1
Contents
2
UAlbany by the Numbers
4
Athletic Accomplishments
6
Cross Country
6
Field Hockey
7
Football
7
Soccer
8
Volleyball
9
Men’s Basketball
9
Women’s Basketball
10
Indoor Track & Field
11
Baseball
12
Softball
12
Women’s Tennis
12
Women’s Golf
13
Women’s Lacrosse
13
Men’s Lacrosse
14
Outdoor Track & Field
15
Academic Excellence
16
New Academic Center
18
Financial Goals
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UAlbany Fans, As I complete my first year as the Director of Athletics at the University at Albany, it is with pride that I present to you our first Annual Report for the 2014-2015 academic year. First, I want to thank our President Dr. Robert Jones and the entire central administration at the University for their continued support of UAlbany Athletics. With such tremendous administrative support, our student-athletes are afforded a great academic and athletic experience. Second, the success both in the classroom and certainly on the playing fields far exceeded any expectations that I had when I arrived at UAlbany in September of 2014. This past year, thanks to a group of excellent and dedicated coaches and very competitive student-athletes, UAlbany captured its third straight Commissioner’s Cup and tied the America East Conference record for the most conference championships in a single year with nine. Even more impressive are the individual achievements by our student-athletes and coaches, including field hockey standout sophomore Paula Heuser who became the first Great Dane ever to receive the Honda Sports Award. The award is annually presented to the top female studentathletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and qualified her to become a finalist for the prestigious 2015 Honda Cup. A two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American and America East Midfielder of the Year, Paula was also named the NFHCA National Player of the Year, becoming the first underclassman to earn the honor. The sophomore also earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team and was the national statistical champion in points per game, with an average of 3.0. In addition to her athletic achievements, Paula was also named the America East Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year. During his recording-setting career in men’s lacrosse, Lyle Thompson became the first-ever back-to-back men’s recipient and second two-time men’s recipient to win the Tewaaraton Trophy, given to the National Player of the Year. In addition, Lyle was named the Player of the Year by the America East Conference for the third consecutive year and was named to numerous All-America teams. To have both Paula and Lyle named National Players of the Year for their respective sports in the same year is an amazing accomplishment. And who can forget about the Peter Hooley story and the incredible three-point shot to win the America East Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, as well as two-time America East Conference Player of the Year Sheeresha Richards leading the women’s basketball team to the AE Conference title. This year was also a first for our women’s golf and women’s lacrosse teams. Led by second-year head coach and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year, Colleen Cashman-McSween, UAlbany claimed the program’s first MAAC Golf Championship and advanced for the first time ever to the NCAA Regionals. Meanwhile, Coach John Battaglino and the women’s lacrosse team had another successful season, making history with the America East Conference’s first at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Again, Coach Roberto Vives brought home four track and field championships, winning both the America East Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor titles. I want to thank our student-athletes, coaches and staff for an outstanding athletic and academic year, and also thank Dr. Robert Jones for his continued vision and support for our programs. The enthusiasm and collegiality on campus during my first year has been tremendous. Finally, I want to certainly thank our students, season ticket holders, corporate sponsors, fans, alumni and friends of UAlbany for your continued support. Without your support, both financially and by attending our games and backing our student-athletes, these successes would not be possible. I look forward to a great 2015-16 season and go Great Danes! Sincerely,
Mark Benson Director of Athletics
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UALBANY by the numbers
9 6 83 37
Conference
championships
in 2014-15
NCAA Tournament
Appearances
in 2014-15
Conference
championships
Since Going Division I
NCAA Tournament
Appearances
Since Going Division I
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5
Athletic Accomplishments
2014-15 Academic Year
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
PAULA HEUSER Winner of the prestigious Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey & NFHCA National Player of the Year.
Placed 5th at the America East Championship
Placed 8th at the America East Championship
- Silvia Del Fava finished 1st in the Iona Meet of Champions and went on to set a 6K school record at the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational with a time of 20.20.1.
