ALBANY, N.Y. - For the first time since 2009, two ranked teams will decide the America East men's lacrosse champion as seventh-ranked Albany hosts #17/16 Stony Brook for the league title Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Bob Ford Field.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU with Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Quint Kessenich (analyst) on the call.
Championship Game Primer
- The second-seeded Seawolves scored five-straight goals bridging the third and fourth quarters en route to a 16-13 win over third-seeded Vermont in the first semifinal Thursday and the top-seeded Great Danes also used a dominant third quarter to beat fourth-seeded Hartford, 15-6, in the second semi.
- Albany, the tournament’s top seed for the sixth time, seeks its seventh America East title and are trying to become the first team to win three straight championships since the Great Danes accomplished the feat in from 2003-05.
- The Great Danes have won 21 straight games against America East foes dating back to 2013, their last loss coming at the hands of Stony Brook in the 2012 America East title game.
- Stony Brook, the No. 2 seed, is going for its fourth America East crown and third in six years.
- The Seawolves' 13 wins match their program record set in 2010.
- This is the 12th championship meeting in 14 years between Albany and Stony Brook with the Great Danes holding a 7-4 edge.
- It's the first time the America East title game has featured two ranked teams since UMBC and Stony Brook met in 2009.
- The 27 combined wins between the two finalists are the most in conference history eclipsing the previous high by four.
- The game will feature two of the nation's top scoring teams as Albany leads the country (17.1 gpg) and Stony Brook is sixth (14,3 gpg).
- Albany’s Lyle Thompson is one of 25 candidates for the Tewaraaton Award, given to the nation’s top player.
- The reigning Co-Tewaaraton Trophy winner, Thompson leads the nation averaging 6.3 points per game.
- Stony Brook's Mike Rooney is second to Thompson by percentage points, also averaging 6.3 points per game.
- America East teams have 10 NCAA wins all-time, including four since 2007.
- America East and the ACC are the leagues to claim at least three Tewaraaton Award winners.
• The Great Danes, who feature the nation's best offense scoring 16.1 points per game, are making their 11th America East title game appearance in 13 years in the league. They are 5-5 all-time in title games.
• UMBC (8-6) earned its 11th America East Championship bid in as many seasons in the league by going 3-2 in league play and extended their streak of never having had lost consecutive America East games, a streak that spans 67 contests.
• The Retrievers, who rank second in the league scoring 12.3 goals per game, are making their sixth America East title game appearance and are 3-2 in their previous five showings.
• Albany’s Lyle and Miles Thompson are two of 28 candidates for the Tewaraaton Award, given to the nation’s top player.
• Lyle Thompson has 106 points this season, the third-most in a season in conference history, and leads the nation in scoring, averaging 7.1 points per game.
• Miles Thompson ranks second to his brother in points per game (6.6) has 67 goals this season, the most in conference history.
• UMBC's Matt Gregoire ranks second only to Miles Thompson nationally in goals per game (3.2 gpg).
• America East has had nine wins in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship all-time, including victories by three different programs (Albany, UMBC, Stony Brook) since 2007.