BURLINGTON, VT. – For the first time ever, UAlbany and Bryant will meet in the #AEMLAX championship game after both teams won semifinal games on Thursday at Vermont’s Virtue Field.
In game one, No. 4 UAlbany smothered No. 1 Vermont en route to a 10-4 win while in the nightcap No. 2 Bryant outlasted No. 3 Binghamton, 12-11.
UAlbany and Bryant will battle for the 2023 league title on Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. in a contest that will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The winner will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
#AEMLAX Semifinals Recap
#4 UAlbany 10, #1 Vermont 4
- The Great Danes snapped an eight-game losing streak to the top seeded Catamounts as they advanced to the program’s America East record 16th championship game appearance.
- Vermont scored first, but wouldn’t lead against as UAlbany responded with four of the next five goals to grab a 4-2 advantage early in the second quarter.
- UAlbany allowed the Catamounts to tie it up 4-4 with 5:19 left in the second, but held Vermont scoreless over the final 35 minutes of action while scoring six times to pull out the victory.
- Tommy Heller was a star in between the pipes with 19 saves, including 12 in the second half without allowing a goal.
- America East Defensive Player of the Year Jake Piseno helped hold Vermont’s top two scorers to just a pair of assists.
- Freshman Silas Richmond led the Great Dane scoring attack with five goals, including four in the second half.
#2 Bryant 12, #3 Binghamton 11
- The Bulldogs won their first-ever America East Championship contest to advance to their first title game.
- Bryant goalkeeper Teagan Alexander made the last of his 11 saves with 34 seconds left to preserve the win.
- The two teams each scored four times in the first quarter, including three by Bryant’s Aiden Goltz.
- The Bulldogs outscored the Bearcats, 5-2, in the third quarter to take a 9-6 lead into halftime.
- Binghamton tied the contest 9-9 by scoring the first three goals of the third quarter with two goals by Ethan Insinga and one by America East Offensive Player of the Year Thomas Greenblatt.
- The game was tied 10-10 when Connor McMahon gave Bryant a lead at 3:33 into the fourth quarter, which it would not relinquish.
- Goltz led the way with four goals, while Insinga had three and an assist for Binghamton.
The Great Danes are seeking their 10 league title and first since 2018 while the Bulldogs, who are in their first season as a league member, aim for their first.
Stay up-to-date on the tournament by visiting Championship Central for ticket information, streaming and live stats links, box scores, highlights and recaps following the semifinals in addition to team information, tournament history and more.
Follow @AmericaEast and @AEGameDay on Twitter to get the real-time championship updates. Use the #AEChamps and #AEMLAX hashtags to join the conversation.
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 -