- Opened the season with Chris Buchanan finishing in first place in the Binghamton Dual. Buchanan also set a UAlbany Cross Country Invitational course record and a first place finish with a time of 25:18.2.
- At the team’s home event, the UAlbany XC Invitational, Del Fava also set a course record (second all-time 5K) and a 1st place finish with a time of 17.29.3. - Both Del Fava and Molly Pezzulo were America East AllConference selections by finishing 3rd and 7th respectively in the AE Conference Championship.
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- John DeLallo and Chris Buchanan were selected as members of the America East All-Academic Team and the team was selected to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
FOOTBALL
FIELD HOCKEY
2014 Record: 20-3 (5-0 AE) America East Tournament & Regular Season Champions NCAA Semifinals - In his 11th season, head coach Phil Sykes guided the Great Danes to a historic season. Coach Sykes became the first male head coach since the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Tournament was established in 1981 to appear in the NCAA Semifinals. He was named the NFHCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and ECAC Coach of the Year for his efforts. - UAlbany won its first NCAA Tournament game in the First Round against No. 5 Wake Forest 2-1 in College Park, Md. - UAlbany followed up that victory by beating regional host No. 2 Maryland in the Second Round on Nov. 16, 2-1. - Finishing with an overall record of 20 wins and 3 losses, including a perfect 5-0 America East Conference record, the team achieved several team records. The team was also recognized for its academic accomplishments by being named to the NFHCA Academic Honor Squad. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Anna Bottino: Named to the Under-19 USA Field Hockey squad in Jan. 2015...NFHCA All-Northeast Region Second Team Selection...Unanimous America East Rookie of the Year...Unanimous America East All-Rookie Team...America East AllConference Second Team.
Paula Heuser: Winner of the prestigious Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey...NFHCA National Player of the Year...NFHCA First Team All-American, the first in UAlbany’s program history...America East All-Conference First Team unanimous selection...America East Midfielder of the Year... America East Tournament Most Outstanding Performer...America East All-Tournament Team... NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year... NFHCA All-Region First Team...National statistical champion in points per game (3.0)...NCAA AllTournament Team...CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection...America East Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year...NFHCA National Academic Squad selection...America East AllAcademic Team. Jaclyn Hibbs: America East All-Tournament... Named to the Under-20 USA Field Hockey squad. Amy Nicklin: America East All-Conference Second Team Selection...America East All-Tournament team...NCAA All-Tournament team...NFHCA National Academic Squad. Laura Page: America East All-Conference First Team...NFHCA All-Region First Team. Maxi Primus: All-Conference First Team, unanimous selection...America East Goalkeeper of the Year, unanimous...America East All-Tournament Team...NFHCA All-American Third Team, the first Great Dane goalkeeper all-time to earn All-America honors...NFHCA All-Northeast Region First Team... NFHCA National Academic Squad...America East All-Academic Team. Fiori Van Rijswijk: America East All-Conference First Team, unanimous selection...NFHCA AllRegion First Team..America East All-Academic Team...NFHCA National Academic Squad.
2014 Record: 7-5 (3-5 CAA) Placed 9th in the CAA - Under first-year head coach Greg Gattuso, the football program completed a six-win improvement from the 2013 campaign, including an undefeated non-conference record. - The team received votes in the national polls for 10 consecutive weeks and appeared in The Sports Network Top-25 for four weeks, ranking as high as 23rd. - The Danes led the nation in turnover margin (1.25) and fumble recoveries (20). - In the classroom, the football program placed 16 student-athletes on the CAA All-Academic Team, including Will Fiacchi, Malachi Hoskins, TJ Idowu, Nic Ketter, Matt LaDucer, Jon Martin, Jake Meek, Marcel Ngachie, Adam Pasnick, Patrick Toole, Jamal Robinson, Kyle Sakowski, Ryan Smith, Zach Troutman, Adam Wierbinski and Damian Young.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Will Fiacchi: Capital One Academic All-District... National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society...UAlbany’s all-time leading passer with 7,150 career yards and broke the program’s single-season passing record with 2,636 yards. Josh Gontarek: CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. TJ Idowu: Capital One Academic All-District... National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. Kevin Malloy: Third-Team All-CAA. Jake Meek: CAA Chuck Boone Leadership Award... Capital One Academic All-District...National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. Michael Nicastro: Third-Team All-CAA Omar Osbourne: Second-Team All-CAA Brian Parker: Third-Team All-CAA National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. Patrick Toole: Third-Team All-CAA.
