News & notes

 Burnt Hills may be one of the dominant teams in Section II women's volleyball, but their run of success in Glens Falls came to a crashing end Friday.

The Lady Spartans could not get out of pool play on Friday, and were eliminated from the Class A tournament. As of now, Shenendehowa (Class AAA) & Mekeel Christian (Class D) are still alive in pool play taking place today.

Burnt Hills' men, and Shenendehowa's, are currently alive in pool play as well.

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We wrote yesterday that Cornwall had already beaten two Section II teams in football this season.

Make it three.

The Dragons upset Niskayuna, 34-28, at Colonie Friday night to advance to the state semi-finals next week. Nisky had a chance to win with 4 seconds left in regulation, but a last second pass went nowhere.

Conversely, Class D champion Greenwich blew out Moriah, 51-6, to advance to the semi-finals.

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Troy sophomore Kyair Carr, despite the Flying Horses losing the Class A Super Bowl last week, was named WNYT's Athlete of The Week, the 2nd such honor this season (The Albany Times-Union similarly honored Carr last month). 

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Siena regained the Albany Cup in men's basketball Friday, routing UAlbany, 73-63. The Saints (3-2) placed four players in double figures, led by Tasman Goodrick with 19. Brendan Coyle (Nisky) added 13. Marcus Jackson, playing against his former team, was held scoreless in 4 minutes. Riley Mulvey did not play (coach's decision). Siena will hit the road to play Holy Cross on Monday. UAlbany (2-4) is now idle until Black Friday when they begin a weekend road trip in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

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The Tri-City Valleycats not only picked up the option on manager Greg Tagert for 2026, but gave him a 3 year contract extension. The extension is actually through the 2028 season.

Meanwhile, two-way player Cam Jones won't return in 2026. Jones instead is taking a job as a outfield & base running coach in the Atlanta Braves organization.

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It wasn't a good day for RPI Friday.

The women's basketball team dropped a 70-58 decision to Nazareth. Men's ECAC hockey fell to 3-10 with a 2-1 loss to Colgate. Women's hockey also lost to Colgate, 5-2. The Engineers will play Cornell today, with the women at home at Houston Field House (3 pm).

Union's men lost to Cornell, 2-1, while the women defeated the Big Red, 4-3, at M & T Bank Mohawk Harbor Arena. The Lady Chargers host Colgate today at 3.

News & notes

 Soccer season is officially over at Siena.

The Saints went 1-&-done in the NCAA's after falling to Seton Hall on penalty kicks Thursday. The Pirates & Saints went to a 1-1 draw through overtime to force the penalty kick shootout.

Now, the students can focus on tonight's Albany Cup basketball clash vs. UAlbany at MVP Arena (WTMM, WJMZ, 7 pm), as Gerry McNamara's club will try to snap a 2 game losing streak. The Great Danes have held the men's cup the last two years, but can't seem to win away from Broadview Center, a malady that also plagues the 3-2 women's team.

Too bad it ain't on TV,  but it should be.

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The state football regionals aren't on TV, either, as Spectrum News 1 ended their broadcast season for football last week. Budgets, you know. A quick look at the 5 games involving Section II schools.

Class AA: Saratoga vs. Middletown (Saturday at 3:30, Colonie High): Middletown came all the way from a 1-4 start to collect an at-large bid out of Section 9. Saratoga is hot right now, and will advance.

Class A: Niskayuna vs. Cornwall (Tonight at 7:30, Colonie High): Cornwall has beaten 2 Section 2 teams already this season (Burnt Hills, Ballston Spa). It's not going to be 3, not with Nisky on a Blues Brothers-style "mission from God".

Class B: Glens Falls vs. Ogdensburg (Saturday at noon, Colonie): Just another road block for the Black Bears to toss aside.

Class C: Schuylerville vs. Saranac (Saturday at noon, Plattsburgh): Don't bet against the Black Horses advancing.

Class D: Greenwich vs. Moriah (Today at 4, Colonie): The wind won't be calling for Moriah today. 

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The only other college result from Thursday saw Union drop a heartbreaker to Middlebury, 73-72. The records of both teams have not been updated at press time.

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The Turkey Trot in Troy, taking place next week, is now being managed by the same folks in charge of the CDPHP Workforce Challenge, which took place back in May.

ARE Event Promotions, under the direction of Josh Merlis, takes over the race this year after the city decided not to renew the contract of previous promoter George Regan. As of yesterday, nearly 5500 people have registered for the race. Mayor Carmella Mantello is expecting as many as 7500 from more than 35 states, but if there were any issues between her & Regan, leading to the latter's departure, it might end up costing her the goal.

