YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP WINNERS
2016-15 – UAlbany 2015-14 – UAlbany 2014-13 – UAlbany 2013-12 – UAlbany 2012-11 – Boston U. 2011-10 – Boston U. 2010-09 – Boston U. 2009-08 – Boston U. 2008-07 – Boston U. 2007-06 – Boston U. 2006-05 – Boston U. 2005-04 – UAlbany 2004-03 – Boston U. 2003-02 – Boston U. 2002-01 – Boston U. (UAlbany entered conference) 2001-00 – Delaware 2000-1999 – Delaware 1999-98 – Delaware 1998-97 – Delaware 1997-96 – Delaware 1996-95 – Delaware 1995-94 – Delaware
UALBANY’S 2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS: • Won its fifth America East Commissioner’s Cup in program history with 443 points, tying for the most points in conference history. • Matched the conference record by winning eight championships for the third-straight year. • Captured conference championships in field hockey, women’s soccer, women’s basketball,
men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field and women’s tennis.
• Regular-season champions in field hockey, men’s soccer, volleyball (co-champions),
women’s basketball (co-champions) and men’s lacrosse.
• Runners up in women’s cross country, volleyball, women’s lacrosse and softball.
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2015-16 CUP STANDINGS
1994-93 – Delaware
Rank Team 1. UAlbany 2. Stony Brook 3. Binghamton 4. UMBC 5. New Hampshire 6. Vermont 7. Maine 8. Hartford 9. UMass Lowell
1992-91 – Delaware
Points 443 324 284 260 252 235 212 176 130
1993-92 – Delaware 1991-90 – Boston U. 1990-89 – Boston U.
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CONTENTS Letter from Mark Benson
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Tom and Mary Casey Stadium
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Great Dane Athletic Club
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Athletic Accomplishments
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Cross Country
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Field Hockey
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Football
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Men’s Soccer
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Women’s Soccer
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Volleyball
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Basketball
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Indoor Track & Field
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Baseball
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Women’s Golf
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Lacrosse
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Softball
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Tennis
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Outdoor Track & Field
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Academic Performance
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Facility Upgrades
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Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
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Great Leaders + Great Champions + Great Danes. This is what we aspire to be as student-athletes, coaches and as an administration. We thank you for supporting these endeavors through your financial commitment, energy in the stands and for being part of the Great Dane family. This annual report represents the best of the 2015-16 season. In last year’s inaugural annual report we led with the remarkable accomplishment of winning our third consecutive America East Commissioner’s Cup and are pleased to report that we followed up with a school best fourth consecutive Commissioner’s Cup. In winning we tied the alltime record for points by any America East program. This report highlights all of our competitive success, but three of our programs experienced milestone moments – women’s soccer, women’s basketball and men’s lacrosse. In her fourth year at UAlbany, Head Coach Caitlin Cucchielli led our women’s soccer program to their first ever America East Conference Championship and an NCAA berth. Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson and the women’s basketball program won an unprecedented fifth consecutive America East Championship. Senior Shereesha Richards and company went on to defeat SEC powerhouse Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for another program first. Men’s lacrosse has evolved into a perennial national power under the leadership of Coach Scott Marr. Ranked as high as #4 nationally, the Great Danes completed an astounding fourth consecutive unbeaten regular season in the America East on their way to earning a program first at-large NCAA Tournament bid. As a department we continue excel in the classroom. Our over 450 student-athletes have a cumulative GPA of 3.10 led by Women’s Volleyball with a 3.48 team cumulative GPA. In the Spring of 2016 eighty-one UAlbany student-athletes were named to the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll obtaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Additionally, we are very fortunate to have key members of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Laini Leindecker (Volleyball) and Justin Berger (Lacrosse), represent UAlbany and the America East Conference on the national level. Justin attended the NCAA Convention representing the America East and Laini represented UAlbany at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. In July we launched the Great Dane Athletic Club (GDAC) to better support our student athletes, coaches and programs. The GDAC is the official fundraising arm of UAlbany Athletics that will provide the critical annual support for scholarships, operations, capital projects and endowments that position our athletic program for future success. The university is terrific in their support of our program but now is the time for us to take the next step and ask our alumni, family and friends to make a financial contribution to support our over 450 Great Dane student-athletes. I hope you enjoy this annual report and look forward to seeing you at an athletic event in the near future. Thank you for helping us develop Great Leaders + Great Champions + Great Danes. Go Great Danes!
Mark Benson Director of Athletics
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$10 MILLION GIFT
UALBANY ATHLETICS RECEIVES $10 MILLION GIFT Stadium named in honor of Tom & Mary Casey
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On Oct. 9, 2015, UAlbany received a $10 million gift to support the football stadium and other facilities, expand scholarships for student-athletes, and address additional priorities in athletics. The gift was made by The Bernard and Millie Children’s Foundation, which was established by the son of Bernard and Millie Duker, William Duker ’75, of Westerlo and New York City, his wife Sharon (Casey) Duker, and their son William “West” Duker. The stadium is now named Tom & Mary Casey Stadium, in honor of Sharon (Casey) Duker’s parents. The stadium’s opening in 2013 marked a signature moment for UAlbany, as the football program entered the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) — one of the nation’s top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conferences. The stadium’s field was named in honor of Bob Ford, who served as head coach of UAlbany’s football team for 44 years. The football facility will now be known as Bob Ford Field at Casey Stadium. The gift will impact all 450 of UAlbany’s student athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans throughout the Capital Region. Part of the gift will be endowed for Casey Stadium with the purpose of providing upgrades and maintenance. An academic endowment for student athlete scholarships will also be established. The remainder will be utilized for athletic department initiatives and priorities including the development of an athletics facility plan and renovations to SEFCU Arena.
