Albany, N.Y. - Rachael Burek scored three of her four goals in the first half, as nationally-ranked UAlbany posted a 16-8 victory over New Hampshire in America East Conference play on Saturday, April 9 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes, one of four unbeaten teams at the Division I level, are alone in first place in the conference standings.
     UAlbany (11-0, AE 3-0) raced to a 7-1 advantage by scoring six straight times. Nikki Branchini and Burek each scored a pair in that stretch. Branchini ignited the run by working around a defender from the left side, before Burek sent a free-position attempt into the right side of the cage. A sophomore midfielder, Burek later drove from the top of the zone and found the net with a low, sidearm delivery. Jodi Battaglia completed the run when she finished off a fastbreak pass from defender Jenn Primeau.
     New Hampshire (6-6, AE 1-2) eventually clawed its way back into the contest. Jenny Simpson, who had three goals, picked up a loose ball following a restart and hit the net from the right with 1.2 seconds left in the opening half. Hayley Rausch, whose heroics led her team to a double-overtime win over defending league champion Boston University three days ago, closed the gap to 9-6 with 38 seconds elapsed in the final period.
     The Great Danes, who are off to their best start in program history, regrouped with three goals over a two-minute and-52-second span. Branchini, a senior defensive midfielder, tallied her third of the game by connected on a free-position opportunity. Taylor Frink found a cutting Burek on the right of the crease, before Amanda Pollock converted Battaglia's feed.
     Still leading 12-7, UAlbany sealed the verdict by scoring three in a row. Ariana Parker and Kathleen Lennon, a pair of freshmen, started the outburst. Parker moved in toward the goal in a free-position situation and placed a shot to the left of the goalkeeper. Lennon finished off a drive from the right point by switching to her left hand. Battaglia, who had three goals and two assists, nailed a bounce shot on a free-position attempt.
     Allie Duclos had two goals for the Wildcats, who had won 10 of the previous 12 meetings between these teams. UAlbany's Taylor Frink tied a career-high with four assists and had one goal, while Pollock and Lennon each scored twice. The Great Danes are ranked No. 10 in the IWLCA coaches' poll and No. 7 by deBeer/Inside Lacrosse.

Paw Prints:  UAlbany has won 10 consecutive America East Conference regular-season games ... Jodi Battaglia scored five or more points for the fourth time in her career ... Battaglia moved into 11th place on UAlbany's all-time scoring list with 117 points (87 goals, 30 assists) ... Kathleen Lennon netted a career-best two goals ... Taylor Frink equaled her best single-game total as a collegian with four assists ... Frink climbed to eighth on the program's career scoring chart with 137 points (70 goals, 57 assists) ... Nikki Branchini has tallied three or more goals in three consecutive starts.
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UAlbany 16, New Hampshire 8
     New Hampshire - Scoring: Jenny Simpson 3-0, Allie Duclos 2-0, Hayley Rausch 1-1, JoJo Curro 1-1, Amber Casiano 1-0, Cori Rees 0-1, Meghan Bridges 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Kathleen O'Keefe (55:10, 8 saves, 14 GA), Kate Gunts (4:50, 3 saves, 2 GA).
     UAlbany - Scoring: Rachael Burek 4-0, Jodi Battaglia 2-1, Nikki Branchini 3-0, Amanda Pollock 2-0, Kathleen Lennon 2-0, Taylor Frink 1-4, Ariana Parker 1-0, Jenn Primeau 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Anna Berman (60:00, 6 saves, 8 GA).

#10/7 UAlbany 16, New Hampshire 8 (Apr 09, 2011, John Fallon Field, Albany, N.Y.)

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