Four 2014 Fall Sports Schedules Announced
ALBANY, N.Y.- The University at Albany field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball teams released their respective 2014 schedules on Monday.
“This year’s schedule should be a challenging one,” said head coach Phil Sykes. “Each year we try to play a challenging nonconference schedule, and this year is no exception. One highlight this year is our trip out west, where we’ll be playing Pacific and Stanford. We have a good combination of teams with a lot success and up-and-coming squads on our schedule.”
Sykes & co. will face five teams that concluded 2013 with a national ranking, including Syracuse (Sept. 6), Stanford (Sept. 14), Virginia (Sept. 21), 2012 NCAA Champion Princeton (Sept. 28) and New Hampshire (Oct. 10). The Great Danes open the season with a three-game homestand beginning Aug. 29, and start league play with UMass Lowell at home on Oct. 5.
The three-time America East champions will play eight home games, and look to return to national prominence in 2014. The Great Danes were ranked in the NFHCA poll for 17 weeks last season, including an all-time program high No. 11 last September.
“We have an exciting schedule for 2014,” said head coach Trevor Gorman. Every opponent we will face this season is a quality program that has enjoyed a tradition of high success. We look forward to hosting nine games at Bob Ford Field and hope to create a great home atmosphere. Our schedule this season will put us in the best position to challenge for success throughout the year.”
The 2014 Great Danes will host nine home games in their second season at Bob Ford Field. UAlbany hosts Colgate (Sept. 5), Monmouth (Sept. 7) and Iona (Sept. 12) to kick off September. The Great Danes visit Villanova on Sept. 14 in the first all-time meeting between the teams, and faces NEC Champion St. Francis (N.Y.) to wrap up October. The Purple & Gold meets Vermont at home on Oct. 4 to begin its America East slate, and hosts conference rival UMBC on Oct. 18.
Gorman’s 2013 squad advanced to the America East semifinals last season, falling to UMBC, the sixth-ranked team in the nation 2-1 in double overtime. The Purple & Gold took its first program win over a nationally ranked opponent last season with a 2-1 win at home against then-No. 22 Fairleigh Dickinson.
WOMEN’S SOCCER:
2014 Schedule Highlights:
In her second season at the helm, head coach Cailtin Colfer announced 10 home games at Bob Ford Field. Following a trip to California to open the season, UAlbany returns home to face the ACC’s Syracuse on Aug. 29 for its first home contest. The Great Danes host cross-town rival Siena on Aug. 31.
Colfer’s squad opens America East play at Hartford on Sept. 28, and plays its first league game at Bob Ford Field against New Hampshire on Oct. 2.
VOLLEYBALL:
2014 Schedule Highlights:
Head coach MJ Engstrom faces four NCAA Tournament teams from 2013 this season, including Yale, Minnesota and New Hampshire. The Great Danes will see two of those opponents in the Yale Tournament, which begins Friday, Sept. 5. UAlbany will first play the ACC’s Boston College in New Haven.
Following the Yale Tournament, the volleyball squad flies to Arizona for a trio of matches against UC Riverside, Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona beginning Sept. 12.
The Purple & Gold opens its America East slate hosting Binghamton on Sept. 26.
Engstrom returns the America East Defensive Specialist of the Year Viktoriia Stroilo and the league Rookie of the Year Amanda Dolan. UAlbany fell in the America East semifinals last season with a young squad that included eight freshmen.