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“Tom & Mary Casey Stadium is a treasure for the University and the entire Capital Region. This remarkable and generous gift will open doors for student-athletes hoping to attend UAlbany, and will ensure that this University and community can be proud of this stadium for years to come.” — George R. Hearst III, President of The University at Albany Foundation
GREAT DANE ATHLETIC CLUB
FAQ Q: A:
WHAT IS THE GREAT DANE ATHLETIC CLUB?
Q: A:
2016 saw the launch of The Great Dane Athletic Club (GDAC). GDAC serves as the primary fundraising program for UAlbany Athletics, providing athletic scholarships, capital improvements and support of our student-athletes competing in the university’s 18 Division I varsity sports. GDAC’s Priority Points system is designed to reward season ticket holders and donors for their loyalty with priority seating, amenities, and post-season ticket access. Growing this group of engaged and passionate supporters is critical to building on the program’s success and taking UAlbany Athletics to the next level of excellence.
WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
Q:
Your investment is a critical component of Great Dane success. It is important that our student-athletes have the support and backing of a strong fan base. Your commitment to UAlbany Athletics allows for enhanced academic support, new and improved facilities, and the hiring and retention of top coaches. The cost of competing at the highest level and providing a quality education for outstanding student-athletes is significant. The primary resource for meeting this need is revenue generated by the Great Dane Athletic Club (GDAC). Sustaining our success - athletically and academically - requires that
A:
more fans, organizations, and businesses become partners in the GDAC mission. Now is the time to get involved and secure the future of UAlbany Athletics. Membership runs on the calendar year and can begin with a gift of as little as $100 annually. This yearly contribution will count towards benefits such as seating, parking, and hospitality for both Men’s Basketball and Football. New members can contribute at any level, but must make a gift to activate their membership and receive certain benefits.
How do I become a member of the Great Dane Athletic Club? You can become a member of the GDAC by donating a minimum of $100 to the GDAC. There are also a variety of other ways to support UAlbany Athletics.
Why should I donate to the Great Dane Athletic Club? Private support is crucial to the success of UAlbany’s Athletic Department, which relies on selfgenerated revenues to operate. Your individual support helps talented young people receive a quality education from UAlbany while also ensuring they have all the tools necessary to compete at the highest level of competition.
What benefits do I receive for becoming a member of the Great Dane Athletic Club? GDAC members receive a variety of membership benefits which include, but are not limited to, invitations to GDAC functions and priority seating options for Football and Men’s Basketball.
For more information about GDAC membership, please visit ualbanysports. com/GDAC, or email gdac@albany.edu.
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2015-16 ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
UALBANY DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS *AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE (84) ^NORTHEAST CONFERENCE (6) ~METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (1)
BASEBALL (1) 2007* MEN’S BASKETBALL (5) 2005-06* 2006-07* 2012-13* 2013-14* 2014-15* WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (5) 2011-12* 2012-13* 2013-14* 2014-15* 2015-16* MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (1) 2011* FIELD HOCKEY (5) 2008* 2010* 2012* 2014* 2015* FOOTBALL (6) 2002^ 2003^ 2007^ 2008^ 2011^ 2012^ GOLF (4) 2004* 2008* 2009* 2015~ MEN’S LACROSSE (7) 2003* 2004* 2005* 2007* 2013* 2014* 2015* WOMEN’S LACROSSE (2) 2011* 2012*
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WOMEN’S SOCCER (1) 2015*
SOFTBALL (5) 2005* 2006* 2007* 2011* 2014* WOMEN’S TENNIS (1) 2016* MEN’S TRACK & FIELD (26) Indoor (13) Outdoor (13) 2002-03* 2003* 2003-04* 2005* 2005-06* 2006* 2006-07* 2007* 2007-08* 2008* 2008-09* 2009* 2009-10* 2010* 2010-11* 2011* 2011-12* 2012* 2012-13* 2013* 2013-14* 2014* 2014-15* 2015* 2015-16* WOMEN’S T&F (16) Indoor (6) Outdoor (10) 2009-10* 2006* 2010-11* 2007* 2012-13* 2009* 2013-14* 2010* 2014-15* 2011* 2015-16* 2012* 2013* 2014* 2015 * VOLLEYBALL (6) 2004* 2006* 2007* 2008* 2010* 2011*
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Placed 2nd at the America East Championship
Placed 8th at the America East Championship
- Under the direction of head coach Matt Jones, the UAlbany women’s cross country team placed second at the America East Championships -- a program-best -- where Jessica Donohue, Molly Pezzulo, and Hannah Smith earned allconference honors.
