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ALB AN For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 29, 2005 Lisa Cangelosi / 518-442-4511
UALBANY FALLS TO NO. 8 UCONN IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Hartford, Conn. — Barbara Turner led all scorers with a season-high 18 points as No. 8
Connecticut defeated UAlbany, 78-44, in a non-conference women’s basketball contest at the
Hartford Civic Center on Thursday evening. The crowd of 13,364 was the largest that
UAlbany has ever played in front of.
UConn (10-1) jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the first 4:28 of play. Turner scored six points for
the Huskies in their opening run, including consecutive baseline jumpers to make the score 4-
0. Ann Strother, who ranks 12th in the Big East with 15.3 points per game, dumped in seven
of UConn’s next 11 points to make the score 23-5 at 10:06.
UAlbany (3-6) battled to close the gap as Gia Sanders hit a layup with 5:13 left in the first
stanza to make the score 25-12. Sanders finished tied for the team lead with eight points on
the night. UConn then came back to take the 38-17 halftime lead.
The Huskies extended their lead in the second half and were up by as much as 40 points with
@; left in the matchup. Strother finished with 17 points and Preseason WNIT Most Valuable
Player Mel Thomas chipped in seven for the Huskies. UConn held the Great Dane offense to
its lowest output of the season and forced a UAlbany season-high 22 turnovers.
“Our team is young, and | am proud of our competitive nature. We made some big plays, we
just could not shoot the ball,” commented UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team
faced off against a ranked opponent for only the third time in the program's history. “Our
players had to elevate their play and now they are better for it.”
“Stepping out on that court in front of thousands of people was a once in a lifetime
opportunity,” said junior Amanda Ward, who scored eight of UAlbany’s first 12 points. “Our
team had nothing to lose. Overall, the team did well against them,” added the East Hartford
native.
Ward and sophomore Sherri Mikus tied Sanders with eight points for the Great Danes.
Kirsten Peterson, who ranks sixth in the America East Conference with 7.6 rebounds per
game, grabbed a team-leading seven on the night.
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College Basketball — Albany 62, Brown 47
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 28, 2005 Lisa Cangelosi / 518-442-4511
Providence, R.!. —- Brent Wilson scored 17 points as UAlbany posted its third straight win
with a 62-47 non-league victory over Brown on Wednesday evening at Pizzitola Sports
Center.
UAlbany (5-6) led 8-5 early in the first half, but then tallied 13 consecutive points to take
control. Wilson, a 6’8” sophomore, made a pair of three-point field goals in that stretch. Jason
Siggers, who had a career-high 10 points off the bench, canned another long-range jumper,
before Jamar Wilson hit a jumper for a 21-5 advantage with 10:32 left before halftime.
The Great Danes led 31-15 at the intermission by holding Brown (2-8) to 27.3% shooting on
six-of-22 attempts and forcing 10 first-half turnovers. Meanwhile, Jon lati had nine of his 10
points in the stanza.
The Great Danes, who own their longest winning streak since the 2001-02 season, pushed
out to a 42-22 lead with 12:40 remaining when Siggers canned a jumper in the lane. The
oo would never get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
“We did a good job of attacking off the dribble and penetrating their zone,” said UAlbany
coach Will Brown, whose team won for the first time against an lvy League squad on the road
in six tries as a Division | program. “We showed a lot of patience and got a lot of contributions
from different players. Brown is a tough matchup because they do a good job of crowding the
lane and guarding the post.”
Damon Huffman, last year’s lvy League Rookie of the Year, led the Bears with 10 points.
Scott Friske added eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
“This was a big win for us because it shows we are preparing well for our opponents and how
far we’ve come since the start of the season,” commented Brent Wilson, who made six-of-10
from the field, including four three-pointers. “We have made a commitment to the defensive
end of the floor and that’s what’s going to make us a good team.”
Jamar Wilson finished with nine points and four assists despite being plagued by foul trouble.
The Great Danes are off for one week until starting a three-game homestand against Hartford
on Jan. 4.
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December 27, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
UALBANY RANKED NO. 18 IN PRESEASON INSIDE LACROSSE COACHES’ POLL
Baltimore, Md. — Inside Lacrosse and Face-Off Yearbook have released their Division |
Preseason Coaches’ Poll and UAlbany is ranked 18th nationally. Merrick Thomson (Albany
Academy) was named to the national publication’s preseason All-America squad as an
honorable mention selection.
The Great Danes captured their third consecutive America East Conference
championship and NCAA Tournament berth last season. Head coach Scott Marr has led the
program to a 10-6 record in three straight campaigns. UAlbany returns three of its top four
scorers from a squad that ranked sixth nationally in scoring offense at 11.63 goals per game.
Thomson, a junior attackman, earned first-team All-America East honors in 2005 when
he led the nation in goals (54) and was second in points (74). He netted four or more goals
against eight opponents, including a season-high seven against Binghamton on April 9.
Thomson, who is the first UAlbany player to account for 40-plus goals in back-to-back
seasons, produced the fourth highest single-season point total in school history last season.
Inside Lacrosse/Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Coaches’ National Poll
1. Johns Hopkins, 2. Duke, 3. Virginia, 4. Maryland, 5. Syracuse, 6. Georgetown, 7. Navy, 8.
Cornell, 9. Massachusetts, 10. Princeton, 11. Towson, 12. Notre Dame, 13. Penn State, 14.
North Carolina, 15. Army, 16. Delaware, 17. Dartmouth, 18. UAlbany, 19. Hofstra, 20.
Fairfield, 21. Ohio State, 22. Denver, 23. Loyola, Md., 24. Rutgers, 25. Bucknell.
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December 23, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
ALBAN
College Basketball — Albany 63, Stony Brook 58
Stony Brook, N.Y. — Levi Levine came off the bench to score 14 points as UAlbany posted its
second straight America East Conference win with a 63-58 victory over Stony Brook on Friday
evening at the SBU Sports Complex.
