ALBANY, N.Y. – After seeing their originally scheduled season opener cancelled, the University at Albany men's lacrosse program finally takes to the field, hosting Colgate on Saturday.
 
Game Info
Saturday, February 27 vs. Colgate (12:00 pm)
Live Stats | AE.tv
 
Leading the Pack

• The idle Great Danes jumped into the latest national rankings at #20
• UAlbany has not played since March 7, 2020, a layoff of 357 days
• The Great Danes will play all but one of their regular-season games at John Fallon Field
• UAlbany returns four players exercising their extra year of eligibility, including Jakob Patterson and Ron John
• The Great Danes return each of their top six scorers from the abbreviated 2020 season

 
Scouting Colgate
The Great Danes have played Colgate three times in program history and hold a 1-2 record against the Raiders.  Colgate has played one game this season, falling to visiting Robert Morris 17-14.  Robert Morris scored eight-straight goals to end the first half and start the second to take control of the game.  Colgate was picked eighth in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches' Poll, following an 0-6 abbreviated campaign in 2020, and a 4-9 season in 2019.  Through the early part of the season, Colgate narrowly leads the Patriot League in scoring.  Colgate is also playing in the Patriot League North Division this season, set up for 2021 only, with Army West Point, Boston University, and Holy Cross.
 
Last Time vs. Colgate
In their 2007 meeting, the #2 Great Danes secured their then-best start in program history, 7-0, defeating Colgate 13-10.  Current UAlbany assistant coach Merrick Thomson scored five goals to lead the Great Danes to victory.  Leading 13-7 late in the fourth, Colgate attempted to rally, scoring three goals in three minutes, but ultimately fell short.
 
Last Time Out
The Great Danes played in their fifth and final game of the 2020 season before the shutdown, visiting #7 Maryland on March 7.  The Terrapins jumped out to an early lead, scoring three goals in the game's first five minutes, and held a 6-2 advantage after the first quarter.  UAlbany chipped away in the second and trailed 9-6 at halftime.  Maryland's lead grew in the third to 13-8, but UAlbany outscored the Terrapins 5-1 in the fourth to trail by one with 2:18 remaining.  Maryland held on, however, to win 14-13.  Tehoka Nanticoke scored five goals for the third-straight game, while Graydon Hogg scored four goals.
 
Around the America East
Stony Brook and NJIT are the only two teams who have played so far this season, with the Seawolves securing two victories in their first two games.  Stony Brook has jumped to 16th in the latest Inside Lacrosse national poll following back-to-back victories over Sacred Heart and Bryant.  NJIT, new to the America East this season, lost their only game so far, to Delaware.  Saturday will see four more America East teams play in their season openers, including UAlbany.
 
Saturday's America East Games

• Mount St. Mary's at UMBC, 11:00 am
• Merrimack at UMass Lowell, 12:00 pm
• Colgate at UAlbany, 12:00 pm
• Vermont at Bryant, 12:00 pm
• NJIT at Lehigh, 12:00 pm
• Stony Brook at Hofstra, 1:00 pm

 
Upcoming Milestones

• Tehoka Nanticoke: 94 goals
• Jakob Patterson: 96 goals

 
Breaking In
Despite not yet starting their season, the Great Danes have jumped into the Inside Lacrosse national ranking at #20.  Their Week 2 debut saw the team jump four spots despite not playing in a game.  The Great Danes were left off the preseason rankings but were receiving votes just outside the top-20 in the Week 1 poll.
 
Picked Second
The UAlbany men's lacrosse team was picked to finish second in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.  The Great Danes earned 43 points and two first-place votes, falling in just behind preseason favorite Stony Brook, earning 44 points and four first-place votes.  Behind UAlbany, UMBC, 2019 America East Champions, earned 38 points and the final two available first-place votes.
 
2023 NCAA Quarterfinals
On October 14, 2020, the NCAA announced among its selections for over 450 championship sites for the 2023-26 seasons that the University at Albany was awarded hosting responsibilities for a quarterfinal bracket in the 2023 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament.  It will be the first time the Great Danes host a quarterfinal, having previously hosted three First Round games, in 2007, 2017, and 2018.
 
Draftees
Three Great Danes were drafted by two professional leagues during the offseason.  First, former goalkeeper Nate Siekierski was selected by the Denver Outlaws of the MLL as the XX overall pick.  Later in the year, Ron John was selected 18th overall by the NLL's Colorado Mammoth, followed by Jakob Patterson going 71st to the San Diego Seals to join alumnus Connor Fields.  Both John and Patterson are expected to return to UAlbany to utilize their remaining season of eligibility before joining their NLL programs.
 
PLL Year Two
Following a successful inaugural season, the Premier Lacrosse League was scheduled to return to the University at Albany for another full weekend on its schedule in its second year, but those plans had to be abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The league transitioned to a two-week, single-site schedule in Utah, where seven former Great Danes on three teams took to the field, with one additional as an emergency goalkeeper.
 
Eligibility
On March 30, 2020, the NCAA Division I Council, in light of the cancellation of winter and spring championships, extended for one year each spring student-athletes' eligibility.  The Council further adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more scholarship athletes, accounting for incoming recruits and otherwise departing seniors who could now decide to remain in school.  Winter sports were not included in the announcement.
 
Next: UAlbany opens America East play at Hartford on March 6.