- Under the direction of head coach Matt Jones, the UAlbany men’s cross country team placed eighth at the 2015 America East Championships, and 25th in the Northeast Regional Championship.
- UAlbany finished 14th at the Northeast Regional Championship and earned a team victory at the Great Danes Invitational, beating out 12 other competing schools. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jessica Donohue: America East All-Conference First Team Molly Pezzulo: America East All-Conference Second Team Hannah Smith: America East All-Conference Second Team
- The Great Danes boasted their best finish of the season at their own Great Dane Invitational, placing 4th out of 14 teams. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Kyle Gronostaj: America East All-Conference Second Team
FIELD HOCKEY 2015 Record: 19-3 (7-1 AE) America East Tournament Champions - Under the direction of head coach Phil Sykes, the UAlbany field hockey team won its fifth America East title and made its second consecutive NCAA Tournament trip. - With a 19-3 overall record and 7-1 mark in the America East, the field hockey team was nationallyranked in NFHCA top-10 for the entire season. - A program record six student-athletes were named to NFHCA All-Region teams and as a squad, UAlbany was an NFHCA Team Academic Award winner with a 3.43 cumulative team GPA. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Rachel Billig: NFHCA National Academic Team Anna Bottino: NFHCA All-Region First Team,
America East All-Conference Second Team, America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, America East All-Tournament Team, NFHCA National Academic Team Kelsey Briddell: NFHCA National Academic Team Frederike Helmke: America East All-Rookie Team, NFHCA National Academic Team Jaclyn Hibbs: NFHCA All-Region First Team, America East All-Conference First Team, America East AllTournament Team Anne Klinger: NFHCA National Academic Team Megan Ma: America East All-Rookie Team Molly Mariano: NFHCA National Academic Team Melissa Nealon: NFHCA National Academic Team, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Laura Page: NFHCA All-Region Second Team, NFHCA Senior All-Star Team Maxi Primus: NFHCA All-Region Second Team, America East All-Conference Second Team, America East All-Academic Team, NFHCA National Academic
Team Fiori Van Rijswijk: NFHCA All-Region Second Team, NFHCA Senior All-Star Team, America East All-Conference Second Team, America East AllAcademic Team, America East All-Tournament Team, NFHCA National Academic Team Paula Heuser: CoSIDA Academic All-American, NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year, NFHCA First Team All-American, NFHCA All-Region First Team, America East Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year, America East Midfielder of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East AllTournament Team, America East Player of the Week (six times), NFHCA National Academic Team Taylor Schwoyer: Elite 18 Award, America East AllAcademic Team, NFHCA National Academic Team, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Emily White: NFHCA National Academic Team
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FOOTBALL
MEN’S SOCCER
2015 Record: 3-8 (2-6 CAA)
2015 Record: 10-8-1 (5-2 AE) America East Regular Season Champions
- Under the direction of head coach Greg Gattuso, the UAlbany football team finished the 2015 season with a 3-8 overall record and 2-6 mark in the highly competitive CAA. - The Great Danes played its first game against an FBS opponent in program history and picked up a road win over perennial power Delaware with an extremely young roster. - Redshirt freshman Julian Cox was named the CAA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, while senior Samuel Gray and junior Kevin Malloy also earned all-conference recognition. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Julian Cox: CAA Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year, ECAC Division I FCS Defensive Rookie of the Year, Third-Team All-CAA Defense Elliot Croskey: CAA Offensive Rookie of the Week Samuel Gray: Third-Team All-CAA Defense Malachi Hoskins: CAA Defensive Player of the Week Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks: CAA Offensive Rookie of the Week Kevin Malloy: Third-Team All-CAA Offense Jon Martin: CAA Special Teams Player of the Week
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- Under the direction of head coach Trevor Gorman, the UAlbany men’s soccer team was the 2015 America East Regular Season Champions and tournament No. 1 seed. - The Great Danes went 10-8-1 on the season and 5-2 in the America East, marking the program’s first 10-win season since 2008 and a six-win improvement from 2014. - In addition, Gorman and his staff were named the America East Coaching Staff of the Year, while five athletes earned all-conference honors. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jake Barros: America East Player of the Week Carlos Clark: America East All-Rookie Team, America East Rookie of the Week Martin Gorrie: America East All-Academic Team
Bernardo Mattos: America East All-Conference Second Team Leo Melgar: America East Player of the Week Philip Persson: America East All-Conference First Team Afonso Pinheiro: America East Striker of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, NSCAA Division I Men’s All-East Region First Team, America East Player of the Week Keith Traut: America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team
VOLLEYBALL
WOMEN’S SOCCER America East Tournament Champions, Placed tied for 2nd in America East regular season - The UAlbany women’s soccer team had its best season in program history in 2015 with the team’s first-ever America East Tournament title. After tying for second place in the conference regular season, UAlbany came back to defeat Vermont and Hartford for the America East Tournament championship, going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and finishing with 11 victories. - Team captain Alexa Schneider earned America East All-Conference First Team honors with seven goals on the year while Kelly Kempf scored the gamewinner against Hartford in the league title game in the 88th minute. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Shelby Belak: America East All-Conference Second Team
Krista Fitzpatrick: CoSIDA Division I Academic AllAmerican, America East All-Academic Team Kelly Kempf: America East Tournament MVP Caroline Kopp: NSCAA All-Region Third Team, America East All-Rookie Team, America East AllTournament Team Caitlyn Paltsios: America East All-Academic Team, America East All-Tournament Team, America East Player of the Week Alexa Schneider: America East All-Conference First Team Vivian Vega: America East All-Conference Second Team Mariah Williams: America East All-Rookie Team
America East Regular Season Co-Champions, America East Tournament Finalist - The UAlbany volleyball team, led by head MJ Engstrom and the America East Coaching Staff of the Year, earned its winningest season since 2011 with 17 victories. - The Great Danes earned a share of the America East regular season title at 11-1 in conference play, while making the conference title match for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. Two Great Danes earned major conference awards: Laini Leindecker was the America East Co-Player of the Year while Nicole Otero was the America East Defensive Specialist of the Year.