UAlbany (4-6, AE 2-0) built a 48-36 lead with 14:19 remaining when Levine hit a jump hook in
the lane. Stony Brook (0-7, AE 0-2) would wipe out that lead over the next six minutes.
Bobby Santiago, who had 13 of his 15 points in the second half, led the comeback. The
senior guard drilled three three-point field goals, including a long-range jumper from the right
corner that gave his team a 50-49 lead.
The contest went back and forth in the stretch. Mike Popoko, a 6-foot-5 junior, tied the
contest at 56 apiece when he scored on the right baseline. Popoko finished with 16 points
and eight rebounds. The Great Danes, who survived 29 percent shooting in the second half,
went back ahead when Levine split a pair of free throws and Brent Wilson added two more
for a 59-56 advantage with 1:28 remaining.
Qu albany still led 60-58 when Santiago misfired on a three pointer from right of the key with 14
seconds to play. Jamar Wilson, who was scoreless from the field but made 7 of 8 free
throws, sank a pair from the line to put his team in control. The Seawolves’ Mitchell Buford
miss a shot in the lane and Brent Wilson corralled the rebound to hold on for the win.
“We didn’t panic because we know that every team will make a run,” said Levine, who added
four rebounds and three assists. “Everyone contributed. I’m just doing what | can out there
and I’m thankful that coach just gave me an opportunity.”
The Great Danes, who won a league road game for the first time since Jan. 16 of last year,
trailed 20-18 in the opening period, but then ran off 10 straight points to go ahead. Levine
ignited that run with a three-point field goal from the left corner. Brian Lillis later gave his
team a 28-20 cushion when he nailed another three pointer from the top of the arc.
“It's very difficult to win on the road,” Ualbany head coach Will Brown commented. “We were
able to get the win without Jamar (Wilson) and Lucious (Jordan) scoring a field goal. I’m
proud of Levi (Levine) because he’s kept his chin up since coming off the bench. He and
Jason Siggers got us going in the first half.”
Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, was the only other UAlbany player in double figures with
@'° points and eight rebounds. Siggers added a career-high nine points, all in the first half for
the Great Danes, who next play a non-league game at Brown on Dec. 28.
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December 20, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
College Basketball — Albany 70, Binghamton 65
Albany, N.Y. — Sophomore guard Jon lati scored 10 of his 13 points in the final two minutes,
as UAlbany held off Binghamton, 70-65, in the America East Conference opener for both
teams on Tuesday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.
UAlbany (3-6, AE 1-0) built a 54-44 lead in the second half, when Jamar Wilson hit a
16-foot jumper in the circle off the dribble. Wilson, a 6-foot-1 junior, finished with a team-high
17 points and eight rebounds, and was one of five players in double figures.
Binghamton (2-7, AE 0-1) would later rally behind the play of junior guard Troy Hailey,
who 18 of his career-high 29 points in the final period. Hailey, who made 7 of 12 from the
field and 11 of 12 from the line, hit a pair of free throws to close the gap to 62-60 with 57
seconds remaining.
lati, who played just nine minutes off the bench, followed with a driving bank shot from
the right side. Binghamton’s Dwayne Jackson canned a three-point field goal in transition to
slice the deficit to 64-63 with 23.7 seconds left. lati would later then made two more foul
shots for a 68-65 advantage, before Schafer Jackson misfired on a 3-pointer from the top of
the circle in an effort to tie contest.
© “It was a balanced effort and everyone contributed in their own way,’ said UAlbany
coach Will Brown, whose team had lost nine of the last 10 match-ups in this series, including
last year’s America East tournament quarterfinal contest. “Obviously | was little nervous at
then end, but we stayed positive as a group and came up with the win.”
UAlbany rallied from an early 11-point deficit in the opening half to go ahead 28-26.
Lucious Jordan, who had 11 points, made a three-point field goal to give his team its first lead
of the game. The Great Danes, who shot 52 percent from the field in the opening period,
would later grab a 37-34 halftime advantage. Brent Wilson, who had 14 points, made a layup,
before Jamar Wilson converted a spin move in the lane to end the period.
“| just tried to stay ready,” commented lati, who made all eight of his free throw
attempts. “I came into the game when my team needed me and | was able to come through.
It's always great to win a conference game, but this one was important because of the way
we played here last Saturday.”
Binghamton’s Andre Heard had 13 points, while Duane James added 12 off the bench.
Kirsten Zoellner, a 7-foot-1 senior, was the fifth UAlbany player in twin figures with 11 points.
Brian Lillis, making his first start since last year’s season opener, grabbed a career-high 11
rebounds to go with two points and two assists.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 20, 2005 Alison Hischak / 518-442-3359
SIPAVICIUTE’S STRONG SECOND HALF LIFTS SYRACUSE OVER UALBANY, 70-52
Albany, N.Y. — Vaida Sipaviciute scored 23 of her 31 points in the second half as Syracuse
defeated UAlbany, 70-52, in non-conference women’s basketball action on Tuesday night at
the Recreation and Convocation Center. Sipaviciute, who ranks fourth in the nation with 22.0
points per game, powered the Orange in a dominant second half.
Syracuse (6-4) reversed a 38-35 deficit in the opening minutes of the second half with an 18-2
run to take a 53-40 advantage with 9:26 remaining. Sipaviciute, who finished with a team-high
12 rebounds, started the spurt with consecutive buckets. Then Brittany Smith’s three-point
play made the score 47-40. Sipaviciute, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, scored five of the Orange's
next seven points.
Gia Sanders, who finished with a career-high 12 points, made a layup to bring UAlbany
within 53-42. Syracuse countered with 10 unanswered points. Sipaviciute converted two
straight three-point plays and then added a fast-break layup to stretch the lead to 61-42 with
6:56 left in the game.
