieu Desjardins in second and Brad Rouse in third are both ready to make their move for the top spot.

Stephane Lebrun currently leads in 2013 DIRTcar Pro Stock Series, and he'll be put to the test Saturday, Sept. 21, when the series invades Le RPM Speedway for a 50-lap feature. Pro Stock stars Dave Bissonnette, P. J. Peters, Rob Yetman, Jocelyn Roy, Roch Aubin and Alain Brochu are ready for the challenge in the series's last race before NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLII.
Racing starts at 7 p.m. Friday night at Brighton Speedway and 6 p.m. Saturday night. For more information about Applefest Weekend, visit www.brightonspeedway.com.
Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. for both events at Le RPM Speedway. For more information, visit www.lerpmspeedway.com.


AT A GLANCE:
Friday, September 20:
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series at Le RPM Speedway
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series at Brighton Speedway
Saturday, September 21:
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series at Brighton Speedway
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series at Le RPM Speedway
DIRTcar Pro Stock Series at Le RPM Speedway
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the
Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio, Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.

UAlbany Football Football To Host CCSU On Hall Of Fame Weekend

ALBANY, N.Y. – In search of the program’s first win at Bob Ford Field, the University at Albany football team hosts former Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State University (0-3, 0-0 NEC) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. In their last meeting, the Great Danes hoisted the NEC trophy after topping the Blue Devils, 63-34, clinching a share of the conference title in the 2012 season finale. Now competing in the CAA, UAlbany (1-2, 0-1 CAA) will look to return to a .500 winning percentage in the non-conference clash before hitting the road for three consecutive away games. CATCH THE ACTION TICKETS: Click here for UAlbany ticket information. AUDIO: The game can be heard in the Capital Region on WGY 810AM/103.1FM or anywhere online here. To listen on your mobile device, download the iHeartRadio app and search for WGY. Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye will have the call.  TELEVISION: Saturday's action will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports. TWITTER: Follow @UAlbanySports on Twitter for live updates, photos and highlights. LIVE STATS: Live stats can be found here. A full recap and box score will be available at the conclusion of the game at UAlbanySports.com. GAME NOTES: An in-depth look at the weekend's matchup. SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES 2013 Record: 1-2, 0-1 CAA 2012 Record: 9-2, 7-1 NEC (T-1st) 2013 CAA Preseason Poll: 10th/11 Head Coach: Bob Ford (41st varsity season at UAlbany/44th overall at UAlbany/45th overall as head coach) (256-161-0 / 265-182-1) THE COACH: Bob Ford ranks first among active NCAA Division I FCS coaches with 265 career victories and is also fourth on the all-time FCS chart. Ford, the architect of the UAlbany program, has led the Great Danes to a 256-161 record in his 41st varsity season. Under his direction, the Great Danes have moved from the club level in 1970 to its present NCAA Division I FCS status. At the team’s media day on Aug. 13th, Ford announced that his 44th season at the helm in 2013 will be his last. More than 100 of Bob Ford’s assistant coaches are currently working in the professional, college and high school ranks. LAST TIME OUT The Great Danes lost an overtime heartbreaker to Rhode Island last Saturday, 19-13, in front of a sold-out crowd in the inaugural game at Bob Ford Field and first CAA clash. After falling behind early, UAlbany scored 13 points in the third quarter, tying up the ballgame on Jake Meek’s 17-yard run as time expired in the stanza. With a 1:35 remaining in the fourth, URI missed a field goal and the game went to overtime. The Rams scored a touchdown on their possession, but missed the extra point, giving the Great Danes a chance to steal the