the Week, America East All-Tournament Team Tatum Jungsten: America East All-Conference First Team Laini Leindecker: America East Co-Player of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East All-Tournament Team, America East Player of the Week (four times) Mikala McCauley: America East All-Conference First Team, America East Elite 18 Award, America East All-Academic Team, America East Setter of the Week (three times) Nicole Otero: America East Defensive Specialist of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, America East Defensive Specialist of the Week (six times)
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Amanda Dolan: America East All-Conference Second Team, America East Defensive Specialist of
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MEN’S BASKETBALL Placed 2nd in America East regular season, America East Tournament Quarterfinalists, CBI Tournament First Round - Under the direction of Head Coach Will Brown, the UAlbany men’s basketball team finished the 2015-16 season with a 24-9 overall record and 13-3 mark in the America East. The Great Danes ranked in the top-5 nationally for free throws made and ranked in the top-10 nationally in free throws attempted. - UAlbany made the program’s first appearance in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and won a programrecord 24 games in the regular season, posting a 19-game home winning streak dating back to the 2014-15 season.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Evan Singletary: NABC All-District Team, America East All-Conference First Team Joe Cremo: America East Rookie of the Year, America East Sixth Man of the Year, America East All-Rookie Team Peter Hooley: America East AllConference Third Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East Men’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, Senior CLASS Award Candidate Ray Sanders: America East AllConference First Team Dallas Ennema: America East AllAcademic Team Mike Rowley: America East AllAcademic Team
America East Tournament Champions, America East Regular Season CoChampions, NCAA Second Round - The UAlbany women’s basketball team made program history under the direction of head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, becoming the first America East basketball team to win five consecutive conference tournament titles. Earning a program record 12-seed, the Great Danes won the program’s firstever NCAA Division I Tournament victory, defeating 5-seed Florida in Syracuse. - Shereesha Richards earned Associated Press All-American honors after being named the America East Player of the Year for the third year in a row while America East All-Conference First Team guard Imani Tate had 28 points and eight rebounds to lead the way to victory over Florida.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Tiana-Jo Carter: America East Sixth Player of the Year Cassandra Edwards: America East AllAcademic Team Shereesha Richards: Naismith Trophy Midseason 30 Team and 50 Watch List, Associated Press Honorable Mention AllAmerican, WBCA Honorable Mention AllAmerican, America East Player of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Defensive Team, America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Senior CLASS Award Candidate, America East Player of the Week (five times) Zakiya Saunders: America East AllConference Second Team Imani Tate: America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Defensive Team, America East All-Tournament Team, America East Player of the Week (three times)
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
America East Tournament Champions
America East Tournament Champions
- The UAlbany men’s indoor track & field program won its 11th consecutive America East Indoor Championship in 2016 with four individuals earning titles, as well as the 4x400m relay team. - Osiris Nicholson was named Outstanding Rookie of the Meet and the coaches, again under the direction of Roberto Vives, were named Coaching Staff of the Year. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Matthew Campbell: America East Field Performer of the Week (twice), IC4A High Jump Champion Jonathan Eustache: America East Field Performer of the Week Momodou Jobe: America East 4x400m Relay Champion
Taariq Jones: America East 400m Champion, America East 4x400m Relay Champion, America East Track Performer of the Week Matthew LeLiever: America East 4x400m Relay Champion Osiris Nicholson: America East Rookie of the Year, America East 60m Champion Kingsley Ogbonna: America East High Jump Champion Jason Tomlinson: America East 4x400m Relay Champion
- In 2016, the UAlbany women’s indoor track & field program won its fourth-consecutive America East Indoor Championship, and sixth title in the last seven years. - The Great Danes had five athletes and a relay team earn individual championships. Grace Claxton was named the Most Outstanding Track performer of the meet, Chinwe Igwe was named Outstanding Field performer, and the staff under the direction of Roberto Vives was named Coaching Staff of the Year.
