UAlbany football tops William and Mary 39-31 in CAA opener

Sports Staff ALBANY, N.Y. -- University at Albany football team won its fourth straight game at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium and began CAA play with a victory Saturday, defeating William and Mary, 3931, in the annual “Pink Game.” UAlbany rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half behind big offensive performances from Jeff Undercuffler (291 yards, three touchdowns), Karl Mofor (95 yards rushing, 53 yards receiving) and Jerah Reeves (92 yards receiving), among others. Dylan Burns also kicked four field goals, setting a new program single-game record. Mofor, Reeves, LJ Wesneski and Juwan Green scored the touchdowns for UAlbany, whose offense roared to life in the second half after falling behind, 24-15, with 6:51 left in the third quarter. Wesneski and Undercuffler connected with 2:55 left in the third quarter on a 10-yard TD pass, bringing the Great Danes within two points. On the play, Undercuffler faked a handoff, then zipped a pass to a wide-open Wesneski in the end zone. Burns added a 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give UAlbany its first lead of the game, 25-24, and Juwan Green followed with a 7-yard touchdown catch less than four minutes later to put UAlbany ahead, 32-24. Mofor’s 6-yard TD run with 1:44 left made the score 39-24. Still, UAlbany needed a defensive stand to hang on. The Tribe answered Mofor’s TD with an 83-yard touchdown pass that cut the lead to eight and then recovered an onside kick. But the Great Danes’ defense held when Josh Wynn intercepted a pass, his second of the game, as time expired. Levi Metheny led the defense with 11 tackles. Grad student defensive lineman Nick Griffin (Loudonville/ Shaker H.S.) registered three assists for the Great Danes as grad student free safety Josh Wynn (Albany/Christian Brothers Academy) was credited with a solo tackle and eight assists for UAlbany. Red-shirt senior offensive lineman Griffin Clancy (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs H.S.) and senior offensive lineman Niko Culnan (Albany/Colonie H.S.) were part of the Great Danes offensive line in the win. UAlbany next plays Saturday, Oct. 5, on the road against Richmond in another CAA match-up. ENDICOTT ROLLS PAST BECKER COLLEGE, 58-12 BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football team defeated Becker College, 58-12, on Saturday afternoon in the Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) opener for both squads. Defensively, Endicott held Becker under its previous three-game season average of 268 yards of total offense (236 total yards today, 70 plays 194 rushing, 42 passing). The Gulls also 39 student-athletes get their names into the box score with at least one tackle (solo or assisted). Junior quarterback Kyle Borey (Clifton Park/LaSalle Institute) entered the contest late, going 0-for-2 passing Saturday. Senior defensive back Jesse Simoni (East Greenbush/ Columbia H.S.) recorded a solo tackle and had two assists in the win. Shenendehowa H.S.) earned the win with one save and one goal against. Plainsmen alum Sheridan Messier (Waterford/ Shenendehowa H.S.) closed out the contest in the fourth for the Great Danes. Freshman forward Lillian Hickey (Hoosick Falls/Hoosick Falls H.S.) scored a goal Friday afternoon as part of her three shots, two on goal for UAlbany. Junior forward Carlie Pelletier (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa H.S.) started for the Great Danes and recorded one shot in the win. SAGE ROLLS PAST WELLS COLLEGE, 13-0 Albany, NY — Sophomore forward Sara O’Connor (Rexford, NY/Niskayuna) and sophomore Jenna Egan (Germantown, NY/ Germantown) scored three goals each to lead The Sage Colleges field hockey team to a 13-0 victory over Wells College at the University at Albany’s Alumni Field Friday night. The victory, which set a record for goals scored in a game by Sage, improved the Gators to 3-5 on the season, while the Express now stands 0-7 after this non-league contest. The Gators got two goals from sophomore midfielder/forward Kathryn Gallagher (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) and freshman forward Emily Schnoop (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls). SKIDMORE STOPS ST. LAWRENCE, 4-1 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Section 2 standouts senior forward/midfielder Jordan Mjaatvedt (Corinth/Corinth