“I’m just having fun dad” were the first words I heard uttered by Clifton Park golfer Nicole Criscone.

At the time she was a single-digit golfer, in age that is.

I had just taken up golf and was playing in an evening 9-hole league at Eagle Crest in Clifton Park. Criscone was at the practice green with her dad, Craig, chipping and putting, and starting to lose focus as kids (and golfers of all ages) are prone to do.

I’m not sure of the year, but it was before 2016, when she qualified as a 9-year-old and competed as a 10-year-old at Augusta National in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals Competition and met Justin Timberlake, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Her smile, ponytails and adorable golf outfit on a beautiful summer evening were memorable. And I would interview her, photograph her and feature her performances in my sports and golf columns for the next decade.

Her commitment to the game remains intact. Her smile is still bright; especially in pictures this week with seven days left of classes at Albany Academy and her drivers’ test approaching. The UAlbany women’s golf program and Criscone announced she formally committed to play golf for the Great Danes’ Division I program.

UAlbany coach Colleen Cashman summed up her junior and high school golf career for me on Friday.

“For many years now I’ve had my eyes on Nicole as a local golfer. It’s been fun to watch her grow up and into the special player that she is today,” Cash-man said.

I couldn’t agree more.

On Saturday, Criscone gave a nod to her dominating Albany Academy teammates and coach Sarah Adamowski. The Bears have captured all three sectional team titles contested as they took the 2022 season event by 100 strokes. Albany Academy for Girls prevailed in 2021 by 81 and won the 2019 event by 91 strokes.

“We all push each other to be better and we all have fun with each other. I honestly think we all help each other to become the best golfers we can be,” Criscone said, calling her golf teammates the most important people she’s ever met. “It’s so good to have your teammates on your side and I look forward to that for the next four years at UAlbany.”

Criscone was a stellar performer annually in junior and high school tournaments. As a senior she earned a second-place finish at the Colonial Council Tournament, finished third at the state qualifier and had the second-best round at the Section II team championships. She is a four-time Times Union first-team selection.

Her individual highlight came on the junior golf circuit: she tied for third at the American Junior Golf Association tournament at Chicopee (Mass.) Country Club in the summer of 2021, carding 71-69-76 (216) on the par-71 layout.

“That was a pretty awesome experience,” Cris-cone said. AJGA tournaments typically attract the sport’s top players nationally and internationally, vying for rankings, and to take home a trophy is a big deal.

After what she considered an off-year in 2022, Criscone has been working with PGA professional Scott Berliner, the 11-time NENYPGA Player of the Year from 2011-2021, who is now director of instruction at Glens Falls Country Club.

“I just have to keep practicing. I’m going to be out on the range a lot. Last year I was off a little bit and worked hard during the winter getting my swing as consistent as possible. In the next month or two my distance should be pretty good and the ball should be straight at the same time,” she said, looking forward to a return to form while utilizing her biggest asset: smacking 250-yard drives.

“She has a good understanding of her golf swing these days,” Cash-man said. “Coach Berliner has really helped shape her game recently and I’m looking forward to her coming in and pushing our current players next season for a spot in the starting lineup.”

“It’s always very special when you can keep a local kid local,” Cashman continued. “Someone everyone in the Albany area can root for.”

Criscone, who plans to study psychology with a minor in criminal justice, did her homework when choosing UAlbany.

“I’ve walked their tournaments a few times and they welcomed me as soon as I committed. I felt so comfortable with coach (Cashman) and the team and UAlbany already feels like a home to me,” she said.

A home close to home. And an opportunity for Capital Region golf fans to embrace collegiate golf. Sounds like fun.

▶› Joyceb10 bas-sett@gmail.com A @joyceb10bassett A timesunion.com/author/ joyce-bassett

ALBANY — Senior attack Jack Pucci, made team captain this week, scored four goals and the University at Albany men’s lacrosse team overpowered NJIT 13-7 on Saturday at Casey Stadium to take a major step toward qualifying for the America East Conference Tournament.

Peter Salit added a goal and three assists for the Great Danes (4-6, 3-2 league), who began the day tied for fourth in the standings. The top four teams qualify for the conference tournament.

“It was a must-win, there’s no question,” UAlbany coach Scott Marr said. “With everything that’s going on in the conference, you never know. You’ve got to take care of your own business.”

UAlbany broke a 3-3 tie in the second quarter with six consecutive goals, including a pair by Pucci, who has 20 for the season. Marr named Pucci captain this week for the remainder of the season after previously alternating the honor among seniors.

“His confidence level is really high right now and he’s playing smart,” Marr said. “He’s doing really good things with the ball. He’s understanding his dodging angles and how he has to get to the goal, getting his hands free to shoot against a pole. He’s really, really matured over the last year, so he’s been a tremendous leader.”

UAlbany goalie Jack VanValkenburgh had nine saves. NJIT dropped to 2-9 and 0-5.

The Great Danes host Yale on Friday in a non-league game before returning to America East play next Sunday against Merrimack at Casey Stadium.

Saturday’s game was preceded by a clinic run by former UAlbany lacrosse great Lyle Thompson and his brothers Jeremy and Jerome. His brother Miles, with whom Lyle shared the Tewaaraton Award in 2014, was unable to attend because of a family obligation.