Performer, America East 200m Champion, America East 400m Champion, America East 4x400m Relay Champion, ECAC 400m Champion Jessica Donohue: America East Field Track Performer of the Week Anika Hibbard: America East Field Performer of the Week Chinwe Igwe: America East Most Outstanding Field Performer, America East Weight Throw Champion Osayi Owie: America East 500m Champion Paige Vadnais: America East Pentathlon Champion Halie Snyder: America East 4x400m Relay Champion Akua Williams: America East 4x400m Relay Champion
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Mary Adeyeye: America East All-Academic Team Aderinsola Ajala: America East 4x400m Relay Champion Solene Bastien: America East Field Performer of the Week, America East Triple Jump Champion Grace Claxton: America East Most Outstanding Track
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BASEBALL
WOMEN’S GOLF
Placed 5th in America East regular season, 3rd Round of America East Tournament
Placed 5th in the MAAC Tournament
- Under the direction of Jon Mueller, the UAlbany baseball team finished in fifth place in the America East, earning an America East Tournament opening victory against UMBC and a place in the third round. The team won 23 games, tying the most since the 2009 season. - Stephen Woods was drafted in the eighth round by the San Francisco Giants in the summer, the highest drafted player in program history. Kyle Sacks earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Kevin Donati: America East Rookie of the Week Marcus Failing: America East Pitcher of the Week Patrick Lagravinese: America East Rookie of the Week Brendan Ryan: America East Pitcher of the Week Kyle Sacks: America East All-Conference Second Team Dominic Savino: America East All-Rookie Team Stephen Woods: America East leader in strikeouts (88), 245th Overall Draft Pick in MLB
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- Under the direction of head coach Colleen Cashman-McSween, the Great Dane women’s golf program earned three team victories and three individual titles in the 2015-16 season. UAlbany placed first at the Siena dual, Quinnipiac Classic, and Lonnie Barton Invitational. - At the MAAC Championships, the Great Danes placed fifth led by all-conference honoree Annie Songeun Lee. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Paige Fujihara: MAAC Golfer of the Week, MAAC All-Academic Team Rosalee Hearns: MAAC All-Academic Team Annie Songeun Lee: MAAC All-Conference Team, MAAC Golfer of the Week, MAAC Golfer of the Month (twice), MAAC All-Academic Team
MEN’S LACROSSE America East Regular Season Champions, America East Tournament Semifinalists, NCAA Tournament First Round - Under the direction of Scott Marr, the UAlbany men’s lacrosse team earned its fourth consecutive perfect America East regular season and the program’s first-ever at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, the fourth straight trip to the postseason. Marr earned America East Coach of the Year while Blaze Riorden, one of six all-conference players for UAlbany, was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. - UAlbany was ranked as high as #4 in the USILA Coaches Poll and Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, the best rankings for the team since 2007. In addition, UAlbany’s at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament was the first for an America East men’s lacrosse program since 2007. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Justin Berger: SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence James Burdette: America East All-Academic Team Jack Burgmaster: America East All-Rookie Team Erik Dluhy: America East All-Rookie Team Connor Fields: Tewaaraton Nominee, USILA Third Team All-American, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East AllTournament Team, America East leader in
WOMEN’S LACROSSE goals scored (44), America East leader in points scored (73), America East Offensive Player of the Week (three times) John Maloney: USILA Honorable Mention All-American, America East All-Conference Second Team, America East All-Academic Team, 22nd Overall Pick in MLL Draft Kyle McClancy: America East All-Academic Team, Daniel L. Barnes ’07 Memorial Scholarship Recipient Seth Oakes: Tewaaraton Watch List, USILA Honorable Mention All-American, America East All-Conference First Team, America East leader in goals scored (44), America East Offensive Player of the Week Zach Ornstein: America East All-Rookie Team, America East Rookie of the Week (three times) Troy Reh: America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Tournament Team, America East Defensive Player of the Week (three times) Blaze Riorden: Tewaaraton Nominee, USILA Honorable Mention All-American, America East Defensive Player of the Year, America East All-Conference First Team, 51st Overall Pick in MLL Draft, America East leader in save % (.565) America East Defensive Player of the Week (three times) Stone Sims: America East All-Conference First Team
Placed 2nd in America East Regular Season, America East Tournament Finalists - Under the direction of John Battaglino, the UAlbany women’s lacrosse team earned its sixth consecutive appearance in the America East title game and its seventh consecutive double digit win season. Christine Johnson was chosen as the America East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was one of seven Great Danes to earn all-conference honors. - UAlbany became the first women’s lacrosse program to reach the America East title game for the sixth consecutive season since 2010. The team was also named a 2015-16 IWLCA Academic Honor Squad with a 3.31 cumulative team GPA during the academic year. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Rachel Bowles: NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee, Tewaaraton Watch List, IWLCA All-Region Second Team, IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, America East AllConference First Team, America East All-Tournament
Team Andrea Flood: IWLCA Academic Honor Roll Rachel Heidenreich: America East All-Rookie Team Courtney Henderson: America East All-Conference Second Team Alie Jimerson: America East All-Conference Second Team Christine Johnson: America East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, IWLCA All-Region Second Team, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team Shannon Lynch: America East All-Rookie Team Sarah Martin: IWLCA All-Region Second Team, IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East All-Tournament Team Sierra McIver: America East All-Conference Second Team Kaylee Rickert: America East All-Rookie Team Dakotah Savitcheff: IWLCA All-Region First Team, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Tournament Team
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SOFTBALL Placed 3rd in America East regular season, America East Tournament Finalists - Under the direction of Chris Cannata, the UAlbany softball team finished third place in the conference regular season and earn its way into the America East Tournament final game for the second time in three seasons. The team finished with 34 victories, the fifth consecutive season with at least 30 wins. - Five players earned America East All-Conference honors, including Elizabeth Snow, who also was selected as a NFCA Second Team All-Region player. Kelly Costello was one of two UAlbany student-athletes to be an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.
