NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The University at Albany women's lacrosse program has jumped into the national top-25 for the first time this season, landing 18th in the final Inside Lacrosse/IWLCA poll of the season.
 
The Great Danes made the biggest improvement of any team in the poll, earning a top-25 ranking after falling outside the previous poll before the NCAA Tournament began.
 
This season, UAlbany won its first America East title since 2012, and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017.  The Great Danes were placed in the Denver pod, and matched up against #12 Virginia in the First Round.  After falling behind 10-3 in the third quarter, UAlbany rallied to upset the Cavaliers 16-14 behind seven second-half goals from Sarah Falk. 
 
The win the program's second in the NCAA Tournament, following a 10-7 victory at Dartmouth in the 2011 First Round, and also just the second victory over a ranked opponent under head coach Katie Thomson, having previously beaten #20 Hofstra on March 9, 2021.
 
Tuesday represents UAlbany's first time in the national rankings since hitting 24th in the 2018 preseason poll.