@wrern Syracuse made those big runs, it was because of her (Sipaviciute),” said UAlbany
coach Trina Patterson, whose team was playing its first game after a 16-day layoff due to fall
exams. “She's going to be a first-team All-Big East player. There really were not any answers
for us tonight on how to defend her.”
Ashley McMillen and Jenny Eckhart also scored in double figures for the Orange with 12
and 10 points, respectively. For UAlbany (3-5), Amanda Ward scored a season-high 10
points, while Joy Sterling tied her career-high with 12 rebounds.
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A December 17, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
College Basketball — Harvard 61, Albany 48
Albany, N.Y. — Matt Stehle scored 17 points to pace four players in double figures, as
Harvard posted a 61-48 victory over UAlbany on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation and
Convocation Center.
Harvard (7-3) wiped out an early 13-9 deficit with 19 of the game's next 21 points and
never looked back. Freshman guard Drew Housman, who totaled 15 points, seven
rebounds, five assists and three steals, drew his team even on bank shot from the right side.
Zach Martin, who started due to an injury to second-leading scorer Jim Goffredo, then put the
Crimson ahead.
Stehle, a candidate for lvy League player of the year honors, buried a three-point field
goal and converted a layup in the decisive run. Housman, who made 7-of-12 from the field,
ended the outburst with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and a driving layup for a
commanding 28-15 advantage.
UAlbany (2-6) trailed by 10 points at halftime, but then closed within 35-28 on a driving
layup by Jamar Wilson, who had 11 points and six rebounds. However, the Crimson
followed with a 12-2 run to put the game away. Stehle made a layup in transition before
feeding Brad Unger on a backdoor cut. The 6-foot-8 senior then hit a slam dunk after a steal
@. give his club a 47-30 lead.
“We never got going today,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad has made a
habit of starting slowing and has trailed at the half in all six losses this season. “We had 13
first-half turnovers, missed easy shots and opportunities, and basically gave them many more
possessions. Harvard was much sharper than we were. The did a good job of spacing the
floor.”
Michael Beal, a 6-foot-5 senior, and Unger each finished with 11 points for the
Crimson, who shot 66.7 percent from the field in the final period in winning for the second
straight time following a recent three-game skid. Lucious Jordan led the Great Danes with
16 points and six rebounds off the bench.
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A December 16, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
TIME WARNER CABLE WILL AIR SIX UALBANY MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES
Albany, N.Y. — Time Warner Cable (Channel 3) will televise six University at Albany
men’s basketball games during the 2005-06 season, beginning with next Tuesday's America
East Conference opener with Binghamton. The TW3 broadcast schedule also includes
Hartford (Jan. 4), Cornell (Jan. 9), UMBC (Jan. 25), Stony Brook (Feb. 1) and Vermont (Feb.
20).
UAlbany’s radio broadcast team of Rodger Wyland and Greg Tobben, from Fox Sports
Radio AM 980, will provide the play-by-play coverage. Greg Bobbitt will produce the
broadcasts for Time Warner Cable.
In addition, TW3 will air the America East TV broadcast of the UAlbany men’s and
women’s doubleheader with Boston University on Saturday, Feb. 4. The two games highlight
Big Purple Growl, the University’s Winter Homecoming Weekend.
Time Warner Cable serves more than 320,000 customers in the Capital Region. TWC’s
Albany Division operates one of the most sophisticated cable systems in the nation and is
home to New York's first two-way digital network. In recent years, TWC has emerged as the
area's only destination for regularly scheduled live sports programming. Games can be seen
eo" TW3 and then for Digital Cable on Channel 1009, Capital Region on Demand.
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A , December 14, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
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COLIN DISCH NAMED FOOTBALL GAZETTE LINEBACKER OF THE YEAR
Five Great Danes on NCAA I-AA Mid-Major All-America Football Squad
Westmont, Ill. — University at Albany's Colin Disch has been selected the 2005 Don
Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA I-AA Mid-Major Linebacker of the Year as announced today
by the national publication. Disch, a sophomore, and offensive guard Aaron Kimball (Fonda-
Fultonville) were named to the All-America first team.
Disch, who recently was named to The Sports Network’s I-AA Mid-Major All-America
squad, reached the 100-tackle mark for the second straight season with 112. He ranks 27th
nationally in that category. Disch, who added 15 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, was voted
the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches. He made
the Football Gazette All-America first team for the second consecutive season.
“Colin Disch is highly respected by the players, coaches and staff,” said UAlbany coach
Bob Ford, whose team won five of its last six games to finish with a 5-6 record. “He has the
unique ability that all the great linebackers have of getting to the football. He can come
underneath the block or over the top with his superior quickness.”
Kimball, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound right guard, was a first-team AII-NEC selection. He
@p locked for an offense that improved over the second half of the season, and averaged 173.7
rushing yards and 280.0 yards in total offense against conference opponents. Kimball
appeared in 45 games and earned four varsity letters during his career.
Jacob Anderson, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound left tackle, and Michael Dungey, a 6-foot-2,
2/5-pound defensive tackle, were each selected to the Football Gazette All-America second
team. Brian Becker (Saratoga Springs) received honorable mention recognition. The senior
inside linebacker accounted for 101 tackles, four pass break-ups and one interception. He
led a defense that is ranked among the NCAA I-AA leaders in rushing defense (11th), scoring
defense (12th) and total defense (15th).
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December 14, 2005 Alison Hischak / 518-442-3359
BLAIR BUCHANAN NAMED VOLLEYBALL HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN
Colorado Springs, Colo. — University at Albany's Blair Buchanan has been named to the
American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-America Team, as announced on Wednesday
afternoon. Buchanan, who became the program’s first Division | All-American last year, was
an honorable mention selection for the second consecutive season.