H.S.) and junior midfielder/forward Sarah Winters (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs H.S.) each scored a goal in the Thoroughbreds win Saturday afternoon. Mjaatvedt had three shots in the win, converting her lone shot on frame with Winters drilling the ball on six occassions, four times on the cage with her single tally. RPI FALLS TO NO. 6 VASSAR POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - A late Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) comeback was swatted away by the No. 6 Vassar College field hockey team, as the Brewers held on for the 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Ella Pearl scored the opening goal, with freshman Sam Kass and junior Dara Studnitzer also getting on the board. Sophomore attack (Jessie House (Saratoga Springs/ Saratoga Springs H.S.) came in off the bench for the Engineers, recording a shot as junior attack Sydney Luke (Eagle Bridge/ Hoosick Falls H.S.) started for RPI. Vassar moves to 9-0 overall and 1-0 in Liberty League play, while RPI drops to 0-8 and 0-1 in the conference. SUNY ONEONTA ROLLS PAST RAMAPO, 5-2 The SUNY Oneonta field hockey team defeated Ramapo College 5-2 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at All College Field. The win lifts the Red Dragons record to 4-5 on the season. Freshman goalie Catherine Claps (Shuylerville/Schuylerville H.S.) is part of the Red Dragons roster this fall. RPI FALLS TO MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO TROY, N.Y. – Four different players found the score sheet as the Minnesota State-Mankato women’s hockey team defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-0, in the season opener for both teams, Friday night at the Houston Field House. The Mavericks, who swept a two-game set last season, open 2019-20 at 1-0, while the Engineers drop to 0-1. The Engineer’s roster includes junior goaltender Jenn Greg (Altamont/Troy-Albany Ice Cats). CBA) scored his first goal as a Gator to lift Sage past Alfred University on Saturday afternoon in a key Empire 8 match on the road. Holquin scored the game-winner at the 87:45 mark to break a 1-1 tie and give Sage a 5-4 mark on the year and a 1-1 record in the league. Alfred drops to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in the conference. As the time was winding down in regulation, junior forward Jeaneste Pierre (Newburgh, NY/ Newburgh Free Academy) found Holquin and the two gave Sage the 2-1 lead with only 2:15 left in regulation. The Gators would hold on and earn the E8 win as Sage’s sophomore keeper Lucas Bourdeau (Castletonon-Hudson/Maple Hill) finished the day with two saves and is now 5-4 in net. Senior midfielder/forward Alberto Cannistraci (Schenectady/Colonie Central H.S.) registered a shot in the win. UNION WIN STREAK HALTED BY VASSAR, 1-0 SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Union College men’s soccer team had its season-opening eightgame winning streak halted with a 1-0 conference loss to Vassar College at College Park Field on Saturday afternoon. Union moves to 8-1 on the season and 1-1 in Liberty League play with the loss. Freshman forward Evan Farr (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga H.S.) came in off the bench for the Dutchmen, putting two shots on frame during his appearance. UTICA POSTS 2-0 EMPIRE 8 WIN OVER SAGE ALBANY, N.Y. -- Utica earned a 2-0 win over Saturday to remain unbeaten at 2-0 in the E8 and 7-2 overall, while the loss puts Sage at 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Sage’s rookie keeper Kallan Shertzer (Clifton Park/ Shenendehowa) finished with eight saves in the action in taking the loss. Utica’s senior goalie Allison Wagner (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) earned the win in goal after making five saves and is now 7-2 in net. Sophomore midfielder Angela Gonzalez (Hoosick Falls/Hoosick Falls H.S.) had three shots on the day, one on frame for the Gators along with sophomore forward Natalie Ricci (Cohoes/Cohoes H.S.). Junior defense Emily Davenport (Schenectady/Colonie Central H.S.) and junior midfielder/forward Lydia Malkiewicz (Schenectady/Colonie Central H.S.) all saw time on the pitch for Sage in the loss. Sage is back in action on October 2 travelling to SUNY-Poly for a 7 p.m. non-conference match with the Wildcats. WILLIAM SMITH STOPS SKIDMORE COLLEGE, 3-1 GENEVA, N.Y. -- Twenty-two shots on goal by William Smith proved to be too much