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TENNIS INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS McKenzie Bump: America East AllRookie Team, America East Rookie of the Week Mackenzie Cleary: America East AllConference Second Team Maggie Cocks: CoSIDA Academic AllDistrict I, America East All-Conference First Team, America East All-Academic Team, America East leader in triples (5) Donna Conrad: America East AllConference Second Team Kelly Costello: NCAA Woman of the Year candidate, America East Spring Scholar-Athlete, SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athlete, America East AllConference Second Team, America East All-Academic Team Devin Durando: America East All-
Academic Team, America East Pitcher of the Week Chelsea Henige: America East AllRookie Team Sarah Petzold: America East leader in fielding percentage (1.000), America East Rookie of the Week Liz Snow: America East All-Conference Second Team, NFCA Second Team AllRegion, CoSIDA Academic All-District I, America East All-Academic Team, America East leader in batting average (.452), slugging % (.929), on base % (.545), RBI (56), total bases (117), doubles (14), home runs (14), America East Player of the Week (twice) Celeste Verdolivo: America East All-Rookie Team, America East Pitcher of the Week, America East Rookie of the Week
America East Tournament Champions, America East Regular Season Champions, NCAA First Round - Under head coach Gordon Graham, the UAlbany women’s tennis team clinched its first program NCAA Tournament appearance on Sunday, April 24th, with a 4-2 win over Stony Brook for the America East Championship. The team earned a place in the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual nationally runner-up Oklahoma State. - Junior Paulina Torres was named Most Outstanding Player, while Mireille Hermans earned the conference’s Elite 18 award. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ana Glumac: America East Player of the Week Jovana Kenic: America East Player of the Year,
America East Rookie of the Year, America East All-Conference Team, America East Player of the Week Dajana Ognjenovic: America East AllConference Team Isidora Pejovic: America East Player of the Week Alba Sala: America East All-Conference Team, America East Player of the Week Paulina Torres: America East All-Conference Team, America East Player of the Week (twice)
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
America East Tournament Champions
America East Tournament Champions
- Under the direction of Roberto Vives and the America East Coaching Staff of the Year, the UAlbany men’s track and field program won its 12th consecutive America East team title and had nine conference individual champions. In addition, the team had eight NCAA East preliminary qualifiers. The team finished ranked seventh in the northeast region and eighth in the IC4A Outdoor Championships. - Matthew Campbell earned First Team NCAA All-American honors with a seventh place finish in the high jump Taariq Jones earned the America East Elite 18 Award for academics as well as was a qualifier in the NCAA East. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Myles Banfield: America East Individual Champion – 4x400m relay team, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – 400m, World Junior Qualifier (Canada) – 400m Alexander Bowen Jr.: NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – High Jump, Penn Relays Champion – High Jump Matthew Campbell: NCAA First Team All-American –
High Jump, NCAA Qualifier – High Jump, IC4A Individual Champion – High Jump, America East Individual Champion – Triple Jump, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – High Jump Jonathan Eustache: America East Individual Champion – Discus, Hammer, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – Discus Sidney Gibbons: America East Individual Champion – 110m hurdles Khari Harris: America East Individual Champion – 4x400m relay team Robert Harris III: America East Individual Champion – 100m, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – 100m Momodou Jobe: America East Individual Champion – 4x400m relay team Taariq Jones: America East Individual Champion – 400m, America East Individual Champion – 4x400m relay team, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – 400m, America East Elite 18 Winner, America East Coaches’ Award, America East Track Performer of the Week Kingsley Ogbonna: America East Individual Champion – High Jump, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – High Jump Jaymen Teemer: America East Individual Champion – 200m Devon Willis: NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – Triple Jump
- Under the direction of Roberto Vives, the UAlbany women’s track and field program won its 8th consecutive America East team title, and 11th in 12 years, and had seven conference individual champions. The team finished ranked third in the northeast region, tied for the highest ranking in program history, and third in the ECAC Outdoor Championships. - Grace Claxton, the two-time America East individual champion, served as the program’s first-ever female Olympian in the 2016 Games in Rio in the 400m hurdles for Puerto Rico. Claxton and Anika Hibbard each were NCAA East Preliminary Qualifiers. INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Mary Adeyeye: America East All-Academic Team Soléne Bastien: America East Individual
