ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's lacrosse program returns to action this Saturday at Casey Stadium when the Great Danes host #4 Cornell in the team's season opener.
 
Game 1 Info
vs. #4 Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy)
Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
1:00 p.m. EST
ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
Back-to-Back Championships
The Great Danes have firmly re-established themselves as the powerhouse of the America East, capturing back-to-back conference titles in 2024 and 2025. Under the leadership of legendary head coach Scott Marr, UAlbany has combined a high-octane offense with a stifling defense to secure the program's 10th and 11th league championships, proving once again that the road to the title runs through Albany.
 
The program's recent dominance has been fueled by a core of elite talent that has garnered national attention. In 2024, the defense was anchored by Jake Piseno, the two-time America East Defensive Player of the Year and a Tewaaraton Award finalist. As Piseno graduated to the professional ranks, Max Neeson stepped seamlessly into the spotlight, earning 2025 Defensive Player of the Year honors. On the offensive end, Silas Richmond has been nearly unstoppable; the 2025 America East Offensive Player of the Year led the conference in points, serving as the spearhead for a unit that also features standout attacker Ryan Doherty.
 
UAlbany's success has extended well into the postseason, with the Great Danes advancing in the NCAA Tournament in both championship campaigns. In 2024, after defeating Vermont in the America East Championship Game, UAlbany secured an Opening Round victory to advance to the First Round. Similarly, in 2025, the Great Danes continued their run by defeating crosstown rival Siena in front of a packed crowd at Casey Stadium to once again advance.
 
In both seasons, the Great Danes' journey ultimately ran through the nation's elite, falling to the eventual National Champions in Notre Dame (2024) and Cornell (2025).
 
Players to Watch
Silas Richmond
Sr. | Attack | Delta, B.C.

• 2025 America East Offensive Player of the Year
• Led conference in points (89) and assists (46) in 2025, second in America East in goals (43)
• USILA, USA Lacrosse, & Inside Lacrosse All-American Honors
• Enters 2026 season top-10 in UAlbany history in career points (203, 9^th), career goals (123, 7^th), and career assists (80, 10^th)
• Top 2026 Professional Prospect: High-ranking NLL and PLL draft interest

 
Max Neeson
Sr. | Defense | Pottstown, Pa.

• 2025 America East Defensive Player of the Year
• Led America East in Caused Turnovers (27)
• Recorded 47 Ground Balls and 6 Goals as a Long Pole
• USILA & USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention (2025)
• Selected to the 2025 America East All-Championship Team

 
Ryan Doherty
Jr. | Attack | Concord, N.H.

• America East Second Team All-Conference
• America East All-Academic Team
• Netted 45 goals, leading the entire America East
• Added 16 assists for a total of 61 points, second in the conference
• Tied a program record with nine goals against Hobart (3.8.25)

 
Brady Smith
So. | Goalkeeper | Bayport, N.Y.

• America East All-Rookie Team
• America East Tournament Most Outstanding Performer
• Spent a total of 930:34 minutes between the pipes, taking over starting duties just a few games in
• Tallied 161 saves on the year, second most in the conference
• Sported an 11.15 GAA

 
Scouting Cornell
The Cornell Big Red arrive in Albany with the ultimate target on their back as the defending NCAA National Champions. After a historic 2025 campaign where they finished 18-1 and ended a 48-year title drought by defeating Maryland in the final, the Big Red enter the 2026 season ranked #4 in the nation. Led by head coach Connor Buczek, Cornell boasts a high-powered roster featuring preseason All-American Ryan Goldstein, who led the team with 50 assists last season, and standout finisher Willem Firth.
 
While the Big Red bring championship pedigree to Casey Stadium, they will look notably different after the graduation of a legendary senior class. Cornell must fill the massive void left by CJ Kirst, the 2025 Tewaaraton Award winner and NCAA all-time leading goal scorer, along with fellow key departures Michael Long (60 points) and Hugh Kelleher. In the cage, the Big Red will also debut a new look following the graduation of two-year starting goalkeeper Wyatt Knust.
 
Big Time Rematch
Saturday's matchup marks a direct rematch of last year's NCAA First Round contest, where the Great Danes faced the then-top-ranked Big Red. In that May 2025 contest in Ithaca, UAlbany showed early grit, with Silas Richmond scoring the game's opening goal to keep the Great Danes within striking distance at 5-3 by halftime. However, Cornell's explosive offense eventually proved too much to contain, as the Big Red pulled away in the second half to secure a 15-6 victory.
 
