This Week in UAlbany Athletics: September 29

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic programs are back in action this week starting with Women's Soccer's Spread Respect match on Thursday. Field Hockey gears up on both Friday and Sunday, and Football celebrates Hometown Heroes and Family Weekend on Saturday. 

Thursday, October 2

The UAlbany women’s soccer team continues America East play on Thursday when it hosts UMBC at Casey Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

UMBC comes in at 4-5-3 overall and 0-2 in league action. Zoe Brossman leads the Retrievers with three goals, while Payton Schenning adds two goals and a team-high three assists. In goal, Kalli Williams has started 12 matches, making 45 saves with an .833 save percentage. 

For UAlbany, Madison Hnis has been the top offensive option with three goals, while Claudia Volino has anchored the defense with three shutouts and 59 saves on the year. 

The Great Danes hold a 12-7-2 advantage in the all-time series against UMBC. The teams last met on September 22, 2024, battling to a scoreless draw in Baltimore.

Friday, October 3

The UAlbany field hockey team is back home after a three-game road streak and a weekend off. The Great Danes are set to host Maine for their conference opening contest. With a true team effort, UAlbany has widespread scoring with 10 of the team's 13 field players having scored at least one goal. Junior Pilar Lorenzini leads the team with nine goals while graduate student Indy van Ek and sophomore Tessa Overgoor follow with three each.

Maine closed the first full month of the 2025 season with a 3-6 record, including two losses to top-20 ranked teams - Boston College and Monmouth. Four Black Bears have shared the lead in scoring having scored at least four goals each. Olivia Geniti and Zoe Furber lead with five goals each and Eloise Penty and Martha Barratt follow with four each. Penty, Saylor Kuefler, and Emily Chisholm hold the team-high with three assists each.

The Great Danes leads the all-time series, 21-16. UAlbany currently holds a three-game win streak against the Black Bears, including a postseason game in 2023. During the 2024 season, the Purple and Gold tallied a 2-1 victory in Orono on October 25.

Saturday, October 4

Football returns to Casey Stadium for the team’s third home contest of the season in a jam-packed weekend. The Great Danes are set to host rival Stony Brook in a rivalry game for the Golden Apple, a trophy coveted every year by both teams. UAlbany will look to re-claim the trophy after winning two of the past three seasons. 

It’s also Family Weekend and the team’s annual Hometown Heroes game. Police, firefighters, military, doctors, and first responders who dedicate their lives to serving our community will be honored with programming throughout the contest. Members of the football team will also wear special name-plates on the back of their helmets with the names of Hometown Heroes dedicated by loved ones. 

The action kicks off at 3:30 p.m. 

Sunday, October 5

The UAlbany field hockey team continues at home with their now annual Mental Health Awareness game. The Great Danes will once again partner with the Hidden Opponent to host a chalk walk with opportunities to write affirmations around the field hockey entrance in chalk. 

Being the regular stick-stop during offensive penalty corners, graduate student Olivia Bell holds the lead with eight assists on the season. The team's corner insert, junior defender Mara Küskes follows with five assists. 

Colgate finished the month of September with 3-6 record, including two Patriot League losses. Morgan Willis leads the team with seven goals while Lauren Widdowson holds the team-high three assists.

The Great Danes leads the all-time series, 22-2. In the last decade, UAlbany has defeated Colgate four times, including three shutouts. The Raiders  scored just one goal during a home contest in 2021. The teams' most recent matchup resulted in an 8-0 shutout on Senior Day in 2024. All goals and assists except one scored by Küskes were earned by seniors or other graduating players.

_________________________________

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany sports by following the department on X, Instagram, and Facebook. See below for sport-specific accounts.

Field Hockey - X, Instagram, Facebook
Football - X, Instagram, Facebook
Women's Soccer - X, Instagram