University at Albany -- Syracuse University Basketball
The University at Albany and Syracuse University have committed to a five-year series in men's basketball, beginning with the 1999-2000 season, Director of Athletics Milton E. Richards announced.
The agreement's terms state that Albany will travel for the first two years to Syracuse for early- season dates in the Carrier Dome. The Orangemen will come to the Capital Region, and play in Pepsi Arena in 2001. The Great Danes will make two more trips to Syracuse in 2002 and 2003. All dates in the five-year deal will be scheduled in November or December. An announcement on specific scheduling will come at a later time.
The first year of the agreement coincides with Albany's first NCAA Division I campaign. President Hitchcock announced the decision last spring that the Great Danes, members of the New England Collegiate Conference at the Division II level, would upgrade its entire 19-sport intercollegiate athletics program for men and women to Division I.
"We are pleased that our University's first Division I men's team will have an opportunity to play one of the premier programs in college basketball," Richards said. "I am grateful to Pepsi Arena General Manager Bob Belber and Albany County officials for making their facility avaliable for our home dates in this series."
Field Hockey an ECAC Champ in 4th Year
Sophomore Tovah Atwell scored off a penalty corner with 16 minutes and 31 seconds remaining to lift Albany to a 2-1 victory over Bentley in the ECAC Division II women's field hockey championship last Saturday at Albany Field.
Atwell, the championship's most valuable player, took a pass from freshman Katie Cunningham and fired a shot past Bentley goalkeeper Carolyn Cahill for her 18th goal of the season. The Falcons' Stacy Zito scored her 14th of the year off a rebound 32 seconds earlier to tie the contest at one apiece.
Cunningham had given Albany a 1-0 lead in the first half, when she found the left corner of the cage on a rebound shot. Goalkeeper Leia Shick had three saves for the Great Danes, while Cahill turned aside 11 shots for Bentley (16-7).
"I am happy four our team and our seniors," said Albany coach Deborah Fiore, who has a 42-8-1 record in three seasons. "It was a hard-fought game. Our kids gained some recognition for their hard work and dedication with the victory."
Albany finished with a school-record 17-2 won-loss mark in just its fourth year as a varsity sport. Atwell set single-season marks for goals (18), assists (9) and points (45).
54-0 Wipes out Albany-Union Frustration
Senior quarterback Joe Savino ended three years of frustration by passing for a school-record four touchdowns, and scoring on a 24-yard run in leading Albany to a 54-0 non-conference victory over Union last Saturday at Frank Bailey Field.
The Dutchmen, who suffered their worst setback since 1959, had won four straight in the 13-game series. Meanwhile, Albany increased its current win streak to nine, and will host Southern Connecticut State this weekend (Nov. 15, 1 p.m.) for the Eastern Football Conference's Atlantic Division title, and a date with American International in the conference's championship finale on Nov. 22.
"For three years I've had to deal with seeing the seniors cry after this game," said Savino, who had passed for a combined 200 yards and five interceptions in his previous three games against Union. "You can't get any more emotional than you can about this game. Nothing feels better than getting some revenge."
Savino extracted his retribution by connecting on 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards, and rushing 14 times for 60 more. He also set single-season records for touchdown passes (19) and total offense with 2,017 yards.
"You never expect to beat a good team by that score," said Albany coach Bob Ford. "The rivalry got a little too lopsided over the years. But I'll tell you something. When I go home tonight, I'm not going to remember all the losses. I'm going to remember the latest thing in my memory, and that's this victory."
Albany's largest victory margin since a 56-0 rout of Brooklyn in 1979 began with a bang. On the first play from scrimmage, roverback Greg Green caused Union running back Dennis Sanabia to fumble, and Ike Tomaszewski recovered the ball at the 29-yard line. The Great Danes scored in four plays, when fullback James Miner hit paydirt on a seven-yard run.
Savino led his club on a pair of scoring drives in the first quarter for a 21-0 lead. The veteran signal-caller went the distance on a 24-yard option run, and then tossed a six-yard TD pass to tight end Seth Thomas. The 6-foot-4 receiver had a career day with eight receptions for 122 yards.
Savino, who accounted for a career-high 310 total yards, found split end Dan Gmelin with touchdown passes in the second and third quarters. Gmelin's 36-yard post-pattern catch was his 15th career TD reception, and established another school standard.
Albany's defense posted its third shutout this season by limiting Union to 220 yards in total offense. Sophomore linebacker Mike Grever, the ECAC-North Division II Defensive Player of the Week, posted a team-high 12 tackles and had one interception. Cornerback Troy Rhett returned another interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the third period.
Volleyball Takes Two; Heads to NECC Tourney
Albany improved to 17-8 overall following a pair of 3-0 victories over Franklin Pierce and St. Michael's last Saturday. The Great Danes compete in the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament this weekend.
Senior outside hitter Rafaela Nikas, who has been selected to three all-tournament teams this season, averages 3.63 kills and is among the nation's leaders at 5.49 digs per game. Lisa Greiner is the NECC's top setter with a 10.42 assist average, while middle hitter Jackie Sanchez has 78 blocks.