victory. However, URI recorded a sack on third-down and knocked down the fourth-down end zone pass, ending the game. Omar Osbourne led the team with 96 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Jameel Gay record 96 receiving yards with seven receptions, while Will Fiacchi completed 17 of 36 passes with one interception. Defensively, Christian Dorsey led the squad with 14 tackles. SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS 2013 Record: 0-3, 0-0 NEC 2012 Record: 2-8, 2-5 NEC (8th) 2013 NEC Preseason Poll: 6th/7 Head Coach: Jeff McInerney (8th season at CCSU) (44-36 / Same) THE COACH: Jeff McInerney is in his eighth season as Central Connecticut State’s head coach. He has led the Blue Devils to a pair of Northeast Conference titles and his 44 wins are the second-highest total in school history. In 2009, McInerney was named the NEC Coach of the Year, as the Blue Devils won the first outright NEC title in school history and advanced to their first-ever Division I postseason game. McInerney has seen plenty of success in his coaching career, three times being a part of a staff that won a National Championship (1984 and 1987 at Troy State; 1990 at Georgia Southern). CCSU OVERVIEW: The Blue Devils are in search of their first win of the season, falling to top-25 ranked James Madison (38-14) and Lehigh (51-44) in the first two weeks of the season. Most recently, CCSU was overcome by Holy Cross, 52-21, in the Blue Devils’ home-opener. Offensively, CCSU is led by running back Rob Hollomon, who has totaled 371 rushing yards and five touchdowns this fall, averaging 123.7 yards per game. Sophomore quarterback Nick SanGiacomo has completed 32-of-53 passes with five TD tosses and one interception, while top receivers are Tyrell Holmes and Denzell Jones with two touchdown catches apiece. NEARING 100 DIVISION I WINS Since becoming a Divison I FCS program in 1999, UAlbany owns a 98-60 overall record – just two victories away from the century mark. 1974 TEAM TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME The 1974 UAlbany football team has been selected to be inducted into the University at Albany Athletics Hall of Fame. The ’74 team is the only squad in program history with an undefeated record, going 9-0. Current UAlbany linebackers coach Don Mion was a member of that team and set the record for tackles in a single game during that year. He recorded 24 tackles against Alfred on Sept. 28, 1974. The ’74 team will be inducted along with two other athletes – Todd Cetnar (Basketball, 1996-2000) and Alissa Gibbs (Volleyball, 1999-2002) Friday night and will be honored at halftime of the CCSU game. HOME CROWDS UAlbany broke its home attendance record with the opening of Bob Ford Field on September 14, 2013, filling the stadium to its capacity of 8,500. Attendance has topped 6,000 fans 12 times since 1973. UALBANY’S TOP HOME CROWDS 1. Sept. 14, 2013: 8,500 (stadium capacity) vs. Rhode Island 2. Nov. 6, 1978: 7,500 vs. Ithaca 3. Sept. 20, 1975: 7,500 vs. Ithaca 4. Oct. 13, 2012: 6,852 vs. Saint Francis, Pa. 5. Oct. 9, 2010: 6,624 vs. Saint Francis, Pa. 6. Oct. 5, 1974: 6,500 vs. RIT 7. Sept. 10, 1984: 6,500 vs. Ithaca 8. Oct. 13, 2007: 6,419 vs. Sacred Heart 9. Oct. 10, 2009: 6,255 vs. Duquesne 10. Sept. 10, 2005: 6,212 vs. Hofstra 11. Sept. 1, 2012: 6,194 vs. Colgate 12. Oct. 12, 1996: 6,082 vs. Union CAREER VICTORIES UAlbany’s Bob Ford is fourth among the winningest Football Championship Subdivision head coaches in career victories (265). Grambling’s Eddie Robinson leads the list with 408. WINNINGEST FCS COACHES ALL-TIME BY VICTORIES 408, Eddie Robinson, Grambling (408-165-15, 55 years) 314, Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky (314-124-8, 39 years) 300, Tubby Raymond, Delaware (300-119-3, 36 years) 265, Bob Ford, St. Lawrence, Albany (265-182-1, 45th year) 246, Mike Kelly, Dayton (246-54-1, 27 years) 245, Billy Joe, Cheyney, Central State, Florida A&M, Miles (245-127-4, 34 yrs) 241, Jim Tressel, Youngstown State, Ohio State (241-79-2, 25 years) UP NEXT UAlbany hits the road for three consecutive away games, traveling to Old Dominion (9/28), James Madison (10/5), and Delaware (10/12) before returning home on Oct. 19th to host Towson.

