The Stony Brook (SB) Seawolves Men’s Lacrosse team was defeated by the University of Virginia (UVA) Cavaliers on Saturday by a score of 15-7. Most of the first half was very close, but SBU melted down afterwards, failing to score for over 38 minutes straight. This was the first game for SBU, which went 8-7 last year. Virginia, which went a perfect 17-0 in their national title campaign last year, improved its record to 1-1. 2,262 came out to LaValle Stadium on a cold day to see the game.
The game represented Head Coach Rick Sowell’s maiden effort at the helm of SBU Men’s Lacrosse, something he’s been ‘very excited’ about since the August press conference announcing his hiring.
Just over’ two minutes in, SB took the first goal of the game, with the unassisted score coming from junior midfielder, Rhys Duch. UVA scored two goals, and SB’ one more, to tie it at’ two midway through the first quarter. The Cavaliers scored’ three more goals to wrap up the first quarter with a 5-2 lead.
In the early stages of the second quarter, SB showed some strength, with goals from Bo Tripodi, Ryan Hughes, and Robert Trenkle. Tripodi would finish the game with goals and an assist. UVA scored only one goal during SBU’s 3-goal run. However, the Trenkle goal, scored with 9:47 left in the second, would be the last one the Seawolves would score until 1:01 left in the game. UVA scored one more goal in the second to go into halftime with a 7-5 lead.
After the break, Virginia completely shut down the Seawolves. scoring 3 unanswered goals, with the first’ 2 coming from Danny Glading. UVA’s offense was strong at this point, clearing the ball 7 of 7 times. SB was recorded as clearing 7 of 9 times, but Sowell feels that the statistics are ‘misleading,’ adding that his definition of clearing includes the team staying on offense.
In the final 15 minutes of the game, UVA scored 5 more goals, to put them up 15-5. Two of the goals came from Jack Riley, who came off the bench to score 4 goals. In the final minutes of the game, UVA changed goalies, and SB scored two goals in the last 1:01, with the goals coming from Tripodi and Taylor Eason.
SB goalkeeper Brendan Callahan had a rough day, making 19 saves, but having 15 goals going against him, including 4 from UVA’s Glading. The two Maryland natives have known each other since high school. The Seawolves also turned the ball over 18 times compared to 13 from UVA. UVA outshot SBU, 42-29.
The game was a homecoming of sorts for 5 UVA players, most notably seniors Ricky Smith, Drew Thompson, with the 5 players all hailing from Long Island. On the’ SB side, more than half the team is from Long Island, including several players from nearby towns of Port Jefferson Station and Setauket.
Sowell didn’t pin all of the blame for the loss on Virginia, saying, ‘we left some goals out there,’ and mentioning their problems clearing the ball, which has been a strength during the preseason. He expressed confidence about their upcoming games, and saying that the team went in with ’13 guaranteed opportunities.’
Callahan said, ‘Virginia kept getting chance after chance,’ reiterating that SBU handed their opponents some opportunities, which they capitalized on.
Last year, the two teams played in Virginia, and the Cavaliers came out winners, by a score of 17-4. At times, things looked better than last year for SB, and at times they seemed just as bad. Sowell says that next year, they’ll head south to face Virginia once more. This game marked the first time in 7 years that UVA Lacrosse traveled to Long Island. They are now 4-0 all-time against SB, though the margins of victory have shrank from 21, to 14, to 13, and finally to 8.
The Seawolves return to action on Saturday, when they host Harvard, ranked 19th in the nation last year. The game begins at 1PM, at LaValle Stadium.