Buchanan, who captured the America East Player and Setter of the Year awards for the
second year in a row, averaged 12.19 assists to lead all conference players. The junior setter
was honored by the AVCA earlier this month as a member of the national organization’s All-
Northeast Region first team for the second consecutive season.
Buchanan became the school’s all-time assists leader this season with 3,643 for her career.
She hit an America East-high .360 for the season and added 2.35 digs and 1.45 kills per
game in helping the Great Danes claim their second straight America East regular-season
crown.
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December 12, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
KIRSTEN ZOELLNER NAMED AMERICA EAST CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany’s Kirsten Zoellner has been chosen the America
East Conference Co-Player of the Week in men’s basketball. He shared the award
with UMBC’s John Zito.
Zoellner, a 7-foot-1, 280-pound center, scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed
seven rebounds in last Saturday’s 78-65 victory over Cleveland State. He made 7 of
10 field goal attempts as his team ended a five-game losing streak.
A native of Hannover, Germany, Zoellner recorded back-to-back double-figure
scoring games for the first time since Nov. 2004. He is averaging 8.0 points, 5.0
rebounds and 1.6 blocks, plus is shooting 55.6 percent from the field in seven starting
assignments this season.
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December 11, 2005 Sean Tainsh / 518-442-5733
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY ANNOUNCES 2006 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy
announced today the school’s baseball schedule for 2006. The Great Danes, who went 20-19 last
year, will play a 24 league games and 30 non-conference games this season.
UAlbany kicks off its campaign on a nine-game southern swing with three-game sets at Georgia
State (Feb. 18-19), Wofford (Feb. 25-26) and VMI (March 3-5). The Great Danes travel to New York
Institute of Technology for a three-game series beginning with a double-header on March 11, before
opening their home schedule with a single game against Holy Cross on March 15. UAlbany returns
South for three games with UNC-Greensboro (March 17-19) and will play two double-headers at
home the following weekend against Ivy League-opponent Yale (March 25-26). The Great Danes will
travel to Fairfield (April 4) and wrap up the non-conference portion of the schedule with home-and-
home series against Marist, Le Moyne and St. Francis (N.Y) later in the season.
UAlbany opens its America East Conference schedule with a four-game set against Hartford at
Varsity Field beginning April 7. The rest of the conference schedule includes home series with
Vermont (April 28-30) and Stony Brook (May 12-14) and trips to UMBC (April 21-23), defending-
champion Maine (May 5-7) and Binghamton (May 19-21).
Head coach Jon Mueller, who is entering his seventh season at UAlbany, led his squad to its
fourth-straight 20-win season in 2005. The Great Danes have 17 letterwinners returning from last
year’s squad and are led at the plate by third baseman Steve Wyland, a first-team All-America East
@setection in 2005. Wyland ranked sixth in the America East with a .357 batting average, while first
baseman Steve Sayre also ranked among conference leaders, hitting .351. On the mound, left-
handed senior Mark Suchowiecki had three wins last season and a 4.85 earned run average. Senior
Giorgio Fuda, who had a team-leading four wins in 2005, will take over the closing duties.
2006 University at Albany Baseball Schedule
February — 18 (Sat.), Georgia State (DH), 12:00; 19 (Sun.), Georgia State, 1:00; 25 (Sat.)
Wofford (DH), 1:00; 26 (Sun.), Wofford, 1:00.
March — 3 (Fri.), VMI, 2:00; 4 (Sat.), VMI, 1:00; 5 (Sun.), VMI 1:00; 11 (Sat.), New York Tech
(DH) 1:00; 12 (Sun.), New York Tech 1:00; 15 (Wed.), Holy Cross, 3:00; 17 (Fri.), UNC-Greensboro,
6:00; 18 (Sat.), UNC-Greensboro, 1:00; 19 (Sun.), UNC-Greensboro, 1:00; 25 (Sat.), Yale (DH),
12:00; 26 (Sun.), Yale (DH), 12:00.
April — 4 (Tue.), at Fairfield, 3:00; 7 (Fri.), Hartford*, 3:00; 8 (Sat.), Hartford* (DH), 12:00; 9
(Sun.), Hartford*, 1:00; 11 (Tue.), Marist, 3:00; 14 (Fri.), East Carolina, 7:00; 15 (Sat.), East Carolina,
6:00; 16, (Sun.) East Carolina, 12:00; 18 (Tue.), Le Moyne, 3:30; 21 (Fri.), UMBC*, 7:00; (Sat.)
UMBC* (DH), 1:00; 23 (Sun.), UMBC*, Noon; 26 (Wed.), St. Francis N.Y., 3:30; 28 (Fri.), Vermont*,
3:00; 29 (Sat.) Vermont* (DH), Noon; 30 (Sun.), Vermont*, 1:00.
May — 2 (Tue.), Marist, 3:30; 5 (Fri.), Maine*, 3:00; 6 (Sat.), Maine* (DH), 1:00; 7 (Sun.),
Maine*, 1:00; 10 (Wed.), St. Francis N.Y., 3:30; 12 (Fri.), Stony Brook’, 3:00; 13 (Sat.), Stony
Brook* (DH), 12:00; 14 (Sun.), Stony Brook”, 1:00; 16 (Tue.), Le Moyne, 3:30; 19 (Fri.),
Binghamton”, 3:00; 20 (Sat.), Binghamton* (DH) 12:00; 21 (Sun.), Binghamton”, 12:00; 25-27,
America East Tournament**, TBA.
O.voics East Conference Opponent
**At No. 1 Seed’s Home Facility
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December 11, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
LINEBACKER COLIN DISCH RECEIVES FOOTBALL’S TEAM MVP AWARD
Albany, N.Y. — Sophomore linebacker Colin Disch was voted the University at Albany football
team’s 2005 most valuable player award on Sunday afternoon at the program's annual
postseason banquet. Disch was also named the top linebacker for the second straight
season. Head coach Bob Ford handed out 62 varsity letters, including seven fourth-year
awards. UAlbany won five of its last six games to finish with a 5-6 record.
