UALBANY REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH 16-4 WIN OVER HARTFORD IN AMERICA EAST OPENER
Albany, N.Y. ? Merrick Thomson had four goals and one assist as UAlbany upended Hartford, 16-4, in the America East Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, March 24 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes, who are ranked No. 2 in the USILA poll and No. 5 by Nike/Inside Lacrosse, are off to their best start since 1993 with a 6-0 record.
UAlbany started slowly before putting together a seven-goal second quarter. Mike Ammann ignited that period when he scored off a pass from behind by Frank Resetarits following a failed Hartford clearing attempt. Ammann, a junior midfielder who tied a career-high with two goals and one assist, later gave his team a 4-1 lead on a bounce shot after driving from the left side. Corey Small and Thomson would later find the net 28 seconds apart for a six-goal advantage. Thomson added his third of the game for an 8-2 cushion with 1.3 seconds left before the intermission off a Resetarits' crossing pass.
The Great Danes, who are ranked third nationally in scoring offense, ran off three unanswered over the opening seven minutes of the third quarter to pull away. Thomson, who tied a season-high point total, finished off a transition play that began when long-stick midfielder Craig McDonald broke up a clearing attempt. Jordan Levine drove from the left three minutes later and converted a shot that glanced off the post. Small, a sophomore, then gave his team an 11-2 lead with 8:22 remaining in the stanza when he slid to his left around a defender and sent a blast into the net. McDonald would later stick in a rebound off Derek Dale's initial shot for a 12-3 margin after three quarters.
“We were sloppy at the start but then seem to focus on the task at hand,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team won its sixth consecutive conference opener. “We can't be complacent. We have to be ready to play each time out. Our team knows full well that any one can come up and beat you on a given day.”
Hartford (1-5, AE 0-1) was led by junior midfielder Brian Tilley, who had a pair of first-half goals. Rob Steffens added one goal and one assist, while goalkeeper Jon McMahon made 12 saves. UAlbany's Dale had two goals and was among 12 Great Danes who reached the scoring column.
“It's a relief to get that first conference win,” said Thomson, who tallied five or more points in a game for the 18th time in his collegiate career. “Our goal is to have the conference tournament played here on our field. I give a lot of the credit so far to our goalkeeper and defense. They have matured greatly this year.”
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Hartford (1-5, AE 0-1) 1 7 4 4 - 16
#2 UAlbany (6-0, AE 1-0) 0 2 1 1 - 4
Hartford ? Scoring: Brian Tilley 2-0, Rob Steffens 1-1, Jason Whitehouse 1-0, Daniel Clough 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Jon McMahon (60:00, 12 saves, 16 GA).
UAlbany ? Scoring: Merrick Thomson 4-1, Mike Ammann 2-1, Derek Dale 2-0, Jordan Levine 2-0, Corey Small 2-0, Tyler Endres 1-0, Craig McDonald 1-0, Andrew Maini 1-0, Mark Kelly 1-0, Frank Resetarits 0-3, Kyle Brunk 0-1, John Alpizar 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (42:17, 4 saves, 3 GA), Dan McKeon (17:43, 5 saves, 1 GA).