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MEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER
2014 Record: 4-9-6 (2-4-1 AE) America East Quarterfinals
2014 Record: 7-9-5 (3-2-3 AE) America East Semifinals
- Trevor Gorman finished his fourth season as head men’s soccer coach for the University at Albany Great Danes. - The 2014 team finished with an overall record of 4-9-6 and was 2-4-1 in the America East Conference, advancing to the AE Quarterfinals. - For the second straight year, the team earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award.
- Completing her second year, Coach Caitlin Colfer-Cucchiella saw a strong turnaround for UAlbany in 2014. - The team, which earned program records with 35 goals, 32 assists and 102 points, finished 7-9-5 overall and 4-2-1 in the America East for a 4th place finish after being predicted in the preseason poll to finish eighth. - UAlbany earned its first AE tournament home game and recorded the first AE tournament victory in three years. - UAlbany defeated 5-seed Maine 2-0 in the America East quarterfinals to earn a semifinal berth. - In the classroom, the team was also selected to the National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award and earned the America East GPA Champion for women’s soccer.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Afonso Pinheiro: America East Co-Rookie of the Year... America East All-Rookie Team...America East AllConference Second Team...First Great Dane to be named Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year...First to win a major award for UAlbany since 2008. Dominic McGarr: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Conference All-Academic Team. Phil Denara: America East All-Academic Team. Chris Nisser: America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
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INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Shelby Belak: America East All-Conference Second Team. Krista Fitzpatrick: America East All-Academic... America East Player of the Week. Caitlyn Paltsios: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Championship Team...America East All-Academic. Kiana Rugar: America East All-Rookie Team.. America East Rookie of the Week. Alexa Schneider: America East All-Conference First Team. Vivian Vega: America East Rookie of the Year (first from UAlbany since 2009)...America East All-Conference First Team...America East AllRookie Team...America East All-Championship Team...America East Rookie of the Week... America East Fans’ Choice Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.
VOLLEYBALL
2014 Record: 10-17 (7-5 AE) America East Finals - Under head coach MJ Engstrom, UAlbany returned to the America East tournament for the 13th consecutive year and advanced to the title match before falling to the University of New Hampshire. - The Great Danes finished tied for second place in the conference, going 7-5 in the league and 10-17 overall. - Viktoriia Stroilo earned her third-consecutive America East Defensive Player of the Year honor after finishing 10th in the NCAA in digs per set, totaling 517 on the year. - Academically, the team was nominated for the 2015 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Amanda Dolan: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Tournament Team...America East Player of the Week...Yale Invitational All-Tournament Team. Laini Leindecker: America East All-Conference First Team...Two-time America East Player of the Week... SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete for Volleyball... Lumberjack Classic All-Tournament Team...Otto Invitational All-Tournament Team. Emily Lopes: America East All-Rookie Team...Twotime America East Rookie of the Week. Mikala McCauley: America East Elite 18 Award... America East All-Academic Team...One-time America East Setter of the Week. Viktoriia Stroilo: America East Defensive Specialist of the Year (Third-year running)...America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Tournament Team...Delaware Invitational All-Tournament Team...America East All-Academic Team.
