This Week in UAlbany Athletics: April 6

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic programs return with midweek baseball, track & field at RPI, and a lacrosse doubleheader. 

Wednesday, April 8

UAlbany enters the midweek matchup coming off a strong opening America East weekend, taking two of three games with a balanced performance across the board. The Great Danes hit .245 as a team in the series, led by Jaxon Mueller (.400), Zach Mravlja (.375), and Levi McAllister (.364), while the pitching staff posted a 2.67 ERA over 27.0 innings. Dylan Banner delivered a complete game effort, and the staff combined for 21 strikeouts, helping control the tempo throughout the weekend. Defensively, UAlbany was sharp with a .981 fielding percentage, limiting extra opportunities and keeping pressure on opponents.

LIU enters as a competitive Northeast Conference program that plays an aggressive style, particularly on the offensive side. The Sharks have been one of the stronger teams in the NEC in recent seasons, coming off a conference regular season title and returning a lineup capable of generating runs and putting pressure on opposing pitching staffs. Their experience and ability to produce offensively make them a solid midweek challenge.

This will be the first-ever meeting between UAlbany and LIU, marking a new non-conference matchup between the Great Danes and Sharks.

Friday, April 10

The Great Dane track and field teams are in the Capital Region for the first of three meets in 2026. They will begin their local competition at RPI on Friday, April 10 with RPI's Under the Lights competition. Both days of competition will take place during the later hours of the day, into the evening.

A consistent force in the conference and the region, the track and field teams have multiple leaders from the track. Jacob Smith leads the men's team ranked in the top 50 of the nation in the 1500m after breaking the UAlbany program record at the Florida Relays. In the Northeast, the Great Danes have combined for 28 marks, 16 women & 12 men, in the top 25. Brinesha Derrick-Bain (2nd, 400mH), Thalia Benoit (4th, 400mH), Jacob Smith (3rd, 1500), Steve Hines (3rd, 800m), Tooni Ogunyeye (7th, 100m), and Kenan Grant (10th, 100m) lead the way with top 10 marks. In the conference, Skyler Smith (800m), Derrick-Bain (400mH), Ogunyeye (100m, 200m), Hines (800m), and Jacob Smith (1500m) hold the best times in their respective events.

Saturday, April 11

UAlbany's track and field programs will wrap up their first local meet on Saturday, April 11. With the two-day meet, the bulk of the competition will take place on the second day. 

In addition to the leaders on the track, the programs has multiple leaders from the field. Currently ranked in the nation, Lalenii Grant (8th, Discus) and Amelia Benjamin (17th, High Jump) lead the women's program with their respective marks. Rookie Leonard Durau is also in the nation's top 50 in the triple jump. In the Northeast, the Great Danes have combined for 17 marks, 10 women & seven men, in the top 25. Samir Gardner (5th, LJ), Durau (2nd, TJ), Frankie Gonzalez (10th, SP), Maxim Kruk (9th, DT), Benjamin (1st, HJ), Miyanah Robinson (5th, HJ), Nattaly Lindo (4th, SP), Grant (1st, DT), Keegan Collins (6th, HT), and Beatriz Mora Herencia (2nd, JT) lead the way with top 10 marks. In the conference, Gardner (LJ), Durau (TJ), Benjamin (HJ), Grant (DT), and Collins (HT) hold the best throws/jumps in their respective events.

UAlbany Women's Lacrosse (9-4, 4-0 America East) enters saturdaay's game on a strong run in conference play, led by Paisley Cook with 29 goals, 15 assists, 24 ground balls, 17 caused turnovers and 132 draw controls. Other key contributors come from Ravan Marsell with 22 goals and 32 assists, and freshman Mya Carroll with 20 goals and eight assts. Defensively, the Great Danes have limited opponents to 10.92 goals per game thanks to Grace Cincebox (9-4, 4-0 America East who's posting a 10.59 goals against average.

Bryant (8-5 overall, 3-0 America East) is led by Gabriella Constant, who tops the team with 40 goals and eight assists. Elise Lauren has been a key contributing factor for the Bulldogs as well with 14 goals and 20 assists while Sierra Donis (8-4, 3-0 America East) has limited opponents scoring with a 10.32 goals against average.

The Great Danes (6-4, 4-0 America East) return to Casey Stadium this Saturday for a high-stakes rivalry matchup against Vermont. UAlbany remains perfect in conference play following a dominant 16-5 victory over Binghamton this past weekend. The offense continues to be paced by Silas Richmond, who currently stands as the top active point scorer in all of Division I. Richmond’s playmaking, combined with a defense that has consistently stifled America East opponents, has the Great Danes sitting alone at the top of the conference standings.

Vermont enters the contest looking to rebound after a 19-5 non-conference loss to Princeton. The Catamounts are averaging 10.11 goals per game while maintaining a .285 shot percentage. A key strength for Vermont has been their transition game, sporting an .883 clear percentage and winning 61.3% of their faceoffs behind specialist Walter Zhao. A win at home would move the Great Danes one step closer to securing the top seed and hosting rights for the America East championships in May.

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