The postseason defeat was the second time the two programs met last season, following an earlier 18-11 regular-season win for the Big Red in April. While Cornell took both contests in 2025, the Great Danes' ability to hang with the eventual National Champions for long stretches—combined with their current momentum as back-to-back America East titleholders—sets the stage for a massive season opener. With the venue shifting to Casey Stadium, the Great Danes look to flip the script and secure a statement win against a Cornell team that ended their 2025 campaign.
 
Season Tickets
UAlbany is set to host another seven games from Tom & Mary Casey Stadium this upcoming season. Home opponents include non-conference foes Cornell, Penn, Hobart, and Siena. America East opponents include Bryant, Binghamton, and Vermont.
 
Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are now officially on sale. Fans can purchase tickets online or by contacting the UAlbany Ticket Office by phone (518) 442-DANE or by email at GreatDaneTickets@albany.edu. Those looking to renew their packages can do so by visiting their Ticket Return online accounts.
 
2026 Men's Lacrosse Season Ticket Pricing
Gold Level - $150
Purple Level - $125
 
2026 Men's Lacrosse Season Parking Pricing
Broadview Lot - $125
Dutch Lot - $100
 
Preseason Poll
After winning back-to-back America East Tournament titles, the Great Danes were picked to finish first in the conference's annual preseason poll, voted on by all seven of the league's head coaches.
 
UAlbany finished with a total of 36 points and six of the conference's seven first place votes. Bryant followed with 29 points and one first place vote while Vermont finished in third with 24 points. UMBC (22), Binghamton (19), UMass Lowell (9), and NJIT (8) rounded out the conference.
 
2026 America East Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1. UAlbany, 36 Points (6 First Place Votes)
2. Bryant, 29 (1)
3. Vermont, 24
4. UMBC, 22
5. Binghamton, 19
6. UMass Lowell, 9
7. NJIT, 8
 
2026 Schedule
UAlbany starts the season this Saturday with a blockbuster matchup – playing host to Cornell, the defending NCAA Divion I Lacrosse National Champions. The Great Danes are looking for revenge on the Big Red after being bounced by the champs in the First Round of last year's NCAA Tournament. The team returns to Casey Stadium just days later on February 17 to host Penn, marking the fifth-straight season the two teams compete.
 
The team will hit the road for two games with trips to Drexel and UMass before returning home to host Hobart on March 7. UAlbany returns to the road for a tough matchup with Georgetown, a team that finished 2025 ranked No. 8 in the nation and made the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, on March 10.
 
March 14 marks the first America East game of the 2026 schedule when UAlbany hosts Bryant. The Bulldogs and the Great Danes have met in the America East Championship Game twice over the last three seasons, with Bryant claiming a 12-11 two-overtime victory in 2023 and UAlbany claiming a 12-7 win last year, on Bryant's home field.
 
March 17 will mark a special day for the Capital Region as crosstown rival Siena will visit Casey Stadium, marking just the second meeting between the two schools in the regular season dating back to 2016. The Saints and Great Danes met in last year's NCAA Tournament Opening Round Game, with UAlbany claiming an 11-9 victory over the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions.
 
More importantly, however, Siena and UAlbany will come together to honor the late Liam Gleason, who tragically passed away earlier this month. Gleason was a member of the UAlbany program from 2006-2007 as a player before joining the Siena staff from 2008 to 2010. After a short stint with the College of Saint Rose, Gleason returned to the Great Danes from 2012 to 2018 on the coaching staff, helping lead UAlbany to its best success in program history. He was appointed the head coach of the Siena program ahead of the 2019 season.
 
Following the Capital Region showdown, UAlbany will hit the road for two America east matchups at UMBC and UMass Lowell. The team returns to Albany for the final two home games of the season – an April 4 matchup with Binghamton and an April 11 matchup with archrival Vermont. The Catamounts and Great Danes have a bitter history, but UAlbany has claimed victory in the last four matchups – including the 2024 America East Championship Game at Casey Stadium.
 
The season will conclude with road matchups at Yale (April 18) and NJIT (April 25).
 
For the full 2026 schedule, click here.
 
Social Central
Stay up to date with UAlbany men's lacrosse by following the team on X (@UAlbanyMLax), Instagram (@ualbanymlax), and Facebook for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.