2014-15 Record: 24-9 (15-1 AE) America East Champions NCAA Second Round - Head Coach Will Brown saw his Great Dane club have one of his best seasons during his 14-year coaching tenure at UAlbany. - The team finished with an overall record of 24 wins and 9 losses and an impressive 15-1 America East Conference record. - Winning both the America East regular season and tournament championship, the team advanced to the NCAA Second Round as the number 14 seed. - Won third consecutive America East title and fifth overall. - Won second America East regular season title, first since 2005-06. - Won a Division I record 13 consecutive games, including 12 in a row in America East play. - Went a program-best 15-1 in America East play. - Earned a program-best No. 12 ranking in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Poll. - Had a program-best four players named to America East All-Conference Teams. - Improved to 5-0 in America East Championship games. - Earned the program’s highest Division I winning percentage (.727).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Peter Hooley: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Academic Team for the second straight season...Capital One Academic All-District First Team for second-consecutive season...America East All-Championship Team... Recipient of the 2015 SUNY Chancellor’s award... Delivered 2015 undergraduate commencement student address...Recipient of the 2015 Coaches vs. Cancer Inspiration Award...Reggie Lewis America East Championship Most Outstanding Player for second-straight year after hitting the game-winning three-pointer against Stony Brook to win the league title...Game-winner against Stony Brook was selected SportsCenter’s top play for the month of March and the third week of March... Selected to the 12-player World University Games Australia squad. Sam Rowley: America East All-Conference First Team...America East All-Academic Team...2015 America East Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year...Selected to the America East AllChampionship Squad...Earned NABC All-District Second Team honors...Reached 1,000 career points on Jan. 28 at Vermont...UAlbany Division I leader in career total rebounds (756), career defensive rebounds, career offensive rebounds, singleseason total rebounds, single-season defensive rebounds and single-season offensive rebounds. Ray Sanders: America East All-Conference Third Team...America East All-Defensive First Team. Evan Singletary: America East All-Conference First Team...Finalist for the Riley Wallace Award honoring the top Division I transfer...Riley Wallace All-America Team.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2014-15 Record: 24-9 (14-2 AE) America East Champions NCAA First Round - Under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, the UAlbany women’s basketball team earned its fourth consecutive America East Tournament Championship and for the third year in a row a share of the America East regular season title. - Led by two-time America East Player of the Year, Shereesha Richards, the team earned the first ever victory over a Power Five conference opponent with a victory over Penn State and reached the Preseason WNIT semifinals in the first ever appearance in the invitational. - The team led the America East Conference is scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, rebounding margin, assists and steals per game and turnover margin. UAlbany also set a single season record in free throws made. - Finished ranked number 14 in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll and the top ranked team in the State of New York and in the America East Conference. - The season ended with a 54-52 loss to Duke in the NCAA tournament.
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INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Tiana-Jo Carter: America East All-Rookie Team... America East Rookie of the Week. Cassandra Edwards: America East Elite 18 Award. Shereesha Richards: America East Preseason All-Conference Team...America East Player of the Year (second consecutive year)...America East Co-Defensive Player of the Year...America East All-Conference First Team...America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player...America East All-Tournament Team...America East Player of the Week – Six time honoree...Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team...Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, program’s first-ever Division I All-American...Second-ever women’s basketball All-American in the America East...Naismith Trophy 50 Watch List...Became UAlbany’s all-time leading point scorer, standing with 1,668 points. Sarah Royals: America East All-Conference Third Team...America East All-Tournament Team... Became UAlbany’s all-time assists leader, member of 1,000-point club. Imani Tate: America East Sixth Player of the Year... America East All-Conference Second Team... America East All-Tournament Team...America East Player of the Week – two time honoree.
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
America East Champions
America East Champions
(10th straight title)
- Finishing his 30th season as the Director of UAlbany’s track and field and cross country program, Roberto Vives is certainly one of the most successful coaches in the history of UAlbany Athletics. - Under his guidance, the Great Danes again won the America East Conference Men and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Championships for 2014-15. - Since 2003, the team has won 32 America East and 3 IC4A Championships. - In addition, Coach Vives was selected by USA Track & Field to serve as an assistant coach for the USA national team at the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Senior Area Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica.