You know what they say about fixing something that isn't broken? Someone needs to explain that to the Mayor, and, for all we know, she might suit up to run. After all, she ran in a Mayors Race at Bruno Stadium in 2024........

News & notes

Azera Gates (Albany High) made her Siena debut Wednesday night in the women's Albany Cup. However, Gates went scoreless in 5 minutes of game action. As bad as things have been for the Lady Saints so far this season, coach Terry Primm may have little choice but to put Gates, a multi-sport athlete (basketball, flag football) at Albany, into the starting lineup to put some fresh energy in at the start.

As it was, not a single Siena player cracked double figures, led by Francesca Schiro & Caydence Hadley with 8 points each, as UAlbany reclaimed the women's cut in a 67-42 rout before 1631 fans at Broadview Center. Valencia Fontanelle-Posson (Guilderland) had 4 points in 15 minutes. Bella Stuart (Shen/New Hampshire) had 3 in 13 minutes for the Lady Danes (3-2). Siena falls to 0-5.
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Last month, we told you about LaSalle's Moira Galuski, who was named the youngest Player of Impact by the American Cancer Society.

Earlier this week, the Society recognized Galuski's fundraising work here in the 518, and she was named as the most successful in the recent fundraising drive. Congratulations, Moira.

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Claire Hutton (Bethlehem) has been recalled for the 6th time by the US Women's National Soccer Team for an upcoming series of matches vs. Italy. Claire recently completed her 2nd season with the Kansas City Current in the pros.

News & notes

 A case can be made for Siena University looking too far ahead to Friday's Albany Cup game vs. UAlbany.

On Monday, the Saints fell to Colgate, 72-69, on a last second 3 point shot from midcourt, to drop to 2-2. Francis Folefac led Siena with 16 points. Gavin Doty added 14. Brendan Coyle (Niskayuna) was held to 6 points on a cold shooting night (2-11 from the field, including 1-8 on 3 pointers).

Friday's game can be heard on WTMM & WJMZ beginning at 7 pm.

Meanwhile, the Siena women are still looking for their first win of the year, as they visit Broadview Arena for the women's edition of the Albany Cup tonight (WVCR, 6:30 pm). The game also kicks off a 3 game road trip that also includes stops at Rutgers & Cornell. Monday's game vs. the Scarlet Knights will be streamed on Big 10+.

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UAlbany warmed up for the men's Albany Cup by beating up on another team of tomato cans, this time from Paul Smith's College, 106-57, Tuesday at Broadview Center. The Bobcats emptied their bench, as all 16 players on their roster saw time.

UAlbany placed 5 players in double figures, led by Nas Muhammad with 21 points.

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In other UAlbany news, the school has already decided Jared Ambrose will not be the full-time football coach, as it was reported in the Albany Times-Union that the school is already initiating a national search for the next coach. UAlbany finishes its season Saturday, completing a 2 year freefall after reaching the FCS semi-finals 2 years ago.

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WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, aka Triple H, took the time while WWE was in town on Friday to check out the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, housed inside MVP Arena. The museum has been featured on the now defunct A & E series, WWE's Most Wanted Treasures. The fan within the "Cerebral Assassin" was impressed with the museum. Levesque has long wanted to build a physical location for WWE's own Hall of Fame, and one day may finally get that opportunity.

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The rest of Tuesday's college action:

Women's basketball:

RPI 73, Williams College 70.

Russell Sage 67, St. Joseph's (Connecticut) 56.

News & notes

 After getting shut out of winning state titles in men's soccer, Section II was able to collect some gold in women's soccer & field hockey on Sunday. To wit:

Women's soccer:

Stillwater defeated Tuckahoe, 1-0, to claim the Class C title.

Field hockey:

Burnt Hills won the Class B title, defeating Vestal, 1-0.

The pairings have been finalized for football state regionals, with play starting on Friday:

Class AA:

Saratoga hosts Middletown at Colonie, Saturday at 3:30 pm.

Class A:

Niskayuna hosts Cornwall at Colonie, Friday at 7:30 pm.

Class B:

Glens Falls will play Ogdensburg Free Academy at Colonie, Saturday at noon.

Class C:

Schuylerville will play Saranac at Plattsburgh, Saturday at 1 pm.

Class D:

Greenwich hosts Moriah at Colonie, Friday at 4 pm.

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Lost amidst this is the fact that Taconic Hills is representing Section 2 in 8-man regionals. Taconic Hills defeated Tupper Lake, 17-6, on Friday. They'll next play Morrisville-Eaton at SUNY-Morrisville, on Saturday at noon.