Binghamton Mets Release 2014 Schedule

BINGHAMTON, NY – After a historical 2013 campaign that saw a franchise-record 86 victories and a regular season division title, theBinghamton Mets are thrilled to announce their 2014 season. The boys of summer kick off the 23^rd season of Double-A baseball in the Southern Tier on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 6:35 PM against the Akron Aeros.

In addition to 71 B-Mets home games, NYSEG Stadium will also host the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball game on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The team, comprised of military serviceman and servicewoman severely injured while protecting the United States, visited the Southern Tier in 2012 and sported their skills in front of more than 5,000 fans.

The B-Mets will be home for four major summer holidays including Mother’s Day (May 11), Memorial Day (May 26), Father’s Day (June 15) and Independence Day (July 4). The B-Mets will play at NYSEG Stadium for eleven weekends during the season, including a half-dozen after Memorial Day.

The Binghamton Mets will welcome in the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, for a rematch of the 2013 Eastern Division Championship Series for a four-game series stretching from July 17-20. The B-Mets play host to the Portland Sea Dogs, the Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate, three times: April 21-24, May 2-4 & July 7-10.

Home games from Monday through Thursday will be scheduled to start at 6:35 PM throughout the season with the following exceptions: May 26 (Memorial Day) and May 29 (Baseball in Education Day).

Friday games throughout the year will start at 7:05 PM and Saturday contests from May 24 onward will begin at 7:05 PM. The Saturday games on April 5 & 19 and May 3 & 10 are slated for 1:05 PM starts. Aside from 6:35 PM first pitches on May 25 (Memorial Day eve), June 15 (Father’s Day), July 6 and August 3, Sunday home games will commence at 1:05 PM.

Be sure to follow the B-Mets on Facebook, Twitter and at the team’s official website (www.bmets.com) for more team information. Fans can also stay up to date with all the action on the field by visiting“B-Mets Buzz with Tim Heiman” at bmets.mlblogs.com

The 2014 schedule is as follows:

April: 3-6 v Akron
7-9 v Erie
10-13 @ New Hampshire
14-16 @ Portland
17-19 v New Hampshire
21-24 v Portland
25-27 @ Erie
28-30 @ Akron
May: 2-4 v Portland
5-7 @ New Hampshire
8-11 v Harrisburg
13-15 v Altoona
16-18 @ New Hampshire
19-22 @ Portland
23-26 v New Britain
27-29 v New Hampshire
30-6/1 @ New Britain
June: 3-5 @ Altoona
6-8 v New Britain
9-12 @ Akron
13-15 v Erie
17-19 v Richmond
20-22 @ Bowie
23-25 v Reading
26-29 @ Altoona
30-7/3 @ New Britain
July: 4-6 v Erie
7-10 v Portland
11-14 @ Erie
15-16 ALL STAR BREAK – Altoona
17-20 v Trenton
21-23 @ Portland
24-27 @ Trenton
28-30 v New Hampshire
31-8/3 v Bowie
August: 5-7 @ Richmond
8-10 @ Harrisburg
12-14 v Erie
15-17 @ Reading
18-20 @ Erie
22-24 v Akron
25-28 v New Britain
29-9/1 @ Richmond

Former Great Dane Mike Woods Drafted 16th Overall in the NLL

OAKVILLE, Ontario - Former University at Albany standout Mike Woods was drafted 16th overall by the Toronto Rock in the 2013 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft yesterday.

"The Albany lacrosse family is thrilled that another Great Dane has been drafted into the NLL," says UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. "We are all excited for Mike and his family that he was drafted by Toronto and will represent his home province."

