Setting the stage for playoff season, the No. 20 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team stripped a ranked Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) opponent in a high-stakes matchup.
On Friday evening, the Seawolves (12-4, 7-0 CAA) prevailed over the No. 21 Drexel Dragons at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium to win the CAA’s regular season for a third straight year. Despite a relatively close 17-13 final score, Stony Brook was never in trouble in what could have been a challenging contest, even having two chances at a running clock.
“It was a dominant performance,” head coach Joe Spallina said in a postgame press conference. “The score was far closer than the game was.”
The Seawolves controlled the affair from the opening draw. Facing Drexel goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco — the 2025 CAA Preseason Player of the Year — Stony Brook’s shots were on point. It scored 13 goals on 19 shots in the first half — a .684 shot percentage well above its 2025 mark of .452 against the veteran netminder.
“I thought we shot the ball well tonight against a goalie who is very accomplished,” Spallina said.
The Seawolves’ overall performance dwindled in the final two periods, though the damage had already been done. After Drexel attacker Bea Buckley scored a woman-up, free-position goal for the first strike of the second half to make it 13-7, Stony Brook responded with three unanswered goals. Attackers Courtney Maclay and Casey Colbert scored unassisted tallies each before attacker Charlotte Wilmoth scored off a feed from attacker Riley McDonald.
Wilmoth and McDonald — Stony Brook’s two leading scorers — were on fire on Friday. The tandem combined for nine goals and three assists. McDonald put five balls in the back of the net in the first half alone.
“It could be anybody at any one time scoring,” McDonald said. “It just happened to be me in the first half, and that could change game to game.”
Following the Seawolves’ brief but dominant stretch, the Dragons came to life, hoping to avoid a blowout. Attacker Ellie Wall scored to start off a five-goal run from the visitors that extended into the final frame, earning them several free-position attempts in the fourth quarter as Stony Brook’s defense flamed out slightly. Nonetheless, it was not nearly enough for a comeback.
“Leading up to the game and practices this week, we’ve really been focusing on just playing to our strengths,” McDonald said. “Whether that’s on defense or offense, and just kind of sticking to the identity of Stony Brook women’s lacrosse.”
The Seawolves outshot Drexel 33 (25 shots on goal) to 30 (22 shots on goal).
Stony Brook lost the draw control (15-18) and ground ball (12-14) battles, but finished +4 (14-18) on the turnover differential.
As per usual this year, the Seawolves’ attack was primarily orchestrated by attacker Casey Colbert, their X player. Colbert finished with five assists, making it the third game this season where she has dished out five assists. Colbert — Stony Brook’s primary facilitator — also scored two goals.
“We play the best when we’re having fun,” Colbert said. “That’s what we did today.”
The Dragons’ offense was spearheaded by Buckley, who tallied three goals and three assists. Attacker Allison Drake — Drexel’s leading scorer — posted four scores.
Concerning the cage, Natalia Altebrando saved nine shots for a .409 save percentage. Conversely, Cuocco was not herself, finishing with eight stops for a .320 mark.
The road to the conference title will be through LaValle Field, now the site for the 2025 CAA Championship. Before getting there, the Seawolves will conclude their regular season with the Battle of Long Island. They play the Hofstra Pride in Hempstead, N.Y. on Saturday night. The Pride are 9-6 overall and 4-3 in league play, but have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m.
