SPORTS TALK

 National Student-Athlete Day
     More than fifty UAlbany athletes were involved in community outreach programs during the month of April as part of National Student-Athlete Day activities.
    Steve Checksfield, the school’s 1998-99 Male Athlete of the Year, and two-sport star in football and baseball, and women’s soccer standout Ashley Mendicino were among a group who volunteered at the Philip Schuyler Elementary School.  During the month, UAlbany athletes read to school-age children. 
    Liz Tucker, an all-conference basketball player, and Will Brand, a tri-captain on the men's hoop team, plus several other athletes worked for the Christmas in April program.  This coalition of neighbors rehabilitates the houses of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and people with disabilities.

Softball
    The Great Danes finished their regular schedule with a 27-8 record.  Albany posted back-to-back doubleheader sweeps over Vermont and Buffalo last week.  Stephanie Strauss batted .552 over the final 10 games with eight runs and eight RBI.  Her .410 average is the second-best single-season mark since 1990.

Men’s Lacrosse
    Senior attackman Dan Small had four goals and two assists, and netted his 100th career goal to lead Albany past Wagner, 24-1, April 30 at Varsity Field.  Small, who has 100 goals and 35 assists as a collegian, reached the century mark with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter.  In addition, Sean McConaghy scored his 100th career point over the weekend.  The Great Danes are 4-5 overall.

Women’s Lacrosse
    Albany completed its first Division I campaign with an 8-6 record.  Maria Ferrucci established freshman single-season records for goals (47) and points (52).  Jess Spadafora, who set the single-game scoring mark on April 21 at St. Bonaventure, ended up fourth on UA’s all-time scoring list with 117 points.

Baseball
    The Great Danes have won five of their last seven starts to improve to 15-16-1.  Eddie Scott, who replaced the injured Michael Oliva in center field, is excelling in the leadoff spot.  Scott is hitting .393 with 24 runs and 18 RBI this spring.  Steve Checksfield leads the team in home runs (9) and RBI (36), and belted a grand slam in last Sunday’s doubleheader split with Buffalo.

Track & Field
    Ronald Edmundson placed fifth in the college eastern triple jump at the 106th Penn Relays Carnival on Saturday, April 29, at Franklin Field.   Edmundson’s best mark in the competition was 47 feet, 7.25 inches.  Luis Soto finished college eastern long jump, and Andrea Viger set a school record in the women’s 10,000 meter run during the same meet.  Soto, the school’s record-holder in the long jump, posted a mark of 23 feet, 1.75 inches.  Viger placed 27th in the 10,000, but set an Albany standard with a time of 36:52.81. Tonya Dodge held the old record, when she went 36:55.94 at the 1997 Albany Invitational.