Woods, a native of Newmarket, a town in the Greater Toronto area, will get to suit up for his hometown team, the defending NLL East Division champion. Last year, the Rock was 10-6, finishing with the best record in league.

He impressed scouts before and on Draft Day. Rated #28 among draft-eligible players by ILIndoor.com, Woods was drafted 12 spots above his projected draft status as a player who continued to improve and had impressive offensive and defensive skills.

Woods played 64 games for UAlbany from 2010-13. serving the team as a short stick defensive midfielder. In 2013, he earned Second Team All-America East with 20 ground balls and four goals in transition, helping UAlbany win the conference title. Woods scored the second goal of the contest for the Great Danes in the NCAA First Round game against Denver.


Several Great Danes have played box lacrosse in the professional ranks. Most recently, Joe Resetarits was taken sixth overall by the Calgary Roughnecks in 2012. On the 2013 draft day, Resetarits was traded to the Buffalo Bandits, his hometown team. He along with Woods, Mike Ammann, Steve Ammann, Dave Brock, Jordan Levine, Brett Queener, Frank Resetarits, Corey Small, and Merrick Thomson are former Great Danes that have played in the NLL.

The first game for the Rock will be on January 3rd when Toronto hosts Calgary at 7:30 p.m. at the Air Canada Centre.

Bearcats Pride Pass on sale for 2013-14 academic year

VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton Athletic Department has announced the establishment of the Bearcats Pride Pass for the 2013-14 academic year.

Valid for over 60 home events, the Bearcats Pride Pass will allow all fans admission to all regular-season non-basketball ticketed events, including men’s & women’s soccer, men’s & women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball and wrestling.
Valued at over $300, the Bearcats Pride Pass can be purchased for an annual price of $50.00. All fans who purchase the Bearcats Pride pass will also receive a limited edition T-shirt.
To purchase a Bearcats Pride Pass contact the Athletic Ticket Office at 607-777-6004 or visit the Events Center Box Office.

PLEASE NOTE: Admission for all Binghamton undergraduates to all the aforementioned events remains free with a valid student ID.

No. 11 UAlbany Field Hockey Achieves its Highest All-Time Division I National Ranking

ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany field hockey team notched its all-time best national ranking at No. 11 when the NFHCA released its weekly poll on Tuesday.

The Great Danes are 5-0 to begin the 2013 season and are one of just six undefeated teams remaining in the Division I ranks. The others are No. 1 North Carolina (6-0), No. 2 Maryland (6-0), No. 3 UConn (5-0), No. 4 Virginia (7-0) and No. 5 Syracuse (6-0).

The Great Danes are 5-0 for the first time in program history in the Division I era. Freshman goalkeeper Maxi Primus posts the top goals against average in the nation (0.60). The Great Danes are also nationally ranked in several other categories. UAlbany in fourth in scoring average (4.60 goals per game), third in scoring margin (4.00) and fourth in points per game (12.00).

The Great Danes have out-scored their opponents 23-3 and have taken 47 penalty corners, compared to 12 combined for their five opponents.

Next up for UAlbany is a mid-week game at Alumni Field against cross-town rival Siena on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Great Danes lead the all-time series 12-0. In their last meeting UAlbany won 8-0 on Sept. 21, 2011. The Saints have lost 44 straight games dating back to 2010.

UAlbany's Women’s Lacrosse Announces 2014 Newcomers and Fall Ball Schedule

ALBANY, N.Y.- University at Albany women’s lacrosse announced the addition of 14 freshmen to the 2014 roster, as well as the team’s 2013 fall ball schedule on Monday.

2014 NEWCOMERS
The class of 2017 includes three high school All-Americans and numerous All-State and All-Conference honorees. Ten freshmen hail from the state of New York, with Massachusetts (1), New Jersey (1), Ontario (1) and Virginia (1) also represented in this year’s group of newcomers.

