This weekend was a busy one for local college sports teams.

It was University at Albany coach Bob Ford's final home game. The Great Danes lost to New Hampshire, but that was only part of the story.

To the left is a picture page from Coach Ford's final game in the city of Albany.

Also in college football, RPI reclaimed the Dutchman Shoes, by beating Union, 31-28.

The Union/RPI rivalry didn't stop at football. The Skating Dutchmen extracted some revenge for their school, sweeping the Engineers in two game.

The Saint Rose women's soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 for an incredible ninth straight year, defeating Adelphi on Sunday. 

Also, the Saint Rose men's basketball team defeated Felician.

In college basketball, Siena nearly pulled off a huge upset against La Salle, a program that reached the Sweet 16 last season.

UAlbany lost its first game of the season, falling at Quinnipiac on Saturday.

Columnist Steve Amedio writes about the UAlbany women's basketball team, which is coming off possibly the biggest victory in school history, knocking off perennial power Marist.

Below is Ford addressing the crowd following his final home game after 44 years as the program's head coach. 

J.S. Carras/The Record

The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team has built quite the tradition.

The Golden Knights haven't allowed a goal in 12 games this season and are ranked No. 3 in the country, as they try to keep their streak of five straight Final Fours in tact -- and add to it.

Here is a link to a story that ran in Sunday's paper about the team's great start to the season -- even by their standards.

The defense is led by senior goalie Jessica Gerski (right), who hasn't allowed a goal all year and has been the starting keeper, since transferring in for her sophomore season.

There is no doubt the Golden Knights are one of the premier programs in the country.

The team won a national title in 2011 and have an incredible 141-11-9 record over the past seven years under coach Laurie Darling Gutheil. 

J.S. Carras/The Record

Mike Long will be the next head men's basketball coach at Hudson Valley Community College.

Long was most recently an assistant coach for Brian Beaury at The College of Saint Rose, but has been coaching basketball for four decades.

"Mike Long is a great choice to take over as the next head men's basketball coach at Hudson Valley Community College," Beaury said. "He is a man with great values and impeccable integrity whose only flaw is he's loyal to a fault."

Long replaces Ken Dagostino, who left in June to take a position at Ave Maria, in Florida.

Long, who has three Hall of Fame inductions, has coached at Saint Rose, Sage College, Christian Brothers Academy and Siena, his alma mater, where he was the JV coach.

The basketball court at Saint Rose is named after him, as he is considered the father of Saint Rose basketball.

"We have chosen an individual to lead our program whose basketball successes and accolades are prolific," said Hudson Valley Community College Director of Athletics Kristan Pelletier. "Throughout these successes and tenures of excellence, he has demonstrated his ability and commitment to instill character and values in student-athletes. The members of our men's basketball program will be better athletes, better students, and most importantly better men after playing for Coach Long."

The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team is in the Division II Sweet 16, for the fifth consecutive season.

The defending champs are just two wins away from advancing to their fifth straight Final Four.

Here is a link to my story on the team, which next takes on Dowling College, on Friday, in West Chester, Pa.

J.S. Carras/The Record

We are off and running for the college basketball season.

Below are links from stories that appeared in Saturday's paper. 

Free-throw shooting dooms Siena

Siena's first-year coach Ali Jaques wins debut

Troy High's Javion Ogunyemi says the winner is...Siena

UAlbany makes clutch plays down the stretch to win opener

Saint Rose coach Brian Beaury vows Knights will be better

In the biggest upset on election day, No. 25 Syracuse didn't look good on Tuesday night and it cost them as the Orange fell to Division II Le Moyne 82-79 in an exhibition game at the Carrier Dome.

Le Moyne plays in the Northeast-10 Conference along with The College of Saint Rose.

Syracuse plays their first regular season game against the University at Albany on Monday night.

The game will be televised on ESPNU.

Do you think this gives the Great Danes a better chance against the Orange.

My feeling is that coach Jim Boeheim will be grinding it into his players heads for the next week.

Boeheim will be looking for his 800th victory on Monday.