FIELD HOCKEY BEGINS NCAA TOURNAMENT RUN FRIDAY

riday, Nov. 9 at Maryland

Live Stats | W

Records: UAlbany (16-4), Maryland (19-2)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The UAlbany field hockey team will face second-seeded Maryland Friday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Maryland’s Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

UAlbany is 2-5 all-time in the NCAA tournament and earned the pro­gram’s first trip to the Final Four in 2014. This is the team’s third NCAA appearance in the last five years.

Last Time Out

The Great Danes captured the program’s sixth America East Tourna­ment Championship with a 2-0 win against Maine in the America East Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The victory earned UAlbany its third automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in the last five years. With their efforts in the tournament,Frederike Helmke, Melissa Nealon, Dana Bozek and Ghislaine Beerkens received All-Tournament honors. Beerkens was tabbed the America East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Leading the Pack

Beerkens is leading the team with a career-high 13 goals and 27 points. UAlbany has seven players with multiple goals and eight players have found the goal line.

Looking at Maryland

Maryland earned the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament after capturing the programs 12th conference tournament title on Sunday. The Terps roster features Big Ten Player of the Year Linnea Gonzales, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Bodil Keus and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in Bibi Donraadt. Gonzales and Nike Lorenz are pacing the squad with 14 goals this season.

Series History

UAlbany and Maryland have only met four times in the sport of field hockey. The all-time series is locked 2-2 after the Great Danes won the last two contests in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Big Time Honors for Big Time Players

Helmke was named the America East Defender of the Year and Nealon was tabbed the America East Co-Goalkeeper of the year as announced by the league last Tuesday. Helmke and Nealon were joined on the All-Conference First Team by Dana Bozek, while Elaina Burchell and Kelsey McCrudden were selected to the All-Rookie Team. Helmke and Nealon earned All-Academic Team honors as well, along with teammate Carli Pel­letier.

Defending the Homeland

The Great Danes concluded their 2018 home late with an unblem­ished 9-0 record at Alumni Turf. Three of those nine wins came against ranked opponents — No. 10 Louisville, No. 15 Delaware and No. 18 Maine. UAlbany outscored its opponents 27-6 this season in friendly confines.

198, 199, 200…

Head Coach Phil Sykes eclipsed the 200-win mark with a 2-1 over­time win against New Hampshire. Sykes, the programs leader in wins, owns a 207-96 record in his 15th year. Associate head coach Andy Thorntonalso celebrated the milestone as he has stood beside Sykes for all 200-plus victories. The duo has celebrated six America East Tournament Championships and a trip to the Final Four in 2014.