RV/RV Women's Lacrosse Looks For Redemption Against 3/3 Florida On Sunday

The Opening DrawThe University at Albany begins the 2013 season against the same team it ended the 2012 season, the University of Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 12 p.m. The Great Danes and the Gators faced off in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Florida came out on top 6-4, but UAlbany arguably had its best defensive performance of the season by holding the then-number one overall seed to a season-low 11 shots. Scouting the Gators• Florida is off to a hot start for the 2013 season with a 5-0 record. The Gators have already knocked off two nationally ranked teams to begin the season, North Carolina (W, 5-3) and Stony Brook (W, 16-9). • 11 of the 12 starters from the 2012 NCAA Tournament Finals team returns for the Gators to make them primed for another potential run • Attack Kitty Cullen, midfielders Brittany Dashiell, Shannon Gilroy, and goalkeeper Mikey Meagher highlight the 2013 starting returners • Senior goalkeeper Meagher was honored last season as the IWLCA's C.Markland Kelly Goalie of the Year. Meagher has picked up where she left off last season, holding opponents to 5.37 goals per game • Cullen, Dashiell and Gilroy have not skipped a beat on offense to begin this season, combining for 25 of the team total 49 goals Season PreviewUAlbany begins the 2013 season in search for its third consecutive America East Conference Tournament title in as many season. The team returns seven starters that won the conference title as the four seed in the conference tournament, who upended the tournament's number two seed Boston University in the semifinals and the number one seed Stony Brook in the finals en route to their second consecutive conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Offensive End:•The Great Danes offensive mindset this season will look to change from a slow-paced posession heavy style to a more fast-paced run-and-gun style due to more available players to switch in and out. • Senior Rachael Burek and sohomore Maureen Keggins return to lead the UAlbany attack, bringing back a combined 46 goals from last season • Burek returns as a all-conference second team member, having tallied 35 goals and seven assists Midfield:• A crucial part to the success of UAlbany will come from the midfield with the majority of the offensive production coming back in this part of the field • Of the 200 goals and 80 assists from last season, 84 goals and 56 assists come starting returners Jess Antelmi, Ariana Parker, Nichole Eamer and Allie Phelan • Parker highlights the returners of the midfield, having been named a 2012 all-conference first team member and named as one of Inside Lacrosse's Preseason All-Americans for the 2013 season Defensive End:• With the losses of all-conference first team Jenn Primeau and second team Stephanie Kempf, the Great Danes will have big shoes to fill. Primeau and Kempf combined for 146 ground balls and 65 caused turnovers in their four-year careers at UAlbany • Kathleen Lennon is the lone starter that returns on the defensive, recording 15 groundballs and six caused turnovers last season. Lennon will look to take her two years of experience to lead the defenders Goalkeeping:• Junior Anna Berman returns to defend any and all shots that may come between the pipes. Berman, as a two-year starter, has recorded a career 30-6 record as a Great Dane • The "Berman Wall" has tallied over 191 saves and a .406 saves percentage The Watch List• Great Dane midfielder Ariana Parker is being watched by the lacrosse world, following two successful seasons at UAlbany • Parker has been named to Inside Lacrosse's Preseason All-American team and most recently the Tewaaraton Award Watch list (equivalent to the Heisman in lacrosse) Preseason Conference Poll Prediction• In the 2013 America East Conference Preseason Poll, which was voted on by the conference coaches, the University at Albany was picked to finish in a tie-for second with Boston Univeristy. The Great Danes received two first-place votes. • Stony Brook, the conference tournament runner-ups, were chosen as the favorites to win the league. The Seawolves received 33 total votes and three first-place votes. • Four of the seven total teams in the conference received first-place votes. Stony Brook (3), UAlbany (2), Boston U. (1) and UMBC (1). Great Start For The Great Dane Head Coach• Third-year head coach John Battaglino has begun his career at UAlbany with a bang. In two seasons, Battaglino has tallied a record of 34-7 overall and 9-3 in conference play. • In two seasons, Battaglino has won back-to-back America East Conference Tournament championships and has gone to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons as well. • Coach Battaglino looks to become just the third head coach in conference history to win three-straight conference tournament championships. University of Delware's Denise Wescott (1997-99) and Boston University's Lix Robertshaw (2008-10) were the previous two to accomplish the feat. • In just his first season as head coach, he was able to grab a win in the NCAA Tournament against Dartmouth in the first round, 10-7, on May 15, 2011 • Following a 18-1 record in the 2011 season, he was named as IWLCA Northeast Region Division I Coach of the Year Persistent Parker• Junior midfielder Ariana Parker has been persistently scoring goals since her freshman stint. In two seasons, Parker has tallied 83 goals in 37 career games at UAlbany. • Her 83 goals have landed her 12th all-time at UAlbany in scoring. If she continues this pace in the next two season, Parker land in the top-3 all-time at UAlbany. Successful Switch• Senior midfielder Jess Antelmi found great success in last season's switch from defense to midfield, due to the injuries of her teammates. • Before the switch, Antelmi recorded just three goals in 19 games played at UAlbany. Following the switch, the Bridgeport, N.Y. native tallied career-bests in goals (29), assists (26) and points (55). • Her 26 assists and 55 points were both team-bests last season Preseason Recognition• Following a conference tournament championship and a NCAA Tournament appearance, the University at Albany has been recognized by both the coaches and media in the preseason polls. The Great Danes are receiving votes in both polls to begin the season. • UAlbany has been ranked as high as 8th, which was during the 2011 season. Last season the Great Danes were recognized as high as 13th. Burek Belongs In The Faceoff Circle • Senior attack Rachael Burek found much success both on the offensive end and in the draw control circle. • Burek posted the team’s second best goal total with 35 goals. More importantly, the Rensselaer, N.Y. native found her niche in the draw control circle, recording 73 successful draw controls. • Her 73 draw controls last season put her third all-time at UAlbany for draw controls in a season. In her career, Burek has tallied over 124 draw controls, which places her third all-time in the school’s history. "The Berman Wall" • Junior goalkeeper Anna Berman will look to build upon her previous success in both her career record and saves. Currently, Berman stands sixth in saves (191) and her 30 victories put her first all-time at UAlbany