Great Dane Athletes Hit the Field for Spring Season
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 3, 2026) — The outdoor sports season is in full swing at UAlbany as men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, baseball, softball, rowing and golf all embark on their spring campaigns.
Men's and Women's Lacrosse look to repeat
The Men's and women's lacrosse teams are each looking to defend their America East titles from 2025.
The women’s team captured its fourth conference title last spring and returned to the NCAA Tournament, continuing a stretch that has produced two championships in the past three seasons. After opening this year 3-1 highlighted by a ranked win over No. 25 Harvard, the Great Danes now prepare for conference play. UAlbany travels to Colgate before hosting Wagner on March 11 at 3 p.m. at John Fallon Field. America East action begins March 14 at New Hampshire as the Great Danes pursue another postseason run.
The men’s program is aiming for a three-peat after winning back-to-back America East titles in 2024 and 2025. Last season, UAlbany defeated Siena in the NCAA Opening Round at Casey Stadium before falling to eventual national champion Cornell in the First Round. In 2024, the Great Danes also advanced in the NCAA Tournament before their run ended against eventual champion Notre Dame.
UAlbany opened 2026 with a marquee matchup against No. 4 Cornell, falling 11-10 in the final minutes. Now 1-3 against one of the toughest early-season schedules in the country, the Great Danes return home to face Hobart this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Casey Stadium, then open America East play against Bryant on March 14.
Rowing and Golf continue spring slates
Women’s rowing opens its championship segment March 21 at the John Ferriss Regatta in Gainesville, Ga., and will compete at the New York State Collegiate Championships in Saratoga on April 18 before making program history with its first appearance at the CAA Championship May 15-16 in Pennsauken, N.J.
The golf season is already underway, with the Great Danes having opened in Florida and currently competing at the Howard Lady Bison Invitational. The schedule includes a trip to Bermuda before concluding at the MAAC Championship April 21-23 at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course in Orlando. UAlbany last won the MAAC title in 2024 and seeks its fifth conference championship overall.
Baseball and Softball begin conference play
Baseball enters the spring following an appearance in the 2025 America East championship series. Conference play begins March 20 at NJIT, with the home opener set for March 24 at 3 p.m. against UMass at Varsity Field.
Softball also eyes conference contention after advancing to the America East tournament last season. The Great Danes host Siena in a March 11 doubleheader at UAlbany Field beginning at 2 p.m. America East play begins March 21 at Bryant as UAlbany looks to compete for a second title in three years.
Track and Field eyes outdoor momentum
The UAlbany women’s track and field program enters the outdoor season carrying one of the most dominant streaks in America East history.
For 16 consecutive years — and 17 times overall — the Great Danes have stood atop the conference outdoor podium. That sustained excellence has defined the league for nearly two decades, and this spring UAlbany pursues a 17th straight title and 18th overall championship.
After finishing second at the America East indoor championships, the Great Danes open the outdoor campaign March 20 at the USF Alumni Invitational in Florida. They return to the Capital Region for RPI Under the Lights in Troy on April 10-11 before hosting the Bobbi Palma UAlbany Spring Classic on April 17 at the UAlbany Track and Field Complex.
The America East Outdoor Championships are set for May 9-10 in Lowell, Mass., where UAlbany will look to extend its remarkable run.
The men’s team also finished second indoors, including setting a meet record in the 4x800 and now aims to defend its 2025 outdoor conference title — its seventh championship in the past 10 years.
The Great Danes begin at the USF Alumni Invitational on March 20, compete at RPI Under the Lights on April 10 and host the Bobbi Palma Spring Classic on April 17 before turning their focus to the America East championships in May. A repeat title would mark back-to-back outdoor crowns and an eighth championship in the past 11 seasons.
Basketball turns toward March
Basketball postseason play is around the corner.
The men's team closes the regular season at Vermont tonight before the America East Tournament begins March 7, with quarterfinal games hosted by the higher seed.
The women open tournament play March 5 with a 6 p.m. quarterfinal matchup at Vermont, looking for their first America East title since 2022.