This Week in UAlbany Athletics: October 12

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic programs return, with men's soccer kicking off the week, followed by cross country and field hockey, and wrapping with field hockey and women's soccer. 

Tuesday, October 13

The Great Danes return to Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium on Tuesday to host Northeastern at 6:30 PM. UAlbany enters the matchup at 6-3-1 overall and 2-1 in America East after falling 2-1 to Bryant on Oct. 10. Despite the loss, the Great Danes remain towards the top of the America East standings, tied for third with Bryant, with six points, and have recorded five shutouts through their first 10 matches. Freshman Yuta Kimata leads UAlbany with five goals and two assists for 12 points, while Ivar Gissurarson has four goals and four assists for 12 points.

Northeastern enters the contest at 5-3-4 overall and 2-2-2 in CAA play after recording a 1-1 draw at Monmouth on Oct. 10. The Huskies have scored 21 goals through 12 matches and average 1.75 goals per game. Kortay Koç leads Northeastern with five goals and three assists for 13 points, while Tate Duax has four goals and a team-best six assists for 14 points.

Friday, October 16

The UAlbany cross country programs will return to host the R. Keith Munsey Invitational. This will be the first time cross country has held a meet at home since 2021. Thus far, Skyler Smith has led the women's side with two individual wins at the Marist Season Opener and the NJIT Invitational, as well as a top-10 finish at the Jasper Fall Invite. Arianna Verardi has followed consistently and tabbed two top-five finishes at Marist and NJIT. On the men's side, Jerry Lewis and Owen Stachlik have led the way. Lewis was the Great Danes' first place finisher at the Marist Season Opener, where he finished second overall, and the NJIT Invitational, where he finished seventh overall. Stachlik finished 65th at the Jasper Fall Invite, first out of all other UAlbany runners.   

The UAlbany field hockey team is fresh off a 2-0 weekend to give them a 6-5 record, 1-1 conference record, on the season. Currently on a three-game win streak, the Great Danes have collected an overtime win over Hofstra, a shut out over Bryant, and a comeback victory at Cornell in recent contests. 

Vermont is currently 10-2 on the season with losses only to #8 Michigan and New Hampshire. Win or lose, the Catamounts last six contests have resulted in a shutout - five of which went in their favor. Alicia Battistelli and Addie DelOrefice lead the team with 18 points each. Battistelli holds a team-high eight goals while DelOrefice leads with six assists. Consu de Castro is close behind with 16 points from six goals and four assists. Ila Gunner leads the goalkeepers having started all 12 contests for a .81 goals against average and a .719 save percentage.

Sunday, October 18

Heading into their final regular-season weekend at home, the Great Danes will celebrate their seniors - Mara Küskes, Emma Staron, and Pilar Lorenzini - in a pregame ceremony. 

With four games remaining on the schedule, Quinty Reumer leads with eight goals and 17 points. Jette Kurz (3G, 10A) and Mara Küskes (3G, 8A) are close behind with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Kurz' 10 assists marks a team-high. On defense, Küskes has earned a conference-high three defensive saves. Merle Vaandrager leads the goalkeepers having started 10 contests for a 6-4 record in net.

Holy Cross brings a 7-4 record on the season and will face New Haven prior to visiting Alumni Turf. Maguire Sturgis leads the Crusaders with nine goals and 23 points. Kendall Brady follows with six goals while Marissa MacLean holds a team-high six assists. Mia McClosky has started all 16 contests for a 2.58 goals against average and a .750 save percentage.

The UAlbany women's soccer program returns for their final home match of the season, taking on Bryant for Senior Day. Sydney Kofton and Kiara Levac currently lead UAlbany with seven points each from three goals and one assist. Oluchi Njoku follows with five points from two goals and one assist. Angie McLoughlin owns the team-high two assists. Sara Tyler continues to lead all field players in minutes with 1004. Claudia Volino has started every match in goal for the Great Danes and played all but 24:44. Volino has recorded a total of 54 saves and a .675 save percentage.

Bryant (4-5-3, 2-1-1 America East) enters Sunday's contest coming off a nil-nil draw with Vermont last Sunday, October 11 on their home pitch. The Bulldogs are currently led by Samantha Zaslaw, who has recorded 11 points from five goals and one assist. Lucia Edelstein follows with three points from one goal and one assist. Shannon Majia has spent every minute of the season in net for Bryant thus far, recording 49 saves total this season and a .790 save percentage and a 1.08 goals against average.

These two teams have met a total of six times since 2010, four times since Bryant joined the America East Conference in 2022. The Bulldogs hold the all-time series lead with a record of 4-1-1. The Great Danes sole win came in their first ever meeting in 2010.

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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.

Cross Country -  X, Instagram, Facebook
Field Hockey - X, Instagram, Facebook
Men's Soccer - X, Instagram,  Facebook
Women's Soccer -  X, Instagram, Facebook