Capping off its spring break road trip to the mountains, the No. 19 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team registered its lowest goal total of the season, but a late-game call overshadowed all.
After beating Denver on Tuesday, the Seawolves (5-3, 1-0 CAA) made a short trip north to take on the Colorado Buffaloes (4-4) on Thursday. As Stony Brook tried to mount a late comeback, crucial official involvement down the stretch cost it a chance at victory, falling 7-6.
The Buffaloes controlled the opening half on the back of their defense. They held the Seawolves to just three goals and 10 shot attempts in the first 30 minutes. Highlighted by a pair of goals by midfielder Maddie Shoup and attacker Madeline Pisani, Colorado took a 5-3 advantage at the halftime break.
The hosts’ staunch endline continued into the back half, as the Buffaloes pitched a shutout in the third period. Nearly five minutes into the frame, Colorado midfielder Molly Reed found the back of the net off a feed from attacker Teagan Ryan to extend its lead to 6-3.
However, Stony Brook would not go down without a fight in the final quarter. Just forty seconds into the period, attacker Riley McDonald earned a free position shot and converted the chance with ease, cutting the Seawolves’ deficit to two goals. Two minutes later, midfielder Isabella Caporuscio got her own shot at a free position goal and also delivered to make it a one-goal contest.
Colorado punched back thereafter, with Pisani netting a free position goal of her own to reestablish her team’s two-goal advantage. With 6:21 left to play, Stony Brook got that score right back. On a lengthy possession, attacker Charlotte Wilmoth found midfielder Julia Fusco cutting in front of the net. Fusco received the pass and sniped a hard shot into the top left corner of the net, making it 7-6, which ultimately served as the affair’s final tally.
The Seawolves’ best opportunity to tie things up came with 3:21 remaining. McDonald squeezed past three defenders to open the space necessary to fire a shot. She went low, but Colorado goalkeeper Elena Oh was up to it, deflecting the would-be game-tyer wide while keeping her side ahead.
With less than two minutes left, the Buffaloes had possession, though with an expiring shot clock. After an errant pass, Stony Brook defender Alexa Constant fought for the ball when the buzzer sounded for the attacking set’s end. However, the officials called Constant for a violation for entering the restricted zone too early, even though it appeared she only did so after the horn.
After converging, the officials upheld the call to head coach Joe Spallina’s vexation. The call allowed Colorado to run out the timer and walk away with its second win of the year over a ranked opponent.
Spallina did not speak to the media after the game.
For the first time in 2025, the Seawolves were outshot in a game, as the Buffaloes attempted 26 shots (14 shots on goal) to their 22 (14 shots on goal).
Stony Brook finished +4 (17-13) on the turnover differential but continued its struggles in the circle, as Colorado controlled 12 draws to the visitors’ five.
The Seawolves’ six goals were the lowest they scored in a contest since 2022; their Elite Eight loss to North Carolina, when they found the back of the net just five times.
McDonald led Stony Brook’s attack with a hat trick. Caporuscio netted a pair while Fusco scored once. For the first time this season, the Seawolves’ leading scorer — Wilmoth — was kept off the scoring sheet. She did not even attempt a shot but did dish out the aforementioned assist.
Defender Avery Hines caused three turnovers. Behind her, goalkeeper Natalia Altebrando stopped seven shots for a .500 save percentage. Conversely, Oh saved eight attempts for a .571 save percentage.
Pisani spearheaded the Buffaloes’ offensive effort with a hat trick.
With its western trip now in the rear view mirror, Stony Brook will return to the east coast but remain on the road, taking on the Delaware Blue Hens on Sunday in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup. The Blue Hens are 5-3 and 1-0 in CAA play this year. They will host Drexel before taking on the Seawolves. Opening draw from Newark, Del. on Sunday is set for noon.
