UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse Team Secures Automatic Qualifier for NCAA Tournament
The UAlbany men’s lacrosse team is heading to the NCAA tournament after winning the America East championship. The Great Danes secured an automatic qualifier and will play one more game at home this season. They will face Sacred Heart in the opening round game at Casey Stadium. Jake Piseno, a graduate long-stick midfielder, expressed his team’s desire to continue their journey to South Bend and spend more time together.
Sacred Heart earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament after going undefeated in the MAAC and winning the conference title. Head coach Scott Marr acknowledged the strength of their opponent, emphasizing the importance of respecting their competition and staying focused. The matchup between UAlbany and Sacred Heart will mark their first ever meeting, with both teams eager to prove themselves on the field.
Coach Marr addressed his team during practice to ensure they were prepared for the upcoming game. The Great Danes have made 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament before this year, but haven’t played since 2018. They secured their 10th America East title after defeating Vermont in the championship game. Looking ahead, the focus is on being 1-0 in their next game against Sacred Heart. The winner of this matchup will face Notre Dame, who are number one overall seed and defending national champions, in South Bend in a first round game scheduled for 7 p.m on Wednesday at Casey Stadium