Maginn coach Grasso dead at 66
ALBANY >> Former Bishop Maginn head coach Joe Grasso passed away from a heart attack on Sunday. He was 66.
A 1968 graduate of Cardinal McCloskey High School, Grasso coached the Golden Griffins football program for 39 seasons (19772015) before serving this season as an assistant with Christian Brothers Academy. Prior to his tenure with Bishop Maginn, he coached the Vincentian Institute for two seasons.
Grasso led Bishop Maginn to a 10-0 record and a Section II Class A title in 1978 and added another title in 1983. He led the program to seven sectional championship games, with the latest in 2008.
A longtime figure in Section II
football, Grasso had many understudies become head football coaches themselves in Joe Burke (Christian Brothers Academy), Mark Cerrone (Schenectady) and Scott Sabourin (Mohonasen). His son, Mike Grasso, is the current offensive coordinator with Troy High School.
“The Diocese of Albany and the Capital District community were privileged to have Joe serve the area for many decades,” Dr. James Schlegel, Head of School at CBA said in a statement. “Joe touched the hearts and influenced the lives of countless students throughout the years. Christian Brothers Academy was honored to have him as a coach on our varsity football team this year.
“Joe was an exceptional individual and will be missed by the entire CBA community, especially the administration, coaches, players and their families at CBA.”
Boys Soccer Wasaren League
MECHANICVILLE 2, SARATOGA CATHOLIC 1 >> Drew Murphy’s header off a corner kick from Jeff Luce provided Mechanicville the game-winner in its 2-1 victory over Saratoga Catholic on Monday.
The Red Raiders (9-0) opened the scoring in the 10th minute on Marcus Tobin’s deflection in front of the net. However, the Saints (2-7) found the equalizer on a penalty kick with three seconds left in the first half, converted by Dantel Morin.
In the nets, Tyler Kraszewski had six saves for Mechanicville, while Jake Hart stopped six for Saratoga Catholic.
Field Hockey Wasaren League
HOOSICK FALLS 3, GREENWICH 1 >> Hoosick Falls scored three unanswered goals for a 3-1 comeback win over Greenwich on Monday.
After Hannah Walsh put the Witches ahead 1-0 with 28:49 left in the first half, the Panthers responded with two goals in the final 10:50 of the half, scored by Ally Burdick and Megan Henry, to take a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Liz Ryan added some insurance for Hoosick Falls with a goal to make it 3-1 with 14:43 to play. In net, Kaitlin Backes and Zoe Gress combined to make 10 saves for the Panthers, while Olivia Barnes made 15 stops for the Witches.
Girls Tennis Suburban Council
AVERILL PARK 8, BALLSTON SPA1>> Jackie Bornt posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory at top singles to lead Averill Park to an 8-1 victory over Ballston Spa on Monday.
Ariel Loucks earned a 6-3, 7-5 win for Ballston Spa at No. 6 singles.
Patroon League
MAPLE HILL 6-6, CATSKILL 1-1 >> Maple Hill posted a pair of 6-1 wins over Catskill on Monday in girls tennis action.
The Wildcats have won six of their last eight matches. Tessa Olmstead won her singles matches 8-5 and 8-4, while Emily Franks added a pair of 8-2 wins.
Girls Volleyball
AVERILL PARK TOURNAMENT >> Averill Park captured its own tournament on Sunday, defeating Niskayuna 25-16, 25-21 in the championship game of the eight team tournament.
The Warriors advanced to the title game after a 2518, 25-12 victory over Canajoharie, while Niskayuna defeated Cobleskill 25-27, 25-15, 25-17.
Other schools in the tournament included Greenville, Ichabod Crane, Mekeel Christian Academy and Saratoga Catholic.
College Football Non-League
(22) UALBANY 20, ST. FRANCIS (PA.) 9 >> University at Albany football recovered from a slow offensive start to remain unbeaten with a 20-9 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday at Bob Ford Field at Casey Stadium.
The Great Danes (1-0 CAA, 4-0 overall) allowed three first-half field goals from Red Flash kicker Lance Geesey, allowing St. Francis (1-3) to take a 9-0 lead into halftime.
Out of the break, UAlbany cut the deficit to 9-3 on Ethan Stark’s 24-yard field goal with 8:17 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Nevin Sussman found Jordan Crockett in the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass, giving UAlbany its first lead of the game, 109, with 14:12 to play. On the Danes’ next possession, Dione Alston went 54-yards untouched on a reverse to extend UAlbany’s lead to 17-9 with 11:39 to play. Stark then made it 20 unanswered points for UAlbany with a 37-yard field goal, making it 20-9, UAlbany with 3:56 to play.
Stark went 2-for-2 on field goals after entering the game just 1-for-4 on the season.
Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks had 90 yards rushing on 22 carries, while Sussman finished the game 7-for15 passing for 83 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Defensively, Michael Nicastro led the way with 16 tackles, while Kareem Brown and Jamal Robinson each intercepted Red Flash quarterback Zack Drayer once.
