Albany Great Danes | |
---|---|
University | University at Albany |
Conference | America East |
Location | Albany, New York |
Coach | Scott Marr (since 2000) |
Stadium |
John Fallon Field (capacity: 2,500) |
Nickname | Great Danes |
Colors | Purple and Gold |
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals | |
2007, 2014, 2015, 2017 | |
NCAA Tournament Appearances | |
(9) - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
Conference Tournament Champions | |
2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 | |
Conference Regular Season Champions | |
2002, 2003, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
The Albany Great Danes men's lacrosse team represents the University at Albany in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. Albany currently competes in the America East Conference and plays its home games on John Fallon Field. The team has reached the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament nine times. The Great Danes are currently coached by Scott Marr.
The program began in 1970 with a 3–7 record competing in Division III. In 1975, the program would reach the ECAC Division III Tournament under coach Dave Armstrong. From 1975 to 1997, the Great Danes would reach two more ECAC Division III Tournaments. In 1997 the Great Danes would reach the finals of the ECAC Division II Tournament.
In 2000, the Great Danes began play in the America East at the Division I level. In 2001, Scott Marr was given the reigns of the program. Even though the Great Danes finished with a 3–8 record in 2001, the Great Danes compiled an 8–6 regular season to take the regular season conference championship in the America East in 2002. They would reach the championship game but lose to the Stony Brook Seawolves 8–6.
Led by a new crop of recruits, some of the first lacrosse players in school history to be on scholarship, such as Kevin Rae and Luke Daquino, the Great Danes would start making a mark on college lacrosse in 2003. The Great Danes would go 8–6 and seek revenge against Stony Brook in the America East semi-finals 11–5 to move on to face the University of Hartford for the America East Championship. On May 3, 2003, Albany would defeat Hartford 7–5 to win their first ever America East Championship. They would go on to face and lose to Princeton University in the first round on the NCAA Tournament.
The success for the Great Danes would not stop after 2003. With incoming recruits and a strong core of returning players, the Great Danes would continue their championship ways. In 2004, including an upset against the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Great Danes would go on to win another America East Championship. They would play Syracuse University in the first round and lose 21–13.