“We have a lot of new faces, as we have a great blend of athleticism and lacrosse IQ among our newbies,” said head coach John Battaglino. “Our newfound depth will give us the opportunity to play in ways that we could only think about before.”

Virginia Annaheim | Fr. | Midfield | Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon
· A four-year varsity letter-winner at Kinnelon High School
· As captain of her squad in 2013, she was selected as an All-County second team member and a Daily Record third team member, scoring 23 goals and 41 points as a midfielder
· Also recorded 24 ground balls, 22 draw control wins, and caused 23 turnovers in her senior year
· In 2012, while leading her team to the divisional championship, she was named to the All-Area second team and All-League first team
· Earned an All-Conference honorable mention in 2010

Ali Badalato | Fr. | Midfield | Kingston, N.Y./Kingston
· A four-year letterwinner at Kingston High
· Named captain in her senior year

Katie Brierton | Fr. | Attack | Calcium, N.Y./Indian River
· A six-time letterwinner at Indian River High School
· As a senior, she was named to the All-League team, and as a junior she was named to the All-North Region team.

· She was named team captain and MVP in 2012 and 2013
· In her senior season, she tallied 48 goals and 33 assists, and finished her career at Indian River with 184 goals and 85 assists

Haley Childrose | Fr. | Defense | East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia
· A three-year varsity letterwinner at Columbia High School, where she led her team in draw controls and ground balls during her sophomore year
· Also earned an honorable mention to the All-Suburban Council team
· Named an All-Suburban Council Scholar Athlete during her freshman and sophomore seasons

Crystal Harris | Fr. | Goalkeeper | Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park
· A four-year varsity letterwinner at Deer Park High School
· She was named MVP during her senior season
· Tallied 159 saves in her final season

Sarah Martin | Fr. | Midfield | Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug
· A four-year varsity letterwinner at Minnechaug High School
· During her career, the team amassed a record of 60-11
· She was named captain in her senior year
· In addition to being named Player of the Year in 2012 by The Republican in Springfield, Mass., Sarah was a three-time All-Scholastic First Team selection
· All-Scholastic honorable mention in her freshman year
· Led her team to four Western Massachusetts Championship appearances
· Scored 307 goals and recorded 101 assists, totaling 408 points for her career
· Left Minnechaug as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Sierra McIver | Fr. | Midfield | Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott
· A three-year letterwinner and senior-year captain at Union-Endicott High School
· She was named to the All-Conference first team in 2012 and 2013, as well as the All-Division first team in 2011
· Helped lead her team to the 2009 STAC championship, sectional championship, and regional championship
· Ended her career at Union-Endicott with 51 goals, 46 assists, 29 caused turnovers, and 116 ground balls.

Megan Mikolajek | Fr. | Midfield | Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg
· A 2013 All-America first team honoree
· Also won the 2013 Tom Borelli Award, honoring the top senior girl’s lacrosse player in western New York
· In 2012, she was named an Under Armour All-America Underclassman and earned a spot in the USL WNY/Rochester National Team
· In 2011 she was named to the Division II Third Team, and in 2010 she was named to the Division II First Team
· A team captain for her junior and senior seasons
· Helped lead her team to Division II Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013, in addition to Section 6 Championships in 2012 and 2013
· Ended her career at Hamburg High School with 105 goals, 93 assists, 122 caused turnovers, 130 ground balls, and 171 draw control wins.

