GENEVA, N.Y. – Earlier this week the University at Albany field hockey coaching staff was named the Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
Head coach Phil Sykes, associate head coach Andy Thornton, and assistant coach Dana Bozek came together to guide the Great Danes to its second Elite Eight appearance in program history this year. The 2022 America East Champions finished the season 16-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play after being picked to finish second in the league in the Coaches’ Preseason Poll.
UAlbany defeated three nationally-ranked opponents this season - #16 Boston College (Oct. 2, 4-3 (OT)), #18 UMass (Oct. 16, 2-1 (2OT)), and #4 Michigan (Nov. 11, 2-1 (OT)). The Great Danes had five players earn postseason conference awards and four players earn Northeast Region honors.
UAlbany competed in its first NCAA Tournament game since 2018 thanks to a 2-1 victory in a shootout over Stanford in the America East Championship. The Great Danes continued their historical season with a 2-1 overtime upset over host and fourth-seeded Michigan to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
The 2022 NFHCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year will be announced on Thursday, January 15, 2022, at the NFHCA Awards Dinner sponsored by AstroTurf at the 2023 NFHCA Annual Convention.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
– Building the Complete Student-Athlete –