Disch, the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was recently named to
The Sports Network’s I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team. He accounted for 112 tackles,
including 15 hits for a loss and 4.5 sacks, plus added three pass break-ups and one
interception.
Steven Stern was chosen the special teams MVP for the second consecutive year.
Stern, a senior outside linebacker, made 14 tackles while contributing on the kickoff cover,
punt cover and punt return units. Ryan Chrobak was the team’s top defensive back for the
second season in a row. Chrobak, a junior cornerback, had 47 tackles, five pass break-ups
and one interception.
Sophomore tailback Omar Johnson earned the program’s most improved player and
@": top offensive back awards. Johnson, who became a key figure in UAlbany’s offense in
t
he seventh game of the season, rushed for 385 yards and nine touchdowns, plus caught one
scoring pass.
Aaron Kimball (Fonda-Fultonville) was the top offensive lineman. Kimball, a 6-foot-3,
310-pound right guard, was named to the AIlI-NEC first team. He earned his fourth varsity
letter after making 45 career appearances as a collegian. Other award winners were Irani
DeAraujo (receiver) and Andre Coleman (defensive lineman).
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December 10, 2005 Alison Hischak/518-442-3359
ZOELLNER’S CAREER HIGH 16 POINTS LEADS UALBANY PAST CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland, Ohio. — Kirsten Zoellner scored a career-high 16 points and Jamar Wilson
added 15 as UAlbany ended a five-game losing streak with a 78-65 victory over Cleveland
State on Saturday evening at Wolstein Center.
UAlbany (2-5) led 55-50 with 7:20 remaining, but then ran off eight straight points to pull away
for good. Brian Lillis, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, made a free throw and a driving layup to start
that run. Zoellner, who made 7-of-10 from the field and added seven rebounds, converted a
layup, before Levi Levine drilled a three-point field goal.
The Great Danes, who overcame a nine-point deficit in the opening period, scored their last
11 points from the foul line to secure the victory. Jon lati, one of four players in double figures
with 11 points, made 6-of-6 from the line in that stretch.
Cleveland State (2-4) trailed 22-19 in the first half, but then tallied 16 of the game's next 18
points. Patrick Tatham, who had nine of his 17 points before the intermission, led that
outburst. Renard Fields scored on a follow shot in the lane for a 34-25 lead with five minutes
6.1 in the period. UAlbany still trailed 36-27 but regrouped with the final 10 points of the
stanza to take a halftime lead. Jason Siggers hit a three-pointer and made two free throws at
the end of that run.
“Kirsten Zoellner has been playing tremendous as long as we can keep him on the floor,” said
UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team also ended an 11-game road losing streak that dated
back to a win at Maine last January 16. “Siggers and Lillis really sparked our run at the end of
the first half. It was a good, solid team effort. In the second half, we didn’t give up easy
baskets in transition and played half-court defense extremely well.”
Levine finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Great Danes, who held Cleveland
State to 38.7 percent shooting in the final period. Carlos English was the only other Viking in
double figures with 10 points and seven assists.
“We haven't dwelled on the losing streak,” Levine commented. “We have let it go and it’s part
of the past. We picked up our defense in the second half and that’s what led to the win.”
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
LB A For Immediate Release For Further Information
A December 8, 2005 Alison Hischak / 518-442-3359
UALBANY DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES TWO STAFF HIRINGS
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy
announced today the hiring of Carl Anderson as assistant athletics director for student-athlete
enrichment and Jennifer Svatik as director of student-athlete support services. Anderson will
oversee academic advising and life skills programs for UAlbany’s 19 intercollegiate athletic
teams. Svatik will also work with academic advising as well as the school’s Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee.
Anderson, 35, served as academic affairs advisor and compliance coordinator for athletics
at New York University for nearly six years prior to his appointment at UAlbany. In that position,
Anderson was responsible for the eligibility certification and academic progress of approximately
300 student-athletes. He also coordinated time management, study skills and nutrition and health
seminars for student-athletes.
From 1997-99, Anderson worked at St. Bonaventure University as the academic
coordinator for student-athletes. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., he received a B.S. in physical
education from Slippery Rock and earned a M.S. in physical education from Florida State.
Svatik, 24, has served as an intern in the University of Hartford’s athletic department since
September, working with the director of ticket operations and director of event management. As a
graduate student at the University of Virginia, Svatik completed a 10-month internship in the
thletic department's CHAMPS /Life Skills Program. In that position, she helped implement
programs to promote community service and academic growth of student-athletes. Svatik also
served as a co-facilitator and member of the Student-Athlete Mentor Program.
Svatik received a B.S. in psychology from Springfield College, where she was an all-
conference standout on the volleyball team and a CoSIDA Academic All-American. A native of
Stratford, Conn., she earned a M.S. in education from Virginia.
UALBANY STUDENT-ATHLETES JOIN SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS SEASON
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany student-athletes, in the spirit of the holiday season, have
teamed with the Salvation Army this week by working as bell ringers to help the national
organization collect donations. Salvation Army Red Kettles have been an American tradition
since 1891 and have become a way to help those in need who would otherwise be without this
Christmas season.
Volleyball senior middle hitter Ashlee Reed helped to organize this year’s drive, along with
men’s soccer midfielder Stephan Hall. “It’s always a nice thing to help those less fortunate,” Reed
said. “We'll be spending a few hours out in the cold, but that’s nothing compared to people who
have to spend a night out there.”