ALBANY — The University at Albany men’s lacrosse team was warming up before Wednesday’s practice and coach Scott Marr could already tell something was wrong.

The excitement and energy just weren’t there, Marr said, even on a warm, sunny afternoon. He let his players know he wasn’t satisfied before they resumed the workout.

“It got better, but any student-athlete, these kids are here, they’re playing the sport that they love,” Marr said. “You have to be able to come out with enthusiasm. I said to them, ‘You’re not working (for a living), you’re not at war, you’re in college and this is the time to come out and have some fun and enjoy the time you have.’ A beautiful day like this and we come out kind of lethargic. How is this happening?”

Fighting just to qualify for the America East Conference playoffs, Marr is trying to get the Great Danes (3-6 overall, 2-2 league) to play with a consistency that has been elusive entering Saturday’s 3 p.m. home game against NJIT (2-8, 0-4) at Casey Stadium.

UAlbany is coming off a 20-16 loss at Bryant last Saturday. The Great Danes got off to a decent start before the Bulldogs exploded for 11 second-quarter goals to take a 15-4 halftime lead. Bryant capitalized on UAlbany’s 13 turnovers in the first half before the Great Danes improved in the second.

“We’re showing signs all year that we can play at a really good level when everybody’s engaged and playing,” Marr said. “But it’s the consistency that we’ve struggled with, making sure everybody’s prepared and ready to play each week. When you’re playing a team sport, if one or two guys are off, it can throw off your whole game.”

With three league games left, UAlbany is tied for fourth with UMBC. The Great Danes beat the Retrievers head-to-head. The top four seeds qualify for the America East Tournament with the No. 1 seed hosting. That should be the winner of Saturday’s game between America East co-leaders Bryant and Vermont in Burlington.

Marr said he figures the Great Danes need to win two out of three to qualify. UAlbany has missed the league tournament only once, in 2011.

“I”m hopeful,” senior attack Jack Pucci said. “I think we need to continue to grow and I think we need to continue to have practices like we did (Wednesday). There’s only been a game or two where we’ve put together a full four quarters.”

Marr said he will start Jack VanValkenburgh in goal against NJIT after pulling him for Tommy Heller in the second half against Bryant.

At halftime, UAlbany will honor former Great Danes stars Lyle and Miles Thompson, brothers who shared the 2014 Tewaaraton Award as the best players in college lacrosse. Lyle is playing for the Georgia Swarm on Saturday night against the Albany FireWolves in a National Lacrosse League game at MVP Arena.

The Thompsons, along with their brothers Jeremy and Jerome, will host a pregame clinic through their 4 the Future Foundation at 1 p.m. on UAlbany’s John Fallon Field. There is an autograph session at 2:15 p.m.

UAlbany women meet Binghamton for first place

The UAlbany women (7-6, 3-0) will play at Binghamton (9-4, 4-0) at noon Saturday in a battle for first place in the America East.

The Bearcats would clinch the No. 1 seed and host the tournament with a victory.

UAlbany has never lost to Binghamton. The Great Danes are 22-0 all-time against the Bearcats.

“I mean, Binghamton’s a great team this year,” UAlbany senior midfielder Sarah Falk said. “We respect them as a team so much, we know it’s going to be a huge game and we’ve just got to do our part.”

Binghamton is on a seven-game winning streak. UAlbany is coming off a 21-11 home loss to second-ranked Northwestern last Saturday.

“That was an incredible experience,” UAlbany coach Katie Thomson said. “The stands were packed and just a great environment to play in. ... We learned a lot from that game.”

Thomson said she was unaware UAlbany is undefeated against Binghamton.

“It’s a brand new year and brand new teams,” she said.

▶› msingelais@timesunion.com 518-454-5509 A @MarkSingelais

ALBANY — Jonathan Beagle, who excelled in his freshman season at the University at Albany but entered the transfer portal a month ago, will return to the men’s basketball team for the 2023-24 season, UAlbany announced in a statement Thursday.

Beagle, a Hudson Falls native, averaged 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and was named the America East Rookie of the Year. He was one of the highlights of a difficult season for the Great Danes, who finished 3-13 in the America East and missed the postseason.

“After much consideration, I have decided to stay at UAlbany for my sophomore season. My family, friends, and hometown mean so much to me, and I’m excited for what our program can accomplish next year. We have some unfinished business, and I can’t wait to get back to work,” Beagle said in the statement.

UAlbany said there would be no further comment from the team.

Beagle is one of four Great Danes who tested the portal waters after the end of the season. Gerald Drumgoole Jr., the team’s leading scorer, transferred to Delaware. Redshirt sophomore forward Japannah Kellogg, who transferred to UAlbany from the University at Wisconsin Green Bay, is now at Division II Concordia St. Paul. Junior guard Malik Edmead transferred back to Merrimack, where he played his first two seasons of college basketball.

The Great Danes picked up their first transfer earlier this week after graduate guard Tyler Bertram, formerly of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and America East rival Binghamton, committed to the team.

▶› Abigail.Rubel@- timesunion.com A @abigail_rubel