Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Friday, April 1 the school's field hockey schedule for the 2011 season. The Great Danes, who are coming off their second America East Conference Championship title, meet Stanford, Connecticut and Syracuse as part of a challenging non-league slate. UAlbany faces five America East Conference opponents, including last season's regular-season champion New Hampshire at Alumni Turf Field.

The Great Danes kick off the season on the road at Robert Morris on August 27. The Great Danes welcome Stanford, which finished the 2010 season ranked 19th nationally, to Alumni Turf Field on August 31. UAlbany will take on Virginia Commonwealth and Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., to start September. VCU is coached by 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year Kelly McQuade, while Northwestern defeated NCAA Tournament participant Ohio State last season. The Great Danes will end the three-game road swing at Connecticut on Sept. 10 before hosting Yale on Sept. 11.

In other non-conference action, UAlbany will visit crosstown-rival Siena, and will play a pair of games in Easton, Pa. at Lafayette, taking on Monmouth on Sept. 24 before facing the host Leopards on Sept. 25. UAlbany will also travel to Syracuse to take on the Orange, who fell to Ohio State in the second round of NCAA Tournament play last season. Non-league opponents Davidson, Massachusetts and Delaware will visit Alumni Turf Field. Massachusetts fell to eventual national champion Maryland in NCAA play last fall.

 UAlbany will play Maine on the road to open up America East play on Oct. 1. The Great Danes will also visit Boston U., and will host Fairfield, Vermont and 2010 regular-season champion New Hampshire. UAlbany claimed its second league title in 2010, defeating the Wildcats on their home turf to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2011 University at Albany Field Hockey Schedule
August - 27 (Sat.), at Robert Morris, 1 p.m.; 31 (Wed.) Stanford, 5 p.m.

September - 3 (Sat.) vs. VCU+, 2 p.m.; 4 (Sun.) at Northwestern, 2 p.m.; 10 (Sat.) at Connecticut, 12 p.m.; 11 (Sun.) Yale, 2 p.m.; 17 (Sat.) at Hofstra, 1 p.m.; 18 (Sun.) Davidson, 2 p.m.; 21 (Wed.) at Siena, 3:30 p.m.; 24 (Sat.) vs. Monmouth^, 1 p.m.; 25 (Sun.) at Lafayette, 1 p.m.

October - 1 (Sat.) at Maine*, 1 p.m.; 5 (Wed.) at Syracuse, 3:30 p.m.; 8 (Sat.) Fairfield*, 4 p.m.; 9 (Sun.) Massachusetts, 2 p.m.; 14 (Fri.) Vermont*, 4 p.m.; 16 (Sun.) Delaware, 1:30 p.m.; 22 (Sat.) at Boston U*., 3 p.m.; 29 (Sat.) New Hampshire*, 1 p.m.  

*America East Conference Opponent    + Evanston, Ill.   ^Easton, Pa.    All Times Eastern