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONS Taariq Jones: 400m (2nd consecutive) Jason Tomlinson: 500m John DeLallo: 1,000m Alex Bowen: High Jump (4th consecutive) Nathan Hiett: Pole Vault Alex Bowen: Triple Jump AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS Alex Bowen: Outstanding Field Athlete Coaching Staff of the Year America East All-Academic John DeLallo (3rd consecutive) IC4A Championships Team: 3rd place Jason Tomlinson: 500m
(3rd straight, 5th title in last 6 years) AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONS Grace Claxton: 400m Michelle Anthony: 60m Hurdles Alexx Baum: Triple Jump Briana Cherry-Bronson: Weight Throw 4x400m Relay 4x800m Relay. Championship Awards Coaching Staff of the Year (shared with UMBC) America East All-Academic Valentina Talevi, Min Pacella, Solène Bastien
ECAC Championships Team: 2nd place (Tie) Grace Claxton: 400m Briana Cherry-Bronson: Weight Throw School Records Grace Claxton: 400m (53.49) Michelle Anthony: 60m Hurdles (8.38) Briana Cherry-Bronson: Weight Throw (65’-6.75”) 4x400m Relay (3:41.11) Additional Accomplishments Briana Cherry-Bronson: 2nd place Weight Throw at Millrose Games. Briana Cherry-Bronson: 7th place Weight Throw USA Nationals. Grace Claxton: Puerto Rico Indoor 400m National Record (53.49). Attained highest-ever Regional ranking (3).
SCHOOL RECORDS Jason Tomlinson: 500m (1:01.63)...2nd best in NCAA in 2015...600m (1:19.98). Additional Accomplishments Alex Bowen: Panama indoor national record in high jump (7’-1.5”).
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BASEBALL
SOFTBALL
2015 Record: 14-28 (7-23 AE) Placed 6th in the America East
2015 Record: 30-18, 11-6 AE Placed 2nd in the America East
- Jon Mueller completed his 16th season as the head coach of the University at Albany baseball program in 2014-2015. - The UAlbany baseball team finished the season with a 14-28 overall record and 7-13 mark in the America East.
- Chris Cannata, a four-time America East Conference Coach of the Year and the winningest head coach in the UAlbany softball program, completed her 21st season in 2015. - During her tenure at UAlbany, the Great Danes have compiled a 604-309-1 overall record, a 181-69-1 mark in America East play, and a .662 winning percentage. - Cannata has also led the Great Danes to five NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as, five America East regular-season championships and five tournament titles since the program joined Division I in 2000. - The club, which has won at least 30 games in the last 12 of 14 seasons, has never finished lower than fourth in the America East standings. - Qualifying for the America East Conference Tournament for the 14th consecutive year, the Great Danes entered as the second seed before bowing out in two games, which was uncharacteristic of the Danes previous success in the tournament.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Stephen Woods: America East All-Conference Second Team. Shawn Blake: America East All Conference All-Rookie Team.
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WOMEN’S TENNIS
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Maggie Cocks: First-Team All-America East... America East All-Academic Team. Kelly Costello: First-Team All-America East... America East All-Academic Team. Devin Durando: America East All-Rookie Team. Vicky McFarland: First-Team All-America East.. First player in program history to record 200 hits and steal 100 bases....Broke the singleseason hits record. Elizabeth Snow: Second-Team All-America East...America East All-Academic Team. Erynn Sobieski: America East All-Rookie Team. Marlin Solano: Second-Team All-America East. Alexa Toole: First-Team All-America East.
