A well-placed free kick was all it took to push Sacred Heart past the Stony Brook men’s soccer team, 1-0, in the Seawolves home opener last night at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium in front of about 150 people.

In the 70th minute, the Pioneers’ Marcello Castro lined up a free kick from 30 yard out and made no mistake, sending it past a diving Stefan Manz to give the visitors the decisive advantage.

The Seawolves had plenty of the ball, but couldn’t convert, putting just five of 16 shots on goal. In the second half, junior Antonio Crespi rang a shot from 16 yards out off the goalpost.

It appeared that the pressure had paid off, however, just before the half. Following a scramble in the box, the ball rolled to junior Leonardo Fernandes, who slotted it into the open net as the clock ticked down to zero. The referee originally signaled a goal, but after conferring with the assistant referee the goal was taken off the board, leaving the teams scoreless at the half.

The loss marks the second straight for the Seawolves, who have had a rough nonconference season so far, winning just once in six tries.

They’ll get another crack on their home turf on Sunday, when Stony Brook plays host to Fairleigh Dickinson. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.