Sports Talk
By Brian DePasquale
Athletics Unveils New Logo
The Department of Athletics and Recreation unveiled its new logos and image to the public at last Friday’s “Great Danes Basketball - Meet & Greet” basketball preview reception in the Recreation and Convocation Center’s Hall of Fame Room.

“The upgrade of our intercollegiate sports logos is in keeping with the pride and tradition of University at Albany athletics, and coincides with the University’s move into America East Conference competion,” Director of Athletics Lee McElroy said. “Our new image represents the clearly defined goals of our department, and proudly announces that our student-athletes now have the opportunity to play for conference championships and NCAA post-season play.”

Berkshire Marketing Group (BMG), a 10-year-old full service strategic marketing and communications agency based in Troy, N.Y., with offices in Lenox, Mass. and Stamford, Conn., executed the design. BMG specializes in educational and healthcare marketing.

“From our first meeting with Dr. McElroy, it was clear the new look for the Great Danes would stand for everything the University and its athletic department embodies … commitment, integrity and strength,” said BMG President Darrell Berman, who emphasized the new family of logos was the result of strong collaborative efforts.

“It’s time for the community to see what a powerful asset they have in this institution and its athletic department,” Berman continued. “We believe the new logo portrays the strength and pride of a University that continues to strive for greatness.”

Seventeen of UAlbany’s 19 intercollegiate men’s and women’s varsity teams began America East Conference competition in the 2001-02 academic year. The University elevated its entire athletics program to the NCAA Division I level in September 1999.

Football
Senior tailback Brian Manigault rushed for 148 yards and caught a first-half touchdown pass, as UAlbany kept its Northeast Conference title hopes alive with a 19-10 victory over Monmouth on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Backup quarterback Marcus Rotondi, who ran for a season-high 79 yards, helped UAlbany (7-1, NEC 5-1) build a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter. Rotondi, a senior, scored on a two-yard option run with 6:54 remaining in the opening period, but the extra point missed to the left. He then capped a 12-play drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Manigault on a third-down play with 10:32 left in the half.

Monmouth (6-2, NEC 4-1) entered the contest unbeaten in conference play, and got on the scoreboard with a 23-yard field goal by Ryan Peterson. The Great Danes, who rushed for a season-best 330 yards, responded with a 14-play march that resulted in Bryan Bagstad’s 24-yard field goal with 2.7 seconds left before the intermission.

The Hawks, who were off to their best start in school history, trailed 16-3 at halftime, but scored on their first possession of the third quarter. Quarterback Bill Rankin hit Matt Merklinger with a screen pass, and the tailback raced 74 yards down the right sideline to paydirt. Merklinger caught seven passes for 107 yards and ran for 31 more.

UAlbany had two opportunities to take control of the game in the second half, but two drives resulted in a missed field goal and a failed fourth-down conversion at the Monmouth five-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, the Hawks were working on a drive, but a high snap went over Rankin’s head in a shotgun formation. Albany’s Josh MacAnn knocked the ball away, and defensive end John Bolt recovered at the 26-yard line. Four plays later, Bagstad booted a 29-yard field goal with 6:47 left. The senior place kicker tied the school’s all-time record with his 20th career field goal.

“We were able to pound the football, and Marcus Rotondi played his best game of the year,” Albany coach Bob Ford said. “Our defense did a good job of shutting down their ground attack.”

“If you keep feeding me the ball, I will try my best,” said Manigault, who ran for 100 or more yards for the seventh time as a collegian. “This win goes to the offensive line, they contributed a lot today.” Rankin and Chris Wielgosz combined to complete 17 of 22 passes for 257 yards, but the Albany defense limited Monmouth to 40 net rushing yards.

Men’s Soccer
Junior forward Steven Procknal came off the bench to score two goals, including the game-winning strike with 28 minutes remaining, as Albany earned a 5-2 come-from-behind America East Conference victory over Vermont on Nov. 4 in the regular season finale for both schools at UAlbany’s Varsity Field.

Albany (8-9, AE 5-6) trailed 2-0 after the opening 33 minutes as Vermont received goals from Adam Wallace and Matt Chavez. The Great Danes regrouped when Procknal entered the contest and would later find the back of the net on Jarvin Skeete’s left cross at the 35:49 mark. Vermont (4-9-3, AE 3-7-1) carried a 2-1 advantage into the intermission.

The Great Danes, who scored five unanswered goals, tied the contest at two apiece as Greg Chevalier nailed a 15-yard blast at 50:44 into the upper right corner. Sadeky Jackson set up the game-winner as he broke loose down the left side, crossed to Jason Warshaw, who one-touched the ball to Procknal for the conversion. Albany added two late goals from Warshaw and Ashtian Holmes.

Vermont goalkeeper David Sullivan made nine saves, while Trevor Serraro stopped four shots for the University, which matched last season’s win total with eight victories in its first season competing in a Division I conference.

The Great Danes were bumped from the conference postseason tournament’s sixth and final playoff berth, as New Hampshire beat Hofstra, 5-4, in double overtime.

Cross Country
Senior Jamie Rodriguez finished third in the men’s race, while sophomore Jessica Walton was seventh on the women’s side as UAlbany captured fourth-place in both team competitions at the America East Conference Cross Country Championships, held Oct. 27 on the University of Maine’s campus course.

Rodriguez covered the 8,000-meter course in a time of 24:56.30, crossing the finish line 18 seconds behind winner Joohen Dieckfoss of Boston University. Dieckfoss’ 24:38.40 was the second-fastest time in the 14-year history of the men’s championship. Freshman Andy Allstadt placed eighth overall and was the second Albany finisher in 25:19.10. Joe Pienta, Adam Rice and Sam Gonzalez captured 23rd, 27th and 29th overall, respectively.

Walton led the Albany women’s squad to a fourth-place showing by running the 5,000-meter course in 18:03.90. Rachel Felton of Boston University won the race with a time of 17:11.80 and guided her squad to the team title. The Terriers tallied five of the top-six overall finishers in securing their sixth straight America East title. Nicole Susser, Meghan Howell, Megan Roeder, and Zerlinda Martinez were all in the top-30 for the Great Danes.

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