America East Finals - Finishing his third year at the helm, head coach Gordan Graham’s team finished the 2014-2015 campaign with an overall record of 13-9 and 2-1 in the America East Conference before falling in the America East Championship Final to Stony Brook. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS America East All-Conference Second Team Doubles Mireille Hermans: America East All-Academic Team. Alba Sala: America East All-Conference First Team Singles...America East All-Conference Second Team Doubles...America East All-Academic.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
WOMEN’S GOLF
MAAC Champions - In just her second season, Colleen CashmanMcSween was named the 2015 MAAC Women’s Coach of the Year, leading the Great Danes to the program’s first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title. - Shooting a record-low 303 in the championship’s first round, UAlbany finished 11 strokes ahead of runner-up Siena after three days with a score of 937. - Freshman Annie Songeun Lee took the individual title and Rookie of the Year honors, as the Great Danes boasted three athletes in the top-10. - Junior Yoorim Kang tied for sixth and sophomore Paige Fujihara tied for 10th. - With the conference title, Cashman-McSween led UAlbany to its first NCAA Regional appearance. The Great Danes competed at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club in St. George, Utah.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Annie Songeun Lee: MAAC Individual Champion...MAAC Rookie of the Year.
2015 Record: 14-5 (5-1 AE) America East Final NCAA First Round
MAAC All-Academic Team Paige Fujihara, Rosalee Hearns
- John Battaglino wrapped his fourth season as UAlbany’s head women’s lacrosse coach in 2015. - Battaglino capped a historic 2015 season with the first all-time UAlbany NCAA postseason at-large bid with a 14-5 overall record and 5-1 mark in the America East Conference, including a program home winning streak of nine consecutive games. - Despite falling to Stony Brook in the America East final, the Danes were picked for an at-large spot in the Syracuse regional, facing No. 15/14 Penn in the NCAA First Round at SU Soccer Stadium. - The Purple & Gold went an all-time program best 9-0 at home on John Fallon Field, including a 7-4 win over No. 20 UMass on March 19. - For the second consecutive year, UAlbany finished the season ranked top-10 in scoring offense and top-5 in scoring defense and scoring margin. - The Danes were nationally ranked by the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse for seven consecutive weeks, finishing the season at No. 19.
Christine Johnson: America East All-Conference First Team for second consecutive season. Maureen Keggins: America East Offensive Player of the Year...America East All Conference First Team... IWLCA All-Region First Team...IWLCA Third Team All-American...Named to the 2015-16 U.S. Women’s Lacrosse National Team tryout pool...All-time UAlbany leader in career assists, single season assists and single season points...NCAA leader in points, points per game, assists, assists per game. Sarah Martin: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Tournament Team. Erin Monna: America East All-Conference First Team... America East All-Academic Team. Dakotah Savitcheff: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Tournament Team... IWLCA All-Region Second Team.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Rachel Bowles: America East First Team AllConference...America East All-Tournament team... Named to 2015-16 U.S. Women’s Lacrosse tryout pool...IWLCA All-Northeast Region pick for the second consecutive season. Alie Jimerson: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Rookie Team...America East Rookie of the Week for April 20...Inside Lacrosse National Rookie of the Week for the week of April 20...Inside Lacrosse National All-Rookie Team.
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MEN’S LACROSSE
2015 Record: 16-3 (6-0 AE) America East Champions NCAA Quarterfinals - Head Coach Scott Marr’s team won its third consecutive America East Regular Season Championship and sixth overall. - UAlbany also won its third consecutive America East Tournament title (7th overall) and won the third NCAA game in program history for a berth in the NCAA Quarterfinals before losing to Notre Dame. - The team finished with a program record 16 wins against 3 losses and finished ranked #6 in the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches Poll and #7 in Inside Lacrosse Media Poll -each being the highest ranking since 2007. - Lyle Thompson became the first student-athlete ever to win the Tewaaraton Trophy Player of the Year backto-back in all of men’s lacrosse and only the second to become a two-time recipient. - The team finished with the highest scoring offense in Division I for the third straight season, setting new DI records in goals (325), assists (203) and total points (528). The team led DI teams and the America East Conference in goals per game. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Matthew Bertrams: America East All-Conference Second Team...USILA Scholar All-American. Connor Fields: America East All-Conference First Team...America East Rookie of the Year...America East All-Rookie Team...USILA Honorable Mention AllAmerican. John Maloney: America East All-Conference Second Team...America East All-Academic Team...SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete for Men’s Lacrosse.
