By Brian DePasquale

Paul Roche/Photo by Bob Ewell

UAlbany Wins America East Conference Men’s Indoor Track & Field Title
UAlbany’s Paul Roche won the 55-meter high hurdles, his third individual event of the meet, to lead his team to the men’s championship at the 15th annual America East Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 21-22 at Boston University Track and Tennis Center.

The Great Danes, who won their first-ever America East title in a team sport since joining the conference in September 2001, scored 148.25 points, and were well ahead of Boston U. (124) and three-time defending champion Northeastern (119.50).

Roche, a senior captain, sprinted a personal-best 7.60 seconds to win the 55-hurdles and tied for fourth in the high jump (6-4). Roche, who won the pentathlon with 3,618 points and long jump (22-4.25) on the first day of competition, was named the Most Outstanding Male Field Performer.

Kristof Molnar was a winner in the 1,000-meter run, as he posted an IC4A-qualifying time of 2:29.11. Molnar also anchored the 4x800 relay to a second-place finish in a school-record 7:44.53. Naron Stewart repeated as the America East indoor high jump champion, as he cleared the bar at 6 feet, 10.25 inches.

Freshman Ed Hilts surprised the field by winning the 55-meter dash, as he out-leaned New Hampshire’s Ronald Harvey at the tape in 6.58 seconds. Aggrey Morris was second in the 400-meter dash, and was clocked in a school-record 47.74. Galen Gomes also turned in a second-place effort in the triple jump (46-6).

“I thought we had a shot, but I never believed we would have it wrapped up by the time we got to the relays (the last events),” said Albany coach Roberto Vives, whose team finished second to Northeastern in last year’s championship. “It was a total team effort. Confidence and conditioning were the reasons Paul Roche was able to score in four events. He did his homework and worked hard in the preseason.”

In the women’s meet, the Great Danes ended up in third with 76 points behind Northeastern (163) and Boston U. (114). Teresa Covert, who was second in the long jump on the first day, won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.07 seconds and took fifth in the 200-dash in 25.54.

Jennifer Aubin placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 6 inches. Alexis Bowens, Dinnah Decatus, and Zerlinda Martinez each recorded a fifth-place showing in the shot put, 800 and 1,000 events. Bowens, an outside hitter on the UAlbany volleyball team, threw 40 feet, 3.25 inches.

America East Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships (Team Standings)

Great Danes Club Luncheon Scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at Armory Center
UAlbany head basketball coaches Will Brown and Trina Patterson will be featured at the next Great Danes Club Basketball Luncheon on Tuesday, March 4, at noon. The event will be held at the Armory Automotive Center, located at 64 Colvin Ave. in Albany. Tickets are $10 per person. Please contact Michelle Talviste in the UAlbany Athletic Ticket Office, at (518) 437-4415. Get the inside scoop on all aspects of the UAlbany basketball programs from the coaches and student-athletes, plus get a preview of the upcoming America East Conference Tournaments. The men’s postseason tournament is slated for March 9-10 at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena, while the women’s tournament will be played at the University of Hartford’s Chase Family Arena March 13-15.

Men’s Lacrosse Voted Preseason Choice to Win America East Title
Defending America East Conference regular-season men’s lacrosse champion UAlbany has been selected to win the 2003 conference title in voting by the head coaches, as announced on February 18 by the league office. Albany received five of a possible six first-place votes.

The Great Danes, who went 5-0 in conference regular-season play last year, posted a 9-7 overall record and reached the America East tournament championship. Albany’s six-win improvement from the previous season was the best one-year turnaround in the program’s history.

Scott Marr, the 2002 America East coach of the year, has nine starters returning, including goalkeeper Kevin Rae, the conference’s top rookie as a freshman. Rae ranked third nationally in save percentage (.630) and 15th in goals against average at 8.42 per game.

Sophomore attack Luke Daquino, a second-team all-league selection, was third among the conference scoring leaders with 28 goals and 27 assists. His 55 points were the highest total by an Albany player since 1993. Chris Driscoll (30 goals, 8 assists) and Michael Solazzo (23 goals, 11 assists) were also 30-plus point scorers.

Jon Smith, another second-team All-America East pick, tallied 15 goals and nine assists from his midfield position, while tri-captain Alan Beach led the team with 61 ground balls. Seniors Luke Smith and Emil Bove are members of a defensive unit that was eighth in Division I in goals allowed at 8.06 per game.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship on April 30 and May 3, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic NCAA berth. The Great Danes open their schedule on Saturday, March 1, against Providence in Amherst, Mass. The non-conference slate features three nationally-ranked teams in Johns Hopkins (#3), Massachusetts (#8) and Yale (#18).

Women’s Lacrosse Picked Third in America East Conference Preseason Poll

Andrea Esposito/Photo by Bob Ewell

UAlbany has been picked to finish third in the America East Conference women’s lacrosse preseason poll, as announced on February 19 by the conference office. Defending America East champion Boston University was chosen to repeat its title in voting by the head coaches, while New Hampshire, last year’s regular-season winner, was tabbed second.

The Great Danes went 6-10 overall and placed third in the conference standings with a 2-2 mark last season under first-year head coach Dennis Short. UAlbany reached the league’s postseason tournament as No. 3 seed before losing to Boston U. in the semifinal round. Eight starters return from that squad.

Senior attack Andrea Esposito earned first-team All-America East honors in 2002. Esposito, who scored 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists), led the league and was 28th nationally in assists. Maria Ferrucci, a senior midfielder, ranked fourth in goals and sixth in scoring among the conference leaders, and was 21st in Division I in ground balls at 3.5 per game. Ferrucci, who had 35 goals and 10 assists last year, is third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 142 points.

The Great Danes have three other returning players who registered 20 or more points last season. Alexis DiDomenico, a junior attacker, totaled 31 goals and six assists. Erin Pemrick had a career-best season with 19 goals and four assists, while Jenn Rajczak was named to the America East all-rookie team with 12 goals and eight assists.

Theresa Masse, a second-team all-conference midfielder, and Amanda Heller will lead an Albany on defense that needs to find a goalkeeper in the preseason. Masse had 10 goals and three assists, and was second on the team in ground balls (52). Heller, who had six goals and four assists, led the Great Danes in turnovers caused with 32.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship on May 1 and 3, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic NCAA berth. The Great Danes open their schedule on Saturday, March 1, versus Ohio University in Philadelphia, Pa.