Champion – Triple Jump Taahira Butterfield: America East Individual Champion – 4x100m relay Grace Claxton: 2016 Olympic Qualifier – 400m hurdles, Puerto Rico, NCAA Second Team All-American – 400m hurdles, NCAA Qualifier – 400m hurdles, ECAC Individual Champion – 400m hurdles, America East Individual Champion – 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – 400m, 400m hurdles, Penn Relays Champion – 400m hurdles, America East Co-Coaches’ Award Annika Hibbard: America East Individual Champion – High Jump, NCAA East Preliminary Qualifier – High Jump, America East Field Performer of the Week (twice) Niamani Morrison: America East Individual Champion – 100m hurdles Stephanie Osuji: America East Individual Champion – 100m, 4x100m relay Chanel Smith: America East Individual Champion – 4x100m relay
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ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
UALBANY EXCELS IN THE CLASSROOM
159 UAlbany student-athletes have been selected to the 2015-16 America East Conference Honor Roll 81 UAlbany student-athletes earned a spot on the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll America East Conference Honor Roll is awarded to student-athletes who maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the year were placed on the honor roll. Those who had at least a 3.50 GPA after the 2016 spring semester were placed on the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
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UALBANY STUDENT-ATHLETES 2015-16 AMERICA EAST HONOR ROLL Men’s Cross Country Calvin Butlak Zachary Cook* Ryan Fox* Matthew Gladysz Kyle Gronostaj* Jordan Johnson* Keith Machabee Liam Mallon* Justin Middleton Tyler Ranke James Sommer Austin Sperl
Women’s Cross Country Breanna Cummings Jessica Donohue* Colleen Maloney* Molly Pezzulo Schuyler Pruyn* Leah Rice* Cara Sherman* Valentina Talevi*
Field Hockey Rachel Billig* Anna Bottino Kelsey Briddell* Frederike Helmke* Paula Heuser* Jaclyn Hibbs Anne Klinger* Molly Mariano* Liza Morgan Melissa Nealon* Laura Page Maxi Primus* Taylor Schwoyer* Fiori Van Rijswijk* Emily White*
Men’s Soccer Christopher Clark Jordan DiLapo*
Pedro Espindola Martin Gorrie Bernardo Mattos Eric Orologio* Luke Palmateer Philip Persson* Leonardo Rodrigues Anthony Rozzano Nicolas Solabarrieta Keith Traut* Daniel Vitiello Noah Waxner*
Women’s Soccer Celia Balf* Shelby Belak* Chloe Borasky Alana Brennan* Allison Carhart* Savanah Courtney* Alexandra Dencker Brenda Didonna* Krista Fitzpatrick* Kelly Kempf* Caroline Kopp* Morgan Loder Angela Luizzi Meghan Malone Alana Olivieri* Caitlyn Paltsios* Kiana Rugar* Alexa Schneider* Claire Urquhart* Vivian Vega* Bianca Webb Mariah Williams
Volleyball Amanda Dolan* Elizabet Genis* Gabrielle Hansen* Shannon Hurley Tatum Jungsten Laini Leindecker Emily Lopes* Mikala McCauley* Akuabata Okenwa
Paula Pinto* Emily Zimmerman
Baseball Derek Balbierz* Brendan Behan Matthew Codispoti* Ryan Daugherty* Samuel DeCelle* Trevor DeMerritt Marcus Failing* Evan Harasta* Patrick Lagravinese William Miller* Eric Mueller Charles Peltz* Joseph Romero Brendan Ryan* Dominic Savino* Ryan Stinar Donald Todd Hunter Torres
Men's Basketball Joe Cremo Dallas Ennema* Peter Hooley* David Nichols* Mike Rowley Reece Williams*
Women's Basketball Bose Aiyalogbe* Chyanna Canada* Erin Coughlin* Cassandra Edwards* Jessica Féquière* Heather Forster* Bailey Hixson* Imani Tate
Men's Lacrosse Tyler Aycock Joshua Babcock*
Justin Berger* Alexander Brown* James Burdette John Burgmaster Brendan Chetuck Trevor Cross Jake Cullen Erik Dluhy* Carson Dutkanych Derrick Eccles* Sean Eccles Joshua Egan* Harry Erickson* John Glancy Sean Gleason Anthony Kluck* Eli Lasda* Kyle McClancy* Kevin McNally* Zachary Ornstein Adam Osika* Matthew Perla* Justin Reh Troy Reh Mitchell Rupp Ky Tarbell Noah Taylor* Christopher Underwood* Justin Zelen
Women's Lacrosse Virginia Annaheim Casey Blakeney Rachel Bowles* Julie Cryderman* Alexis Drumm* Emma Falter Andrea Flood* Sara Grapevine* Rachel Heidenreich Courtney Henderson* Christine Johnson* Mackenzie Knouse* Shannon Lynch* Sarah Martin* Mary McAvey Sierra McIver Megan Mikolajek* Emily Mizer
Amanda Obenshain Emma Powlin* Kaylee Rickert* Dakotah Savitcheff Katherine Sweeney Jenna Walsh*
Softball Kayla Bailey Samantha Broking Mackenzie Cleary Margaret Cocks Donna Conrad* Caitlin Cooper* Kelly Costello Courtney Courtade Devin Durando* Chelsea Henige* Julianne Holbert Sarah Petzold* Jennifer Polak Elizabeth Snow Celeste Verdolivo
Women's Tennis Ana Glumac Mireille Hermans* Chae Bean Kang Jovana Kenic* Chassidy King Dajana Ognjenovic Isidora Pejovic Alba Sala*
Men's Track & Field Philip Blanda* Matthew Campbell Jacob Coveney Anthony D'Angelo Joseph De Santis* Jonathan Eustache Ryan Fox* Matthew Gladysz Kyle Gronostaj Khari Harris Momodou Jobe
Jordan Johnson* Taariq Jones* Keith Machabee Liam Mallon* Tyler Ranke* James Sommer Austin Sperl* Christopher Stephenson Abdul-Nasser Sumbu Najee Taylor
Women's Track & Field Mary Adeyeye* Solène Bastien Tara Belinsky* Nailah Braxton* Taahira Butterfield Amiynah Campbell Breanna Cummings Jessica Donohue Zoe Doolittle Samantha Ferrero Tishauna Francis Joanna Heath Anika Hibbard Letti Hibbard Chinwe Igwe Acacia Larson* Lauren Lopano* Chinira Lovick* Colleen Maloney* Molly Pezzulo Schuyler Pruyn* Ilenis Quinones Leah Rice* Cara Sherman* Halie Snyder* Lundy Spinner Victoria Stoffel* Valentina Talevi* Kahlia Taylor* Alexandra Trezza* Paige Vadnais Akua Williams *Commissioner's Honor Roll