Student-athletes are also volunteering to adopt a family, a program which each UAlbany
team has made a commitment. The teams each buy toys for a less fortunate family, and then
deliver them to the children. “It's so cool seeing little kids’ faces when some of them have never
had more than two presents,” offered Reed, a member of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory
@onnites “The parents are the big deal, though, because they care enough to ask for help.”
UAlbany student-athletes will be bell ringing for the Salvation Army at the Colonie Center
this evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. outside the Sears department store’s south and west doors.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 7, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
BLAIR BUCHANAN & ASHLEY DENEAL NAMED TO AVCA ALL-REGION TEAM
Colorado Springs, Colo. — University at Albany’s Blair Buchanan has been named to the
All-Northeast Region team for the second straight year as announced today by the American
Volleyball Coaches Association. Ashley DeNeal made the all-region squad as an honorable
mention selection.
Buchanan, who captured the America East Conference Player and Setter of the Year
awards for the second season in a row, led all conference players with 12.19 assists per
game. The 5-foot-10 junior setter also hit .360 for the season, which ranked first in the
America East. Buchanan added 2.35 digs and 1.45 kills per game to help the Great Danes
claim their second consecutive America East regular-season crown.
DeNeal, who garnered America East Defensive Player of the Year recognition, paced the
conference with 5.19 digs per game. She tied the school’s single-season digs record with
566. The 5-foot-8 junior libero tallied double-figure digs in 30 of 32 matches and was named
to the All-America East first team for the first time in her career.
COURTNEY JOHNSON & KIEL GRAHAM LEAVE UALBANY BASKETBALL PROGRAM
@ire". N.Y. — Courtney Johnson and Kiel Graham have left the University at Albany men’s
basketball program as announced today by head coach Will Brown. Johnson and Graham
each cited personal reasons for their decisions.
Johnson, a 6-foot junior from Far Rockaway, N.Y., had played in just one game this
season. He made 49 appearances over the previous two seasons after earning a spot on the
roster as a walk-on in the fall of 2003. Johnson started 19 games as a freshman when the
program was short-handed due to injuries. He contributed 5.6 points and 2.4 assists per
game in the 2003-04 campaign.
Graham, a 6-foot-9 forward from Milwaukee, Wis., was in his first year with the UAlbany
program after transferring from Feather River Community College in Quincy, Calif. Graham
had played in five of six games off the bench and was averaging 1.2 points and 1.0 rebounds.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 6, 2005 Lisa Cangelosi / 518-442-4511
BURNS, ORTMAN HONORED AS AMERICA EAST TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boston, Mass. — UAlbany’s Gered Burns (Guilderland H.S.) was named the ECAC Male Track
Athlete of the Week and the America East Conference Men’s Indoor Track Performer of the
Week and Jessica Ortman was named the co-recipient of the women’s America East award,
as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.
Burns won the one-mile run with a time of 4:11.67 at Yale’s Lidlifter Invitational on Dec.
3, UAlbany’s season opener. The senior was first by an 11-second margin of victory over the
next-closest competitor and qualified for March’s IC4A championship. Burns’ time nearly
eclipsed the school record of 4:10.57, set by Joseph McCullen in 1992. Burns already holds
four individual UAlbany records, including the indoor 800 meters and 1,000 meters.
Ortman, a freshman, took the 1,000-meters title at Yale last Saturday. Her time of
2:57.42 qualified her for the ECAC Championship. She finished four seconds back of
UAlbany’s school record in her first indoor track meet as a collegian. Ortman shares this
week’s conference award with Vermont’s Carmen Lagala.
The UAlbany men’s and women’s indoor track teams resume their schedule on Friday,
Jan. 6 when they begin a two-day competition at Army’s Carlton Crowell Open.
WHITNEY JOHNSON COMMITS TO UALBANY VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield announced that Whitney
Johnson has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Great Danes beginning with the
2006-07 academic year.
Johnson, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, Md.,
helped her squad capture its third straight Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC)
title this season. She was tabbed the SMAC’s Most Outstanding Player this season. Johnson
was named the conference's Player of the Year as a junior after tallying 250 kills, 61 service
aces and 44 solo blocks.
Johnson is a three-time All-Metro honoree and has been named to the All-Calvert
County and all-conference first team three straight years. She also plays for the Southern
Maryland Juniors Volleyball Club.
“Whitney attacks with a lot of power and puts up a big block,” said Sheffield, whose
team finished 28-4 and won the America East Conference regular-season crown. “She's very
versatile and could play on the left, in the middle, or on the right for us. Athletically, Whitney is
very gifted and could have a very positive impact on our program."
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 6, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
AMERICA EAST CHAMPION UALBANY ANNOUNCES 2006 LACROSSE SCHEDULE
Albany, N.Y. — University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy
announced today the school’s men’s lacrosse schedule for 2006. The Great Danes, who
captured their third consecutive America East Conference championship last season, will play
five games against conference opponents. The non-league schedule features defending
national champion Johns Hopkins and 2004 NCAA champion Syracuse.
UAlbany begins its seventh NCAA Division | campaign on Saturday, Feb. 25 against
Johns Hopkins, who won its eighth national title by edging Duke in last May’s NCAA
championship. The Great Danes will meet four other programs that were ranked at the end of
the 2005 season in the USILA’s national top-20 poll. UAlbany faces NCAA participants
Massachusetts (No. 7), Syracuse (No. 9) and Delaware (No. 16). Yale and crosstown-rival
Siena also return to the non-league portion of the schedule. America East Conference
competition starts with Hartford on Saturday, March 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Johns Hopkins, who finished last year with a perfect 15-0 record, will host the Great
Danes for the fifth straight season on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1:00 p.m. Syracuse and UAlbany
will battle in the Carrier Dome during the regular season for the third consecutive year. The
eons will be televised on Time Warner Sports 26-Syracuse on Friday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Syracuse won a 14-13 thriller in last year's match-up.
