The latest news, notes, quotes and links surrounding Albany & UMBC in the NCAA Championshi
NOTES
? America East and the Atlantic Coast Conference are the only two conferences in the country with two teams in the quarterfinals. Only the ACC (4) boasted more teams in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship than America East (2).
? America East boasts two teams in the quarterfinals of the national tournament for just the third time in conference history. In 2001, former league members Towson and Hofstra both won their first-round contests to advance to the quarters. Towson would go on to the Final Four before losing to Princeton, 12-11, in the semifinals, marking the only America East squad to ever make it to the Final Four. Hofstra and Delaware also advanced to the quarterfinals back during the 1999 season.
? The quarterfinal match-up between UMBC and Delaware will mark the second time the two have faced each other in the national tournament. In 1999, then-America East member Delaware defeated UMBC, 12-11 in overtime, in first round action at Towson Stadium in Towson, Md.
? For the fourth time in conference history, two teams have made the NCAA tourney in the same season. It marks the first time since 2001.
? For the first time in league history an America East team hosted a game in the national tournament as the Great Danes downed Loyola 19-10 at John Fallon Field in front of 2,953 on Sunday afternoon.
? America East boasts three of the nation's top six scorers. Albany's Frank Resetarits (4.65 ppg), UMBC's Drew Westervelt (4.19) and Albany's Merrick Thomson (3.94) rank second, fifth and sixth in the nation in points per game, respectively. Resetarits is second in goals per game (3.29), while Thomson is third (3.18). Westervelt is also third in assists per game (2.13).
? The 2007 Men's Lacrosse Final Four takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., with UMBC serving as a co-host for the event.
? America East member Stony Brook hosted quarterfinal action of the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y.
QUOTES
"It is just outstanding to see two America East teams among the final eight teams. I had the pleasure of watching the UMBC-Maryland game and they outplayed them from the second quarter to the end. Hopefully this gives our conference a shot in the arm in terms of respect on the national level. We have student-athletes who can compete at the highest level and the results speak for the conference’s development." -- Scott Marr, Albany Head Coach
"The conference is getting better and better. The competition is outstanding and every game is a battle. We are proud to represent the America East along with Albany." -- Don Zimmerman, UMBC Head Coach
"Congratulations to Albany and UMBC on advancing to the Elite 8. This is a tribute to the hard work that each team has put in this year. Our institutions have committed to elevating the sport of lacrosse within our confence is this is a very good step." -- Patrick Nero, America East Commissioner
"The America East Conference, with Albany & UMBC winning, proved that they are legit." -- Quint Kessenich, ESPNU Color Analyst
LINKS
NCAAsports.com: Updated NCAA Bracket | Tournament Headquarters
InsideLacrosse.com: Tournament Central
ESPNU: Television Schedule
CSTV.com: Still Wearing Their Slippers
UMBC-Maryland: Boxscore | Recap | Photo Gallery I | Photo Gallery II
ESPNU: UMBC-Maryland Highlights
InsideLacrosse.com: 'Tugboat' helps keep Retrievers afloat in upset of Maryland
CSTV.com: UMBC From All Angles
Baltimore Sun: UMBC, Delaware inject parity into NCAA tourney
Baltimore Sun: UMBC 'huge' against Terps
Times Union: Experts are giving UAlbany a chance
Baltimore Sun: UMBC, Delaware rewarded for recruiting in Canada
Baltimore Sun: MASN to televise NCAA men's lacrosse quarterfinals
Albany-Loyola: Boxscore | Recap
ESPNU: Albany-Loyola Highlights
InsideLacrosse.com: Danes take another step in securing place on lacrosse map
CSTV.com: Great Danes Win This Dog Fight
Albany Times Union: Danes reach another goal
Albany Times Union: Danes get Cornell
Baltimore Sun: Loyola's reach exceeds grasp in loss to Albany
Troy Record: UAlbany dominates Loyola; Cornell up next