This Week in UAlbany Athletics: September 14

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany athletic programs return for an action-packed week featuring golf, field hockey, and football. 

Friday, September 18

Following a top-five finish to open the 2026 fall season, the University at Albany women’s golf team returns to Capital Region soil this Friday for the annual Crosstown Challenge against local rival Siena.

Teeing off at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland, the head-to-head match marks the first of two local events on the Great Danes' schedule.

UAlbany enters the week with momentum after placing fifth in a 13-team field at the season-opening Bucknell Invitational this past weekend. Friday’s local clash gives the Danes a quick turnaround to build on their early success.

Spectators, friends, and family are encouraged to come out to Pinehaven to support the Great Danes in local rivalry action. Admission is free and open to the public.

The UAlbany field hockey team started the season with three consecutive wins against Wagner, BC, and Colgate before falling to tough opponents in #19 Yale and Columbia for a 3-2 record to this date. The Great Danes are set to continue a grueling non-conference schedule as they host two nationally-ranked opponents this weekend including Rutgers and UMass. 

In Rutgers' first six contests of the season, they have faced five nationally-ranked opponents for a 2-4 record. One win (#12 Syracuse) and one loss (#10 UConn) ended in a penalty shootout after two overtime periods. Olivia Fraticelli leads the team with five goals and 10 points. Laura Loycke follows with two goals and one assist for five points. Three Scarlet Knights hold a team-high two assists. Emily Nicholls has served as the only goaltender for Rutgers, earning a .721 save percentage and a 1.74 goals-against average.

Saturday, September 19

The Great Danes enter Week 3 after a strong 2-1 start to the 2026 campaign. After opening the year with a convincing 28-14 home win over New Hampshire and nearly pulling off an FBS upset at Buffalo in a tight 21-17 thriller, UAlbany took care of business on the road with a dominant 35-13 victory at LIU this past weekend.

The Great Danes return home to Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium to resume CAA play against Monmouth on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 3:30 p.m. The Great Danes will host their annual Hometown Heroes Game, honoring local military members, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and all first responders.

To mark the occasion, UAlbany will take the field in special tribute headgear featuring an American Flag Great Dane decal on the helmet and the names of local hometown heroes displayed across the back bumpers.

Sunday, September 20

Sophomore Jette Kurz leads the Great Danes with nine points off a team-high five assists and two goals. Freshman Quinty Reumer shares the lead in points while owning a team-best four goals, including three game-winning goals. Senior Mara Küskes has assisted five goals and leads with two defensive saves. Junior Merle Vaandrager has started four of the Great Danes' five contests. Junior Ella Bowman earned the start in their most recent matchup against Columbia.

The Minutewomen have started the season with six consecutive wins, including victories over #8 Liberty and #3 Harvard. Before facing the Great Danes on Sunday, UMass will face Ohio on Friday (Sept. 18). Amber Fairon leads the team with 15 points and seven goals. Niamh McKenzie is close behind qwith 14 points off five goals and four assists. Megan Carpenter has earned a team-best five assists while Emily Barrett is tied with McKenzie in goals. Rozárie Mrázová has started all six games in goal to earn a 1.00 goals-against average and a .706 save percentage.

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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.

Field Hockey - X, Instagram, Facebook
Football - X, Instagram, Facebook
Golf - X, Instagram, Facebook