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In men's volleyball, Shenendehowa & Burnt Hills go right into pool play, starting on Saturday. Shen will be at Roberts-Wesleyan College, while the Spartans will play at Finger Lakes Community College. Play begins at 9 am at both venues.

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Sunday's college scores:

Men's basketball:

Wheaton 60, RPI 56.

Women's basketball:

Dartmouth 65, Siena 55. The Lady Saints start 0-4 again.

Men's hockey:

Oswego 3, Skidmore 1.

Men's soccer:

MAAC finals:

Siena 2, Sacred Heart 1.

The rest of Saturday's high school & college scoreboard, 11/15

 High schools:

Women's volleyball:

Class AA:

Yorktown 3, Columbia 2.

Class A:

Burnt Hills 3, Homer 0. The Spartans move into pool play vs. Islip, Williamsville South, & Southside, Saturday at 2 at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls.

Class B:

Westhill 3, Ichabod Crane 0.

Men's soccer:

Class AAA:

Fairport 4, Guilderland 0.

Class A:

Rye 4, Glens Falls 0.

Class C:

North Salem 4, Maple Hill 1.

Women's soccer:

Class A:

Rye 6, Schalmont 0.

Class C:

Stillwater 2, Burke Catholic 1. Stillwater plays for the title today vs. Tuckahoe at 12:30 pm.

Class D:

Chazy 1, Fort Ann 0.

Colleges:

Football:

Towson 36, UAlbany 19.

Women's basketball:

Rhode Island 64, UAlbany 52. Colleen Mullen was only able to use 8 players in the game due likely to injuries. Bella Stuart (Shen) had 2 points in 8 minutes.

Men's hockey:

RPI 2, UMass-Lowell 0.

Union 6, New Hampshire 0.

Women's hockey:

RPI 3, Robert Morris 2. The Lady Engineers completed a 2 game sweep.

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The state pairings for men's volleyball will be announced today, and posted tomorrow.

Blame it on the rain? (Saratoga vs. CBA, 11/15/25)

 Christian Brothers Academy was looking to reach rarefied air, driving for 5 Section II titles in a row. Mother Nature, and Saratoga, had other ideas.

10 years ago, Terry Jones led the Blue Streaks to their last sectional title. Bob Burns and Troy High were screwed in the Class A game, losing to Amsterdam by some sketchy officiating in the 2nd half. Now, Burns was finishing his 5th season at CBA, and Eric Hayden, in his 3rd year, was looking to take Saratoga back to the promised land.

However, the game was delayed by an hour due to lightning, which also delayed some state soccer regionals, which meant the teams would have to play in a driving rainstorm that showed no signs of stopping any time soon. 

The game finally started shortly after 8 pm, with Saratoga taking the opening kickoff. However, after both teams had gone 3-&-out, and both shanked punts, Saratoga drew first blood, as quarterback Bobby Morris, with Ben Coryea as his lead blocker, raced 45 yards to the house, his 2nd touchdown in as many weeks on the ground. However, Olivia Mancini missed the the extra point, and it was 6-0.

Back came CBA, but again, they were forced to punt. Not too long after, Coryea rambled for 46 yards for a score. A subsequent 2 point conversion gave the Streaks a 14-0 lead through the 1st quarter.

As the 2nd quarter began, CBA was now without star running back Thomas Tohre, knocked from the game with an undisclosed injury. Junior Madyx Jung took over, and had a coming out party, as he helped the Brothers down the field, culminating in Archie Jones running it in from a yard out. Teddy Gialanella added the extra point, and it was 14-7 Saratoga at the break.

CBA took the 2nd half kickoff, and it looked like they had a tying score, as Jung ran in from 12 yards, but it was negated by a motion penalty. Two plays and a penalty later, Jones fumbled the ball, and Saratoga recovered. However, the 3rd quarter ended without any scoring.

In the 4th quarter, Amare Cofill, pressed into service at running back with Tohre injured, scored a rare--for him, anyway---rushing touchdown, but Gialanella missed the extra point. One last CBA drive ended with a turnover on downs with under 90 seconds left, and the celebration was on. Saratoga ended a 10 year title drought in Class AA, 14-13.

Up next for the Streaks will be at large team Middletown, which lost to Monroe-Woodbury. The game will be right back at Colonie next Saturday at 3:30 pm.

Other scores:

Schuylerville repeated as Class C champ, 42-28, over Fonda-Fultonville.

Glens Falls retained the Class B title, blowing away Averill Park, 47-7. Ouch!

Union College regained the Dutchmen's Shoes from RPI, 28-21.