In its final battle of the 2025 season, the Stony Brook men’s lacrosse team defeated the worst Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) squad in a seemingly guaranteed result from the opening face-off.
On Saturday, the Seawolves (7-7, 3-4 CAA) hosted the Hampton Pirates (0-15, 0-7 CAA) for their Senior Day festivities. In its most lopsided result of the year, Stony Brook set a program record in goals in a 28-6 blowout victory, helped by a 10-1 first period.
“I’m proud of the guys for sending the seniors off the right way, right? That’s what we focused on all week,” head coach Anthony Gilardi said in a postgame interview with The Statesman.
Following the opening face-off, it was clear that, despite the opponent, the Seawolves were intent on making a statement to wrap up their season. Even though the Pirates were actually victorious at the X to start things off, FOGO Robbie Smith — who lost the face-off — immediately caused a turnover. That face-off win for Hampton would be one of just three for it in the first half.
Smith’s defensive play led to Stony Brook’s first goal after defenseman Carson Forney scooped up the ground ball. Attackman Ray O’Brien was the one to get things started for the Seawolves, the first of 19 scores for the hosts against its conference opponent in the opening 30 minutes. Conversely, the Pirates only found the back of the net twice in the first half.
After an explosive first two frames, Stony Brook slowed down slightly to start off the third quarter. Hampton won the second half’s opening face-off, leading to a goal by midfielder Canyon Steverson, who was aided by a man-up scenario caused by a slashing penalty by defenseman Riley Hegarty.
In the cage, goalkeeper Jamison MacLachlan played the majority of the game before being substituted in favor of goalkeeper Tommy Wilk. However, prior to the swap, MacLachlan registered a hockey assist, picking up a ground ball after a careless pass by Hampton midfielder Jonathan Angel and sending an outlet to attackman Carson Boyle, who fed midfielder Gary Correa for the Seawolves’ 20th goal.
MacLachlan was not particularly busy on Saturday, saving five shots and conceding three goals in his final collegiate outing. Overall, he had a standout campaign, finishing 2025 with a .554 save percentage and 12.36 stops per game, ranking first in both categories in the CAA for the regular season.
“I’m just incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to come back this year and finish it out the way I wanted to,” MacLachlan said. “I just wanted to come in this year and come back and play the way I know I can play and just kind of go out the way, go out swinging. And I feel like I did that.”
After the Pirates scored three of affair’s next four goals to make it 22-6, the Seawolves scored the game’s final six.
Stony Brook’s dominance reflected in the contest’s statistics. It outshot Hampton 61 (46 shots on goal) to 27 (18 shots on goal).
The Seawolves won the face-off battle 29-9 and picked up 57 ground balls to the Pirates’ 35. Each side committed 21 turnovers.
Despite missing out on the 2025 CAA Championship, there is optimism for Stony Brook heading into next season.
“I think we flipped the script,” Gilardi said. “I think last year we graduated 94% of our scoring. This year we’ll bring 94% of our scoring back. So I think that part, the experience piece, is really important.”
