UAlbany Athletes Garner Honors for Academic, On-Field Success
ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 26, 2024) — Following the conclusion of the fall sports season, UAlbany student athletes have earned plaudits for their success on the field and in the classroom. Meanwhile, the men's and women's basketball teams are starting of their winter campaigns with stellar victories.
Women's Basketball Upsets Syracuse, Tops Cornell
Graduate guard Lily Phillips of Greenwich, N.Y., hit a three-pointer with three seconds remaining and the UAlbany women's basketball team upset ACC power Syracuse, 73-70 last Wednesday night. It was the first victory for the Great Danes over a Power-5 team since 2016.
Then on Saturday, the Great Danes earned another victory by stopping Cornell, 54-47 at Broadview Center. Graduate forward Kayla Cooper led the way with 24 points, her fourth-straight contest scoring 20 points or more. The Great Danes are undefeated on the season so far at 5-0, with a contest against crosstown foe RPI up next on Wednesday. Tickets are now on sale for all home games.
Men's Basketball Retains Albany Cup
The UAlbany men's basketball team topped crosstown rival Siena, 70-60 to retain the Albany Cup for the second consecutive year. With the win, the Great Danes handed the Saints their first loss of the season while retaining the title of biggest dogs in town for another season.
It was only the second time in the last decade that the game was played on the the UAlbany campus. The Great Danes have now won 8 of the last 10 games between the teams dating to 2010, while Siena's edge in the series since UAlbany joined Division I is now 11-9.
This past weekend, the Great Danes competed in the Puerto Rico Clasico, where they finished 2-1.
UAlbany next travels to Georgetown with a game against America East power Georgetown on Nov. 30, before returning home for a game against Ivy League school Columbia on Dec. 4 at Broadview Center.
Field Hockey Players Earn End-of-Season Awards
The UAlbany field hockey team earned 14 America East end-of-season awards, while two seniors earned spots on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's (NFHCA) Division I Senior Team.
Seniors Floor de Ruiter (midfield), Alison Smisdom (midfield) and Lara Behn (goalkeeper) each earned first-time All-Conference honors, while teammates Delphine Le Jeune, Blanca Orsola and Charlotte Triggs earned selection to the second team. First-year students Eva Jenniskens and Lotje Ligthart were named to the America East All-rookie team.
Meanwhile, Behn, de Ruiter and Smisdom were also selected to the All-Academic team. Behn also took home individual honors as Goalkeeper of the Year, while Smisdom was named Midfielder of the Year. The Great Danes coaching staff, led by head coach Phil Sykes, earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Additionally, Smisdom and de Ruiter were also selected to the NFHCA Division I Senior Team. According to the NFHCA, the award reflects not only their performances throughout the season but also their enduring impact on and off the field. The organization honored 38 total Division I student-athletes with the award, representing 32 different institutions. Smisdom and de Ruiter make UAlbany one of just seven universities with two honorees.
Goalie Dorfman Earns All-Conference Honors
Women's Soccer goalie Emily Dorfman, a redshirt freshman, earned three end-of-season America East awards for her performance on the field and in the classroom.
Dorfman, who made 16 appearances and started 15 games, finished second in the nation and first in the conference with 8.38 saves per game. She also finished third in the country in total saves (134). In addition to her athletic achievements, Dorfman also boasts a 3.73 GPA and has been named to the Dean's List twice and the Commissioner's Honor Roll once.
For her efforts, Dorfman was named to the All-Conference second team as well as the All-Rookie and All-Academic teams.
Three Earn Honors for Men's Soccer
Three members of the UAlbany Men's Soccer team earned honors for their efforts during the 2024 season.
Forward Ander Castillo and midfielder Timo Jansen were both named to the Americ East first team, while Jordan Schullenberger was named to the All-Rookie team.
Castillo and Jansen were also named All-Academic honorees for the Great Danes. Castillo has a 3.58 GPA while studying Business Administration. Jansen has a 3.92 GPA while also studying Business Administration.
Volleyball Earns Six Awards
The women's volleyball team, which advanced to the America East championship game before falling to New Hampshire on Saturday, earned six end-of-season awards for the 2024 season.
UAlbany freshman Maria Olga Siapani was named America East Rookie of the Year, while also earning a spot on the All-Conference second team and All-Rookie team. During the season, Siapani was named Rookie of the Week six times and Setter of the Week five times.
Redshirt junior Shynelle Woroniuk was named to the All-Conference first team as well as the All-Academic team, while coaches Josh Pickard, Heather Feldman and Chris Carter were named Coaching Staff of the Year.