Saturday afternoon as Phoebe Wade’s unassited goal proved to be the game-winner on a bouncing cross in the box. Skidmore sophomore defender Melissa Haas (Clifton Park/ Shenendehowa H.S.) started for the Thoroughbreds. SAGE DROPS HEART BREAKER IN EMPIRE 8 OPENER TO NAZARETH, 3-2 ALBANY, N.Y. -- Down 2-0, the Gators fought back and forced a fifth and final set on Friday night, but fell, 3-2 to Nazareth (25-23, 28-26, 16-25, 19-25, 18-16). Nazareth improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the E8, while Sage stands at 3-13 and 0-1 in the league. Sage combined for 10 aces in the match as senior outside hitter Megan Ryder (Broadalbin, NY/ Broadalbin Perth) and junior setter Courtney Formosa (Waterford, NY/WaterfordHalfmoon) each had five in the contest. Ryder had 23 digs with eight kills and was 21-0 on receptions as well for the Gators. Formosa added 29 setting assists with eight digs. Rookie defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/ Albany) led all players with her 29 digs and was 15-0 on reception attempts. Senior setter Caitlyn Class (Waterford/Waterford-Halfmoon H.S.) had three service points, a dig and a block for the Gators. Junior setter Renee Martin (Troy/Troy H.S.) had three service points and two kills for Sage. Senior middle hitter Skylar Van Alstyne (Castleton/Maple Hill H.S.) finished with five service points, including eight kills for Sage Friday afternoon. ST. JOHN FISHER HANDS SAGE 3-0 LOSS SATURDAY ALBANY, NY — SJFC posted a 3-0 win (25-13, 25-16, 25-17) to improve to 11-5 overall and 2-0 in the league, while the loss puts Sage at 3-14 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Graduate player Miranda Nethaway (Fonda, NY/Fonda Fultonville) added six kills with a .250 attack percentage for the Gators with a pair of digs. With Saturday’s efforts, she now boasts 479 career kills which puts her at the No. 17 spot in career kills, just four shy of surpassing Alyssa Nellis (2014-2017) with 482 kills. Nethaway is also No. 5 with her 211 career total blocks at Sage. Sage got four kills from senior outside hitter Megan Ryder (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin Perth) and eight digs with a setting assists from the team tricaptain. Junior setter Courtney Formosa (Waterford, NY/ Waterford-Halfmoon) racked up eight setting assists with five digs in the match. UALBANY DROPS UMBC IN FIVE SETS FOR FIRST AMERICA EAST WIN ALBANY, N.Y. -- The UAlbany volleyball team defeated UMBC in five sets to secure its first America East win of the season Friday night. “We came out strong early in the match and played well,” Coach Josh Pickard said. “UMBC made some adjustments and we took a bit of time to make our own. I’m proud of the way we battled through all five sets and came out with a win. The team has worked hard to play as a unit and we did that tonight.” Sophomore libero Charlotte Macken (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa H.S.) came up with a season high 29 digs for the Great Danes. SHEN GRAD SOPHIE PASTORE LEADS DRAGONS AT MIKE WOODS INVITE After a week off, the SUNY Oneonta women’s cross country team got back into action at the Mike Woods Invitational hosted by SUNY Geneseo coming away with an 11th place finish overall. Saturday’s event was the first 6K for the Red Dragons this fall. Leading the way for the Red Dragons in the race was freshman Sophie Pastore (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa H.S.) who finished 48th overall running a sub-25 minute time of 24:41. RPI MEN THIRD AT PURPLE VALLEY CLASSIC WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. Junior Jake Davis finished second overall to pace the No. 16 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s cross country team to third place in the 20-team Purple Valley Classic hosted by Williams College on Saturday. He ran the 8K course at Mount Greylock High School in a time of 26:31.2 - a 5:21 pace - to outdistance the third place finisher by more than four seconds. Aidan Ryan of the host Ephs won the event in a time of 26:07.3. Davis helped the Engineers to 91 points, which trailed only Williams (31 points), which is ranked No. 2 in the nation, and No. 10 MIT (56). Middlebury (145), which is No. 22, and Amherst (162), ranked No. 19, rounded out the top five of the field, which included seven nationally-ranked teams. Sophomore Frank Triolo (Gansevoort/South Glens Falls H.S.) covered the course in 29:12.6.