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Blaze Riorden: America East All-Conference First Team...America East All-Championship Team...Epoch/ Lacrosse Magazine Division I Player of the Week for May 12th...Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Preseason All-American...His goal scored against Cornell was nominated for the Best Play ESPY by ESPN. Lyle Thompson: America East Player of the Year, first-ever three-time award winner...America East All-Conference First Team...America East AllChampionship Most Outstanding Player...America East All-Tournament Team...2015 Tewaaraton Trophy recipient for Player of the Year in all of men’s lacrosse; first-ever back-to-back men’s recipient and second two-time men’s recipient...Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award for USILA DI Player of the Year...2014 Lacrosse Magazine Person of the Year (awarded in December)... USILA First Team All-American...Lacrosse Magazine All-American...Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Midseason AllAmerican...Lacrosse Magazine First Team Midseason All-American...Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Preseason AllAmerican...Lacrosse Magazine First Team Preseason All-American...Set new Division I points career record with 400 (breaking record of 355), and new DI assists record of 225 (breaking record of 221)...Finished with 121 points, second-highest scoring season in DI history (only to his own 128 in 2014)...First overall draft pick into Major League Lacrosse by the Florida Launch.
LYLE THOMPSON 2014 and 2015 Tewaaraton Trophy winner. The Tewaaraton Award is given annually to the top male and top female college lacrosse players in the United States.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
America East Champions
America East Champions
America East All-Academic Valentina Talevi, Mary Adeyeye, Molly Pezzulo.
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONS Grace Claxton: 400m (53.35, championship meet record) Michelle Anthony: 100m Hurdles (2nd consecutive) Grace Claxton: 400m Hurdles (58.51, championship meet record) Janice Johnson: Shot Put Zoe Doolittle: Discus Veleisha Walker: Javelin 4x100m relay 4x800m relay
School Records Grace Claxton: 400m (53.07), 400m Hurdles (58.51) Rochelle Reid: High Jump (5’-8”) Janice Johnson: Shot Put (48’-1.25”) Veleisha Walker: Javelin (146’-8”) 4x100m Relay (45.86) NCAA East Prelim Qualifiers Grace Claxton: 400m Alexx Baum: Triple Jump Veleisha Walker: Javelin
(11th straight title)
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONS Jaymen Teemer: 100m, 200m Taariq Jones: 400m (3rd consecutive) Matthew Campbell: High Jump Nathan Hiett: Pole Vault (2nd consecutive) Devon Willis: Triple Jump Championship Awards Devon Willis: Outstanding Rookie Jaymen Teemer: Coaches’ Award (Most Points) Coaching Staff of the Year IC4A Championships Team: 2nd place Devon Willis: Triple Jump NCAA East Preliminary Qualifiers Robert Harris III: 100m Jason Tomlinson: 400m Matthew Campbell: High Jump Kingsley Ogbonna: High Jump Nathan Hiett: Pole Vault Devon Willis: Triple Jump Jordan Crump-King: Triple Jump
(7th straight title)
Championship Awards Coaching Staff of the Year ECAC Championships Team: 4th place Grace Claxton: 400m
Additional Notes Team achieved highest ever ranking in Regional poll (3).
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ACADEMIC AWARD DEFINITIONS
Academic Excellence
52 By Sport...
Conference
ALL-ACADEMIC Team honorees
in 2014-15
Men’s Basketball 3 Men’s Cross Country 2 Women’s Cross Country 2 Field Hockey 6 Football 16 (CAA) Women’s Golf 2 (MAAC) Men’s Lacrosse 2 Women’s Lacrosse 1 Men’s Soccer 2 Women’s Soccer 2 Softball 3 Women’s Tennis 2 Men’s Indoor T&F 1 Women’s Indoor T&F 3 Women’s Outdoor T&F 3 Volleyball 2
John DeLallo (XC, T&F) received the UAlbany Presidential Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.
