In a game with heavy playoff implications, the Stony Brook men’s lacrosse team suffered its worst loss of the season.
The Seawolves (5-6, 1-3 CAA) traveled south to take on the Delaware Blue Hens (6-4, 2-2 CAA) on Saturday. After allowing the game’s first six goals, Stony Brook was unable to dig itself out of the steep hole, eventually falling 17-9.
With three Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) regular season contests remaining, the Seawolves no longer control their own playoff destiny with this defeat.
Delaware attackman Finn Morgan was the first Blue Hen to beat goalkeeper Jamison MacLachlan, doing so through a hard shot into the top left corner. For the hosts’ second goal, attackman Brendan Powers crashed the crease for the score. After his tally was initially called off by the officials, Delaware head coach Ben DeLuca’s challenge reversed the call, making it 2-0. The Blue Hens’ offensive flurry continued thereafter with a laser from midfielder Hank D’Ambrogi.
After going up by three 5:15 into the affair, Delaware kept its foot on the gas pedal. Its second straight three-goal stretch began with midfielder John McCurry earning space in the left alley and pumping a side arm shot into the back of the net. On the Blue Hens’ next possession, they went back to D’Ambrogi, who set up in the right alley. He loaded up a low-to-high shot and buried it, putting his team up 5-0.
Following a defensive stop, Delaware got the rock back to its raging hot attack. Attackman Cory Capri scanned his options at X and elected to feed McCurry who was out wide in the left alley. After receiving the pass, McCurry took a couple of steps toward the net, faked a shot, quickly scrambled to a new angle and let loose a side arm shot to the right side of the goal, beating MacLachlan.
With 4:40 left in the opening period, Stony Brook was down 6-0 and its star goaltender had made just a single stop. However, MacLachlan improved as the game went on, finishing with 14 saves in 49:31 played. This rise gave the Seawolves a window back into the game, and they responded with the next two goals.
However, the Blue Hens scored another before the frame’s end and outscored Stony Brook 3-1 in the second quarter for a 10-3 advantage at the halftime break.
The Seawolves somewhat leveled the playing field in the second half, but it was not even close to enough to overcome the early deficit. Before tallying the contest’s final two scores, they were down 17-7 in an all-around rough loss.
Head coach Anthony Gilardi did not speak to the media after the game.
Stony Brook was outshot 49 (34 shots on goal) to 41 (24 shots on goal).
The Seawolves won the ground ball (29-28) and face-off (15-13) battles but were -8 (10-18) in the turnover differential.
Midfielder Collin Williamson led Stony Brook’s offense with a hat trick. Attackman Justin Bonacci scored twice, pushing his season total to 15, already surpassing his freshman total of 14. Attackman Ray O’Brien and midfielders Caleb Yeung, Tanner Williams and Kian McCoy tallied a goal apiece.
FOGO Robbie Smith continued his phenomenal year against two of the best FOGOs in the conference. Delaware’s O.J. Morris (.701) and Logan Premtaj (.548) rank first and fourth, respectively, in the league in face-off percentage with a minimum 20 reps. Despite that, Smith went 11-for-21 on face-offs and FOGO Chris Esposito also starred by winning four of his six tries.
Delaware goaltender Kevin Ellington had an outstanding day, posting 15 saves and conceding seven of his team’s nine allowed goals for a .682 save percentage — his third-best mark of 2025. Up the field, Morgan and McCurry spearheaded the Blue Hens’ offensive charge with a hat trick each.
Stony Brook will look to bounce back next week, when it hosts the Monmouth Hawks at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. The Hawks are 4-7 overall and also 1-3 in CAA play after losing 12-10 to Towson. However, contrary to the Seawolves, they have already played against Hampton, the conference’s worst team. Opening face-off is scheduled for noon on Saturday.
