Having already secured the top seed for the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship, the No. 20 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team had one final mission to finalize before closing out the regular season: coming out on top in the Battle of Long Island.
Just like the previous seven rivalry matchups, the Seawolves (13-4, 8-0 CAA) completed their assignment, beating the already-eliminated Hofstra Pride (9-7, 4-4 CAA) on Saturday evening in Hempstead, N.Y. Despite playing in enemy territory and facing weather trouble, Stony Brook remained consistent throughout the contest, downing its Long Island counterparts in wire-to-wire, 15-5 fashion.
The Seawolves’ next chapter this year will be their hunt for a conference three-peat and a 12th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. This season’s league tournament, which will be hosted at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, encompasses second-seeded Drexel, third-seeded Delaware and fourth-seeded Elon alongside Stony Brook, the first seed and regular season champions.
Not much favored the Pride in the first period. Halfway through the frame, they found themselves down 4-0 and could not get anything going on the offensive end, largely due to the turnover plague. Hofstra committed five giveaways — a pair caused by the Seawolves — in the quarter’s opening 7:20. Hofstra attacker Nikki Mennella was the culprit behind the fifth turnover, as she was stripped by midfielder Isabella Caporuscio, who also picked up the ensuing ground ball.
Following Caporuscio’s defensive highlight, the affair was put on hold due to lighting.
After play resumed, Stony Brook remained with its foot on the gas pedal. On the possession that commenced through Caporuscio, attacker Casey Colbert finished it by circling the crease from X and firing a high shot to make it 5-0.
With the Seawolves also outscoring the Pride 2-1 to close out the period, they led by six goals after 15 minutes had passed. Kicking off the second period, Hofstra strung together its most promising sequence of the game. Defender Christine Dannenfelser — the Pride’s leader in draw controls with 55 coming into the day — secured the first two draws of the second frame after being shutout in that department in the first quarter.
Hofstra was able to capitalize on Dannenfelser’s contribution both times. First, quick passing in the 12-meter fan led to a score by Hofstra midfielder Kate Lemery before Mennella — the hosts’ leading scorer by a longshot — tallied her first of the contest with a bounce shot, trimming her team’s deficit to 7-3.
However, that was it for the hosts’ realistic comeback efforts. Within a five-and-a-half minute scoreless window for both sides, the Pride had opportunities to cut into the lead further but failed to do so. While their turnover struggles continued, goalkeeper Natalia Altebrando also made a crucial stop to retain Stony Brook’s cushion.
On the Seawolves’ end, their empty stretch could be attributed to misfortune, as they pinged the pipe twice before finally getting on the board in the period through attacker Riley McDonald, who cut into the eight-meter arc and was fed in stride by attacker Charlotte Wilmoth for the goal. Closing out the first half, Stony Brook found the back of the net three more times for an 11-3 advantage at the break.
While their CAA-best attack continued to perform as expected against a decent but not special third-ranked Hofstra endline in the final 30 minutes, the Seawolves’ zone defense was in full lockdown mode on Friday. Possibly aided by the slippery conditions of James M. Shuart Stadium on the day, Stony Brook had its best outing of 2025 on that end of the field. It directly caused eight of the Pride’s 21 turnovers. Alongside the numerous giveaways by Hofstra, a 16 to eight draw control advantage for the Seawolves limited the Pride to just 16 shot attempts.
Head coach Joe Spallina did not speak to the media after the game.
Overall, Stony Brook outshot Hofstra 34 (22 shots on goal) to 16 (13 shots on goal).
To go with their success in the circle, the Seawolves finished +13 (9-22) on the turnover differential and scooped up 17 ground balls to the Pride’s 12.
With the postseason on the horizon, Altebrando’s performance on Saturday was a great sign for Spallina. She made two outstanding saves late in the final frame to finish with eight on the day and a .615 save percentage. Conversely, Hofstra goalkeeper Luchianna Cardello made seven stops for a .318 mark.
Colbert and Caporuscio tallied a hat trick apiece to spearhead Stony Brook’s offense. The latter was also involved elsewhere, posting six ground balls — tying a single-game career-high — two caused turnovers and two draw controls.
Wilmoth — the Seawolves’ leading scorer — took a step back from scoring goals and instead took Colbert’s job as Stony Brook’s primary facilitator for the day. She tied a single-game, career-high with four assists, though she squeezed in a goal regardless.
Defender Avery Hines was strong as ever, causing four turnovers and picking up three ground balls.
Midfielder Braeden Siverson ran the Seawolves’ draw unit, finishing with a single-game, career-high 13 draw controls.
Mennella led the Pride with two scores and an assist.
On Thursday, Stony Brook plays the Phoenix at LaValle Stadium for one of the CAA Championship’s two semifinal contests. Elon finished the regular season with a 9-7 overall and 5-3 league record. In these teams’ only matchup of the year thus far, the Seawolves won 18-8. Opening draw is scheduled for noon.