The cumulative overall GPA of UAlbany Student-athletes is 16
America East All-Academic Team: Selected using CoSIDA’s Academic All-America program as a model. Student-athletes worthy of consideration were nominated by member sports information directors and voted on by a committee of SIDs, academic advisors and faculty representatives from all nine-member institutions. All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time or are typically made up of 10 student-athletes for individual sports, with the exception being in the event of ties. To be nominated for the distinction, studentathletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, studentathletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration. America East Presidential Scholar Athlete Award: Student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 GPA or better for their college career and must have received their undergraduate degree in the academic year they are honored and have attended their institution for a minimum of two years. The Elite 18 Award: The Elite 18 Award Program was established by the conference in June 2013 for implementation in the 2014-15 academic year to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each America East sponsored sport. America East Academic Cup: Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year. Colonial Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete (CAA): Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The winners were selected by a vote of the media relations directors at each CAA institution.
3.0.
Mid Atlantic Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll: To be eligible for the MAAC Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The Honor Roll is open to both full-time and associate members in the MAAC. All 25 sports that the conference sponsors are represented. SUNY Chancellor Scholar Athlete Award: In order to be considered for this award, student-athletes were nominated by their campus athletic director. Nominees’ academic credentials and athletic accomplishments were then reviewed by a panel of athletic directors from across the SUNY system and members of the provost’s office.
The graduation rate for UAlbany Student-Athletes is
80% . PETER HOOLEY of the men’s basketball team, represented his 2015 undergraduate class by delivering the student address at UAlbany Commencement.
State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher announced 80 recipients of the 2014-15 Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes outstanding academic excellence and athletic achievement. The University at Albany’s John DeLallo, Laini Leindecker, John Maloney, and Sam Rowley received four of the 19 Division I awards.
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SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Awards
in 2014-15
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NEW Academic Center
In the spring of 2015, UAlbany completed a
project that included a new
$1.4 million
academic center
and renovations to the football coaches and media relations & NCAA Compliance suites on the third floor of the Physical Education Building. Academic Center: 4,300 square foot space; new construction; large study/ meeting rooms, private tutor rooms and offices. Computer Lab: 800 square foot space; refreshed space.
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Football Suite: 2,300 square foot space; new construction & existing space upgrades; meeting rooms and offices. Media Relations Suite: 1,100 square foot space; new construction & existing space upgrades; offices and meeting room.
*Clough Harbour & Associates designed the project, Malone & Tate Builders performed the construction.
Financial Goals - Create a fiscally responsible balanced budget. - Create an Annual Giving Program that will be implemented in the 2015-16 year. - Continue to review athletic policies and procedures and ensure fiscal compliance with all University, State and Athletic Department policies. UAlbany Football welcomed the Capital District Pop Warner Challengers to Bob Ford Field for a fun and exciting flag football game. The Pop Warner Challenger flag football division is designed to provide children and young adults with special needs the opportunity to participate in the National Pop Warner program as players and cheerleaders.
DiD you know...
Equity and Diversity Initiative
UAlbany Student-Athletes Commit to Over Hours of Community Service Each Year.
2,500
UAlbany Intercollegiate Athletics will monitor, assess, and take specific necessary actions to ensure full compliance with Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Title IX policies. Through on-going educational programs during the academic year, staff and/or student-athletes will be provided necessary tools to ensure an environment that values equity and diversity. Through both the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee or SAAC and the UAlbany Administration, we will continue to provide educational forums that will assist studentathletes in decision making, planning and fulfillment of life goals. UAlbany Athletics will also continue to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience athletically, academically and socially within the University setting in order to develop a well-balanced life style for each student-athlete. 19
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