Emily Mizer | Fr. | Midfield | Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill
· A four-year varsity letterwinner at Westhill High School
· Named to the All-League First Team in 2012 and 2013
· In 2011, she was named to the All-League Second Team
· As team captain in 2013, she was named Westhill’s Most Outstanding Athlete, and in 2011 was named the team’s most improved player
· Scored 61 goals and recorded 20 assists in her senior season

Kenzie Neal | Fr. | Attack | Orangeville, Ontario/Hill Academy
· A four-year varsity letterwinner at The Hill Academy
· Captained the squad in both her junior and senior seasons
· Named team Player of the Year in 2011, and team Offensive Player of the Year in 2012

Tiana Parrella | Fr. | Attack/Midfield | Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place
· A four-year varsity letterwinner at Miller Place High School
· Named team attack MVP in her junior and senior seasons
· As a senior captain, she was named to the All-County team, and was an All-Tournament team selection as a freshman
· Concluded her career at Miller Place with 230 goals and 245 assists

Kotah Savitcheff | Fr. | Attack | Candaigua, N.Y./Canadaigua Academy
· A four-year letterwinner at Canandaigua Academy
· Team captain in her senior season
· Scored 65 goals as a senior In 2012 and 2013
· Named to the USL All-America First Team and the All-Greater Rochester team
· A two-time Daily Messenger Player of the Year, a four-time All-League selection and a three-time All-Monroe County team selection
· Helped lead her squad to Section V Championships in 2010 and 2012, as well as a State Championship runner-up finish in 2012

Lee Stewart | Fr. | Attack/Midfield | Alexandria, Va./Episcopal
· A four-year letterwinner at Episcopal High School
· Named a captain in her senior season
· Scored 65 goals in her final season
· Named team MVP in 2012 and 2013
· Earned the Fannon Award at Episcopal, which honors the best female athlete
· A three-time All-League selection, and was named to the All-State Second Team in 2013
· Concluded her career with 212 goals to her credit

Jenna Walsh | Fr. | Defense | Schenechtady, N.Y./Guilderland
· A three-year letterwinner at Guilderland High School
· Served as captain in her senior year and also won the team's MVP award
· Named to the ISL All-America First Team and the Under Armour All-America team in 2012
· Named to the Times Union All-Area First team in 2012 and 2013
· A First Team All-Suburban Council honoree in 2012 and 2013
· Helped lead her squad to a sectional championship in 2013, after making the sectional finals in 2011 and 2012.

2013 FALL BALL SCHEDULE
UAlbany will play six teams that appeared in the 2013 NCAA Tournament (Canisius, UConn, Loyola (Md.), Penn, Princeton, Syracuse) during Fall Ball play, including NCAA semifinalist Syracuse.
The Great Danes will face Holy Cross and the New York Athletic Club in their first fall competition on Saturday, Sept. 21 on the UAlbany campus. Following the NYAC game, UAlbany will play its annual Alumni Game.
UAlbany travels to Cambridge for the Harvard Melting Pot Tournament to face UConn, Brown and Harvard on Sunday, Sept. 29. The Great Danes remain on the road the next weekend for the Syracuse Play Day on Sunday, Oct. 6. UAlbany will play Cornell, Cortland, Syracuse, Colgate and Canisius.
The Great Danes will play their final fall ball tournament on the Penn campus in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 19. UAlbany will face Loyola (Md.), Princeton and Penn.

2013 FALL BALL SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER
UAlbany Fall Ball Invitational
21 Holy Cross Albany, N.Y. TBA
NYAC Albany, N.Y. TBA
Alumni Game Albany, N.Y. TBA
Harvard Melting Pot Tournament
29 UConn Cambridge, Mass. 9 a.m.
Brown Cambridge, Mass. Noon
Harvard Cambridge, Mass. 3 p.m.
OCTOBER
Syracuse Play Day
6 Cornell Syracuse, N.Y. 1 p.m.
Cortland Syracuse, N.Y. 1:30 p.m.
Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y. 2 p.m.
Colgate Syracuse, N.Y. 2:45 p.m.
Canisius Syracuse, N.Y. 3:30 p.m.
Penn Fall Play Day
19 Loyola (Md.) Philadelphia, Pa. 10:30 a.m.
Princeton Philadelphia, Pa. 2:30 p.m.
Penn Philadelphia, Pa. 2:30 p.m.