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FACILITY UPGRADES
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AND ATHLETIC TRAINING UPGRADES
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The Strength and Conditioning Center and the Athletic Training Room received some much needed upgrades during the 2015-2016 academic year. Both of these areas are a vital part of the success of our athletic teams and certainly are very important to overall safety and welfare of each and every student-athlete. Thanks to institutional support through the compact planning budget process, $75,000 dollars of new weight training equipment was purchased for the strength and conditioning center. With this new equipment, the strength and conditioning staff is now equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that will help enhance the overall strength and conditioning programs for all UAlbany student-athletes. This center services all student-athletes on a daily basis and helps develop and enhance the overall studentathletes overall fitness and is the catalyst for assisting with injury prevention. The Athletic Training Room, staffed by certified athletic trainers, a network of excellent team physicians, physical therapists and in collaboration with the campus Student Health Center, this facility provides the daily medical care for student-athletes, including the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of all athletic injury and illness. Therapeutic modalities play a key role in assisting these clinicians with the duties they perform. Through the compact planning process, $40,000 dollars was spent on replacing therapeutic modalities with modern state-of-the-art modalities that will help return student-athletes back to the playing field in a more efficient and safe manner. Facility upgrades are a key component in the continuum of overall care and well-being for all student-athletes and allows our staff to better serve our studentathlete population.
NEW
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STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 22
PURPOSE The purpose of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to serve as liaisons between the athletic administration, university and studentathletes. The members of SAAC act as the voice of the student-athletes and disseminate information to their respective teams as well as bring student-athlete concerns to the administration. SAAC is the vehicle for student-athletes to improve upon student-athlete welfare, as well as to help coordinate community service, life-skills and various other activities for the athletic department.
REPRESENTATION
LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY UAlbany student-athletes, under the leadership of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spent numerous hours representing UAlbany in the community through community service and special events.
Each team must have at least two SAAC members. Each team should choose their representatives and consideration should be given to class status, academic status, and overall leadership characteristics. At least one representative from each team must be present at each meeting unless academic and athletic conflicts prevent them from doing so.
SAAC OFFICERS SAAC has an Executive Council that is selected by the SAAC members. Members are selected based on their experience, overall commitment and leadership qualities.
UALBANY STUDENT-ATHLETES BERGER AND LEINDECKER REPRESENTS UALBANY AS NCAA REPRESENTATIVES UAlbany Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President Justin Berger represented the America East Conference at the NCAA Division I SAAC Conference at the 2016 NCAA Convention in January in San Antonio. The annual NCAA Convention gathers university presidents, athletic directors, athletic administrators from schools and conference, SAAC representatives and more from across the country and across all NCAA divisions. The attending guests engage in discussions and meetings about issues going on in the NCAA community. “I’m extremely honored to represent UAlbany and the America East at the Division I SAAC Conference,” said Berger. “I’m looking forward to talking about the conference-wide initiatives we’ve been working this year as well as bringing back the great ideas that are shared. It should be a fun week.” Laini Leindecker, a junior on the UAlbany volleyball team, was one of two representatives of the America East Conference at the 2016 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Phoenix next week. Leindecker and Andrew Schrantz of UMBC served as the America East’s representatives at the annual conference, which has taken place since 1997, selected by the league. The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum “return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, the experience of exploring the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and a thorough understanding of the NCAA as a whole, the different divisional perspectives and the valuable role of Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC).”
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