The Great Danes earned their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
Head coach Scott Marr has led the program to a 10-6 record in three straight campaigns.
UAlbany returns three of the top four scorers from a squad that ranked sixth nationally at
11.63 goals per game. Merrick Thomson, a first-team All-America East Conference
attackman, led the nation in goals (54) and was second in points (74). Frank Resetarits, who
had 29 goals and 21 assists, and Chris Martocchia, who added 35 goals and 11 assists, also
tallied 45-plus points.
RREKEREEKRKKEKKEKREKRERERER
2006 University at Albany Men’s Lacrosse Schedule
February — 25 (Sat.), at Johns Hopkins, 1:00.
March — 4 (Sat.), Siena, 1:00; 11 (Sat.), at Delaware, 1:00; 14 (Tue.), at
Massachusetts, 3:00; 18 (Sat.), Drexel, 1:00; 25 (Sat.), at Hartford*, 1:00; 28 (Tue.), at
Dartmouth, 3:00.
April — 1 (Sat.), at UMBC*, 1:00; 8 (Sat.), Stony Brook’, 7:00; 13 (Thu.), Yale, 7:00; 15
(Sat.), Vermont*, 1:00; 21 (Fri.), at Syracuse, 7:00; 29 (Sat.), Binghamton’, 7:00.
May — 5 (Fri.), at America East Tournament Semifinals+, TBA; 7 (Sun.), at America
East Tournament Championship+, TBA.
“America East Conference Opponent
At No. 1 Seed’s Home Facility
All Times Eastern
Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 5, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
COLIN DISCH ON THE SPORTS NETWORK’S I-AA MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Philadelphia, Pa. -- University at Albany's Colin Disch has been named to The Sports
Network’s 2005 I-AA Mid-Major All-America Football Team. Disch, one of nine players from
the Northeast Conference on the squad, was voted to the all-star unit by a panel of I-AA
media and sports information directors.
Disch, a sophomore inside linebacker from North Plainfield, N.J., was recently chosen
as the NEC Defensive Player of the Year and made his second consecutive appearance on
the all-conference first team. He recorded 112 tackles, including 15 hits for a loss and 4.5
sacks, plus added three pass break-ups and one interception.
Disch currently ranks 27th among the NCAA Division I-AA leaders in tackles at 10.18
per game. He posted double-figure hits in six games this season and reached the 100-tackle
mark for the second straight year. Disch tied the program's I-AA record with 18 tackles
against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 24 and had 14 hits against nationally-ranked
Massachusetts.
Disch, the sixth UAlbany player to earn a spot on The Sports Network All-America
squad, led a Great Danes’ defensive unit that is ranked among the NCAA I-AA leaders in
ers defense (11th), scoring defense (12th) and total defense (16th). He is already tied for
ninth on the school’s all-time tackles list with 243.
UAlbany’s Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Football All-Americans
2005: Colin Disch (ILB)
2004: Geir Gudmundsen (OT)
2003: Geir Gudmundson (OT), Gary Jones (TB), Mike Laroche (OT)
2002: Alex Argulewicz (OG), Josh Bazan (LB), Gary Jones (TB)
2001: Alex Argulewicz (OG), Josh Bazan (LB)
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_ - Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 2
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 4, 2005 Brian DePasquale / 518-442-3072
UALBANY RALLIES TO BEAT COLUMBIA IN CONTRA COSTA TIMES CONSOLATION
Berkeley, Calif. — Freshman Joy Sterling scored the go-ahead basket with 25 seconds
remaining, as UAlbany rallied for a 58-54 victory over Columbia on Sunday afternoon in the
third-place game of the Contra Costa Times Classic at the University of California’s Haas
Pavilion.
Columbia (2-4) held a 54-51 lead when Becky Hogue hit a jumper. UAlbany (3-4)
regrouped with a basket by Jen Schumacher, who led all scorers with a season-high 18
points, including 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Sterling, a 5-foot-11 forward, then
put her team in front for good when she scored in the lane off teammate Amanda Ward’s
feed from the right wing.
The Lions’ Michele Gage later threw away an in-bounds pass at mid-court which led to
schumacher converting both ends of a one-and-one opportunity for a 57-54 advantage with
18 seconds left. After Columbia’s Megan Griffith, who netted 13 points, misfired on a three-
point field goal from the top of the arc, UAlbany’s Tanika Thrower sealed the verdict by
making the first of two fouls shots at the two-second mark.
“This was a great game for a team that’s growing,” said UAlbany coach Trina
Patterson, whose squad overcame some poor shooting in the first half by making just 21.9
Byercent on 7-of-32 attempts. “We shared the ball on offense and hit some key free throws in
the second half. Jen (Schumacher) has always been a great shooter, but today she played
great defense.”
The Great Danes, who lost to UNLV in the opening round on Saturday, trailed by as
much as eight points in the final period, before Schumacher canned a 3-pointer to hand her
club a 43-42 lead with 9:53 to play. Thrower, who had 11 points, would later make two free
throws for a three-point advantage. However, Hogue, a 6-foot-1 junior who had 15 points and
a career-high 15 rebounds, scored two consecutive follow baskets to move Columbia ahead,
48-47, to set put the late-game drama.
“Our defensive intensity with getting tips and steals brought us back, ” said
Schumacher, who had 12 second-half points. “We understand it’s a game of ups and downs
and we just have to stay with it.”
Sterling finished with four points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes, who are off
for the next two weeks due to fall semester exams. Kirsten Peterson, a 6-foot-4 redshirt
freshman, added eight points and six rebounds.
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For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 3, 2005 Sean Tainsh/518-442-5733
ly N Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 2
UNLV DOWNS WOMEN’S HOOPS, 78-56, IN CAL-BERKELEY TOURNAMENT
Berkeley, Calif. - Sheena Moore and Kameca Simmons had 12 points each to lead UNLV
past UAlbany, 78-56, in the first round of the Contra Costa Times Classic on Saturday
afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. UAlbany will play either host-California or Columbia in the
consolation game Sunday at 4 p.m.
