Looking to remain in the race for the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular-season title, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team squeezed out a much-needed victory.
With the conference season winding down, the Seawolves (9-3-3, 4-1-2 CAA) faced the Delaware Blue Hens (6-6-3, 4-2-1 CAA) on Sunday. Behind an explosive offensive effort, Stony Brook took home a 3-2 victory and is now tied for second in the CAA standings, trailing first-place Elon by a single point.
The Seawolves struck first from the penalty spot in the 36th minute, as a foul from Delaware defender Ava Sallee on midfielder Gabby Daniels gave Stony Brook a golden opportunity, which forward Reilly Rich converted to put the team up 1-0.
Without giving the Blue Hens room to breathe, the Seawolves struck again in the 37th minute. Midfielder Kristina Garcia dispossessed Delaware midfielder Maggie Holloway and found herself with room to run into. After racing down the field, Garcia found forward Hannah Maracina, who struck a shot that Delaware goalkeeper Kyla Burns had no chance to stop, doubling Stony Brook’s lead.
After not doing much offensively in the first half, as the Blue Hens were outshot 18-2 through the opening 45 minutes, they woke up in the latter period. In the 58th minute, Delaware midfielder Morgan Tilley linked up with midfielder Brooke Vogel on a long pass. In a footrace with defender Sammy Hannwacker, Vogel was the first to the ball and fired a shot past goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella to cut her side’s deficit in half.
However, the Seawolves promptly responded. From a corner kick in the 68th minute, Daniels tapped in a cross from defender Emanuelly Ferreira to reinstate Stony Brook’s two-goal advantage.
Still, the Blue Hens provided late-game dramatics through a corner of their own. In the 83rd minute, Delaware midfielder Gabby Riley took the kick and placed the ball amidst a frenzy of bodies in the Seawolves’ box. Delaware forward Olivia Bley was the chaos’ beneficiary, as she connected on a strike that found the back of the net past Pasquarella’s outstretched hands.
In the 87th minute, Delaware defender Paige Kenton had the Blue Hens’ best opportunity to equalize at three goals apiece, but Pasquarella stuffed an attempt from her.
Although the second half was more even than the first, Stony Brook still dominated. It outshot the Blue Hens 25 (10 shots on goal) to seven (five shots on goal).
Pasquarella finished with three saves. Conversely, Burns was the busier goalkeeper, as she stopped seven attempts.
The Seawolves will return to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Sunday for a matchup against the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks. The Seahawks — who are 4-6-5 overall and 2-2-3 in the CAA in 2024 — are fresh off a scoreless draw against Towson. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.