Men's Lacrosse

#AEMLAX Week 10: UAlbany Clinches Regular Season Title

BOSTON – UAlbany outscored Vermont 7-2 in the second quarter to secure a win over the Catamounts on Saturday and clinch the outright regular season title and hosting duties for the upcoming 2026 #AEMLAX Championship.
 
Need to Know:
  • In Saturday’s matchup between the top-two teams, Vermont jumped out to a 2-0 lead. UAlbany responded with a 7-2 edge in the second to take the lead for good, and never let the lead lower than two on the way to a 12-9 win.
  • UAlbany clinched its second regular season title in the past three seasons and then two-time defending champions will host the conference tournament April 30 – May 2.
  • UMBC won its third straight, taking down Binghamton 14-8. The Retrievers outscored the Bearcats 8-2 in the second half to secure the win, led by Ryan Demato’s six points (3g, 3a).
  • NJIT continued its strong season, outlasting UMass Lowell 10-8 at home. The River Hawks pulled within one three times in the fourth but the Highlanders extended the lead back to two each time.
  • Bryant earned a dominant 17-6 win over Iona on Saturday.
  • UMass Lowell ranks 5th in the nation in face-off percentage at 61.1%. Justin Alexander is also 4th nationally in ground balls per game at 8.5 and 7th in face-off % (63.7).
  • Vermont’s Walter Zhao leads the nation in face-off percentage (70.0) and is 3rd in ground balls (9.2) while the Catamounts rank third as a team (63.3%). Jack Combs is 9th in CT per game (2.2)
  • Silas Richmond ranks 2nd in the nation in points per game (5.36) and 11th in assists per game (2.4) while the Great Danes are 6th in CT per game (10.36).
  • Binghamton’s Connor Winters is 5th nation in saves per game (13.6) while also ranking 11th  in save percentage (56.0).
  • NJIT’s Cameron Kurdyla is 1st in the nation in saves per game (14.5) and 13th in save percentage (55.4).
 
Up Next:
  • On Tuesday, UAlbany hosts Siena in a big non-conference matchup at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, UMBC could clinch a playoff spot with a win over NJIT, while the Highlanders look to get over .500.
  • Vermont travels to UMass Lowell looking for its third win, while Bryant seeks a crucial conference victory over Binghamton.
  • UAlbany battles No. 17 Yale on Saturday, who just beat No. 5 Harvard over the weekend.

#AEMLAX Weekly Award Winners – Apr. 13
Offensive Player of the Week
Silas Richmond, UAlbany – Sr., Attack, Delta, B.C.
  • Recorded four goals and two assists as UAlbany clinched the regular season title, 12-9 over Vermont.
  • All four of his goals were unassisted and he added one ground ball.
  • This is Richmond’s third #AEMLAX Player of the Week honor this season.
 
Defensive Player of the Week
Max Neeson, UAlbany – Sr., Defense, Pottstown, Pa.
  • Registered two caused turnovers and two ground balls while helping to hold Vermont’s top three scorers to just 2 combined goals in a 12-9 win.
  • Added a pair of goals, one in the final minute of each half which gave UAlbany three-goal leads.
  • This is Neeson’s second #AEMLAX Defensive Player of the Week honor this season.
 
Goalkeeper of the Week
Cameron Kurdyla, NJIT – Sr., Goalkeeper, Stevensville, Md.
  • Made a career-high 21 saves and gave up just 10 goals in a 10-8 win over UMass Lowell.
  • Posted .724 save percentage and the 21 saves are tied for 6th most in the NCAA this year.
  • This is Kurdyla’s third #AEMLAX Goalkeeper of the Week honor this year.
 
Face-Off Specialist of the Week
Walter Zhao, Vermont – Jr., FO, Millstone, N.J.
  • Won 19-of-22 face-offs with a career-high 17 ground balls in a 12-9 loss to UAlbany.
  • The 17 ground balls is tied for the 4th most in the NCAA this season.
  • This is Zhao's fifth #AEMLAX Faceoff Specialist honor this season.
 
Rookie of the Week
Blake Piscitiello, NJIT – Fr., Attack, Lakeville, Minn.
  • Posted three goals and three assists in a 10-8 victory over UMass Lowell.
  • Ranks 2nd nationally among freshmen in points (55), goals (30) and assists (25).
  • This is Piscitiello’s fourth #AEMLAX Rookie of the Week honor.
  
 #AEMLAX Links
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of the #AEMLAX this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.

Follow the @AmericaEast on X to stay up-to-date on America East men's lacrosse news all season long and use #AEMAX to join the conversation.
 
2026 #AEMLAX Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 9 – Offensive Player of the Week: Blake Piscitiello, NJIT; Defensive Player of the Week: Sullivan O'Brien, NJIT; Goalkeeper of the Week: Cameron Kurdyla, NJIT; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Nirio Garcia, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Blake Piscitiello, NJIT
Feb. 16 – Offensive Player of the Week: Jackson Palumb, UAlbany; Defensive Player of the Week: Justin Lee, UAlbany; Goalkeeper of the Week: Connor Winters, Binghamton; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Walter Zhao, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Zack Toll, Vermont
Feb. 23 – Offensive Player of the Week: Silas Richmond, UAlbany; Defensive Player of the Week: Jackson Schlicker, UMass Lowell; Goalkeeper of the Week: James Carr Bryant; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Justin Alexander, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Cade Lennon, Bryant
Mar. 2 – Offensive Player of the Week: Zack Toll, Vermont; Defensive Player of the Week: Dante Marinello, UMBC; Goalkeeper of the Week: Connor Winters, Binghamton; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Walter Zhao, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Zack Toll, Vermont
Mar. 9 – Offensive Player of the Week: Silas Richmond, UAlbany; Defensive Player of the Week: Luke Mead, Bryant; Goalkeeper of the Week: James Carr Bryant; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Walter Zhao, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Blake Piscitiello, NJIT
Mar. 16 – Offensive Player of the Week Andrew Girolamo, Binghamton; Defensive Player of the Week: Jack Combs, Vermont; Goalkeeper of the Week: Ryan Daly, Vermont; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Alex Steers, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Zack Toll, Vermont
Mar. 23 - Offensive Player of the Week: Zac Amend, Bryant; Defensive Player of the Week: Max Neeson, UAlbany; Goalkeeper of the Week: Cameron Kurdyla, NJIT; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Flynn Wilson, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Carson Piscitiello, NJIT
Mar. 30 – Offensive Player of the Week: Max Frattaroli, Vermont; Defensive Player of the Week: Eddie Schwasnick, Vermont; Goalkeeper of the Week: Brady Smith, UAlbany; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Walter Zhao, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Zack Toll, Vermont
April 6 – Offensive Player of the Week: Owen West, Bryant; Defensive Player of the Week: Jacob Smith, UAlbany; Goalkeeper of the Week: Connor McMahon, UMBC; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: JJ Murphy, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Blake Piscitiello, NJIT
April 13 - Offensive Player of the Week: Silas Richmond, UAlbany; Defensive Player of the Week: Max Neeson, UAlbany; Goalkeeper of the Week: Cameron Kurdyla, NJIT; Faceoff Specialist of the Week: Walter Zhao, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Blake Piscitiello, NJIT
 
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