The Great Danes, now ranked No. 21 in the FCS,
have a bye week before hosting 6th-ranked Richmond (3-1) at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 8.
Men’s Soccer MAAC
SIENA 2, GEORGE MASON 1 (OT) >> Siena scored twice in the final five minutes to stun George Mason 2-1 on Saturday in Fairfax, Va.
After Daniel Hoffman put the Patriots (2-5-1) up 1-0 in the 40th minute, J.C. Obregon knotted the game at 1-1 in the 87th minute to send the game to overtime. Matt Crisafulli provided the game-winner just 80 seconds into overtime for the Saints (2-5-2).
America East
UALBANY 4, LIU-BROOKLYN 1>> University at Albany men’s soccer picked up its third win in four games with a 4-1 victory over LIUBrooklyn (5-3-1) on Sunday in Albany.
Afonso Pinheiro became the Great Danes’ all-time leading points scorer with his goal in the 52nd minute. Pinheiro now has 53 points in his career, breaking the previous record held by Jarvin Skeete (1999-2001).
Keith Traut, Nico Solabarrieta and Daniel Krutzen each added goals for the Great Danes (4-3-1).
Women’s Soccer MAAC
SIENA 2, FAIRFIELD 1 (OT) >> Kirsten Connors provided the heroics in overtime with the decisive goal to lead Siena past Fairfield in MAAC play Saturday night.
The senior captain slipped a shot inside the right post off a cross from Michele Tremblay in the 99th minute for the Saints (2-0 MAAC, 4-3-3 overall). Connors tallied Siena’s first goal just two minutes into the second half off an assist from Kelsey Horst, to knot the game at 1-1.
Fairfield’s Brenna Brown opened the scoring in the
20th minute. Fairfield (0-2 MAAC, 1-9 overall) struck the crossbar with a potential game-winning shot moments before Connors’ winner.
America East
UMASS LOWELL 1, UALBANY 0>> UMass Lowell spoiled University at Albany women’s soccer’s America East opener with a 1-0 victory over the defending champs on Sunday.
In the 90th minute, Jaymee Luke provided the RiverHawks (1-0 America East, 3-4-2) the game-winner.
“The last few minutes of a match are critical to any team’s success,” UAlbany head coach Caitlin Cucchiella said in a statement. “We have to do a better job of closing out games.”
Chloe Borasky made seven saves in the game for UAlbany (0-1 America East, 3-7 overall).
Liberty League
OFFENSIVE PERFORMER OF THE WEEK >> RPI senior Cori Winslow helped the Engineers to two victories last week, earning her Liberty League women’s soccer Performer of the Week honors.
Winslow provided two goals and two assists in wins over Hartwick (10) and Manhattanville (4-1).
College Field Hockey
(20) UALBANY 4, ST. JOSEPH’S 2>> UAlbany scored four unanswered goals to defeat St. Joseph’s Sunday in nonleague play.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first 16 minutes, the Great Danes (5-4) tied the game at 2-2 on goals by Viola Von Der Muhlen and Paula Heuser just before halftime.
In the second half, UAlbany dominated possession and took its first lead in the 63rd minute on Frederike Helmke’s penalty stroke, making it 3-2.
Emily Fraser added an insurance goal six minutes later for the 4-2 final.
Men’s Golf
QUECHEE CLUB COLLEGIATE >> Siena men’s golf finished 11th at Dartmouth College’s Quechee Club Collegiate Invitational on Sunday.
The Saints, led by junior Michael Christifulli’s 24th overall finish, had three golfers in the top-50 individually with Scott Kim finishing tied for 39th, and Jake Holt finishing 49th. LIBERTY LEAGUE >> RPI senior Aaron Schauger was named the Liberty League men’s golf Performer of the Week on Monday after leading the Liberty League Championship after the first two rounds.
Schauger’s three-over 147 leads the field, including a three-under 69 he shot in the opening round. He currently holds a one-stroke lead.
Men’s Tennis Liberty League
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK >> RPI duo Zack Ebenfeld and Sebastien Castillo-Sanchez were named the Liberty League men’s tennis Doubles Team of the Week on Monday.
Edbenfield and Castillo-Sanchez went 3-0 at the Stevens Institute of Technology Doubles Tournament. The duo defeated a duo from New York University (8-6), Stevens (8-4) and The College of New Jersey (8-3). They were one of only two doubles squads to finish undefeated.
Local Golf
CONRAD CUP >> The juniors topped the seniors 10.7-7.5 in the 2016 Conrad Cup hosted at Shaker Ridge Country Club on Sunday.
Justin Vonk, Greg Stopera, Brian Snyder, Joe Marro, Rob Feldman, Jamie Jackson, Greg Bennett and Scott Knapp each picked up a point in Round 2 for the juniors, outscoring the seniors 8-4 in the round to overcome a 3.5-2.5 deficit after Round 1.