BOSTON - America East preseason favorite and #8/7 Albany kicked off its season with a win at Drexel over the weekend. The Great Danes, who nearly reached the Final Four a year ago, are led by Co-Tewaaraton Award winner Lyle Thompson. Two of Thompson's teammates earned the conference's weekly awards last week. Read about them and league notes below: Player of the WeekBlaze Riorden, Albany - Jr., Fairport, N.Y.
- Stopped 67 percent of the shots he faced in Albany's 15-8 win at Drexel Saturday.
- Made 16 saves.
- Also had 11 ground balls.
Rookie of the WeekConnor Fields - Fr., Buffalo, N.Y.
- Tallied a team-high six points in Albany's 15-8 win at Drexel Saturday.
- Scored three times and added three assists.
Notes
- Albany rose to No. 7 in the USILA Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll after a 15-8 win at Drexel Saturday.
- Reigning Co-Tewaaraton Award winner Lyle Thompson was named the national preseason Player of the Year by several publications.
- UMBC beat Monmouth, 4-2, as Dylan McDermott scored twice in the final six minutes for the Retrievers.
- The two goals allowed were UMBC's fewest since 1992.
- StonyBrook improved to 2-1 with a 19-4 throttling of NJIT Friday.
- The Seawovles matchup up with Duke, scheduled for Sunday, was postponed until April 15.
Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 9 - Player of the Week: Challen Rogers, Stony Brook; Rookie of the Week: Brandon Maciejewski, Stony Brook
Feb. 16 - Player of the Week: Nate Lewnes, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Brandon Maciejewski, Stony Brook
Feb. 23 - Player of the Week: Blaze Riorden; Rookie of the Week: Connor Fields, Albany