The game was tied at two when Nikki Hutchens kickstarted an 11-0 run with five of her
seven points to give UNLV an early 13-2 lead. Tanika Thrower, who scored eight of
UAlbany’s first nine points, canned two free throws to make the score 19-9 with 11:35
remaining in the opening half. The Lady Rebels pulled away with a 12-2 run during which
UAlbany went 5:49 without a field goal, giving UNLV a 34-19 advantage with 5:16 to go in the
period. Simmons hit two of her four field goals to give her team a 44-25 lead at the break.
“We have too many long stretches where we don’t score,” said UAlbany coach Trina
Patterson, whose team shot 6 of 26 in the first half. "Their (the Lady Rebels) athleticism really
hurt us. We've had trouble against bigger, athletics teams all season.”
Sherry McCracklin, who had nine second-half points to pace UNLV, hit a jumper to
extend the lead to 51-30 early in the second stanza. The Rebels led by as many as 29 in the
second half and won the game 78-56.
© Kirsten Peterson scored eight of her 10 points in the second half. Thrower, who is
shooting 46 percent from the floor and 64 percent from deep this season, finished with 12
points to lead UAlbany. She has led the Great Danes in scoring three times this season.
UALBANY TRACK & FIELD TEAMS WIN NINE EVENTS AT YALE INVITATIONAL
New Haven, Conn. — Gered Burns led a group of University at Albany track and field
members who qualified for the ECAC and IC4A Championships as he won the 800-meters at
Yale’s Lidlifter Invitational at the William Clay Ford Indoor Track in Coxe Cage on Saturday.
The UAlbany women won six events and the men won three in the competitive season
opener for both teams.
Burns (Guilderland H.S.) finished in an |C4A-qualifying time of 4:11.76, which is the
second-fastest mark in UAlbany history, only one second off the record of 4:10.57 set in 1992
by Joseph McCullen. Andy Allstadt, who set the school record in the 10,000-meters last
spring, won the 3,000-meters in a time of 8:34.17. Freshman Joe Greene won the 500-meter
run in 1:04.23 and qualified for the IC4A Championship, along with Stephan Evans, who
finished third in the race (1:05.24). The men’s 4x400m relay team of Junior Burnett,
Jeremiah Wilson, Greene and Evans ran an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:18.22 to finish second
in the event.
In the women’s competition, freshman Jessica Ortman was one of the top UAlbany
@erormers of the day, winning the 1,000-meter race and qualifying for the ECAC
Championship with a time of 2:57.42. Alyssa Lotmore (Bishop Maginn) covered the 3,000-
meters in 9:58.57 to win the event, and Adanna Andrews ran a personal-best 2:15.61 on her
way to winning the 800-meters. Andrews also ran an anchor split of 57.6 on the women’s
Page 2 of 2
winning 4x400m relay team. Senior Patty Diedrich won the 60-meter hurdles, and
ee Brenna Militello won the high jump for the Great Danes to round out the day.
The UAlbany indoor track and field teams resume their seasons at Army’s Carlton
Crowell Open, a two-day event which begins on Friday, Jan. 6.
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Attn: Sports Department No. of Pages: 1
For Immediate Release For Further Information
December 1, 2005 Lisa Cangelosi / 518-442-4511
B
UALBANY MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD VOTED TO WIN CONFERENCE TITLE
Boston, Mass. — The University at Albany men’s indoor track team has been picked to finish
first in the America East Conference in voting by the league head coaches as announced by
the conference office on Thursday afternoon. The UAlbany women were selected to place
second out of nine teams.
The men, who were second at the 2005 America East Indoor Championship, won the
conference title in 2002-03 and 2003-04. A strong group of seniors will help lead the current
team, including back-to-back IC4A 800-meter champion Gered Burns (Guilderland).
Stephan Evans and Robbie Freeman present a strong force in running events, while all-
conference football standout Kamar Elliott, wno has won both the indoor and outdoor triple
jump crown the last two seasons, leads the jumpers.
Freshman Joe Greene will look to make an immediate impact in the 500-meters and
long jump after winning the New York State championship in the 400-dash last year and
recording the best long jump in the state at 23-feet, 8.75-inches last spring. New Hampshire
was picked second and received two first-place votes behind UAlbany’s seven in the poll.
The UAlbany women received three first-place votes to bolster their second-place
standing in the preseason poll, after finishing third at the conference championship last year.
@atyssa Lotmore (Bishop Maginn) broke the school record in the 3,000-meter run at the
ECAC Championships last season, and will look to lead the distance runners. Senior hurdler
Patty Diedrich and Jillian Sherman, who competes in sprinting and jumping events, should
be consistent scorers throughout the winter. Sophomore Arina Gerasimova is another strong
returnee after winning the triple jump at the indoor conference championship last season.
Boston U. led the preseason voting with six first-place votes.
The UAlbany indoor track and field teams open their competitive seasons at Yale’s
Lidlifter Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 3.
-agate-
2005-06 America East Indoor Track Preseason Coaches Poll:
MEN
1. UAlbany (7), 63; 2. New Hampshire (2), 56; 3. UMBC, 51; 4. Boston U., 40; 5.
Binghamton, 37; 6. Maine, 30; 7. Stony Brook, 20; 8. Vermont, 18; 9. Hartford, 9
WOMEN
1. Boston U. (6), 62; 2. UAlbany (3), 56; 3. New Hampshire, 50; 4. Binghamton, 39; 5.
UMBC, 36; 6. Maine, 33; 7. Vermont, 22; 8. Stony Brook, 18; 9. Hartford, 8
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