With Saturday’s victory over Albany, the women’s lacrosse team clinched the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship. The win improves the team’s record to 12-4 overall and 4-1 in the America East. Junior Demmianne Cook scored six goals; junior Claire Petersen had two goals and four assists; and freshman Michelle Rubino added three assists to lead the team to their 16-5 victory.
With the loss, Albany fell to 9-5 overall and 2-3 in the America East. It also leaves the Great Danes in a three-way tie for the final spot in the America east Championship with Vermont and New Hampshire.
Cook’s six goals on the day gave her 63 on the season. It was the fifth time she scored six or more goals in a game, and her 11th hat trick of the season.
It was Petersen’s 11th game where she had five or more points. She now has 36 goals and 50 assists on the season.
Senior Abby Ford and sophomore Emily Mercier each scored two goals. Freshman Amber Kupres and junior Janine Hillier each netted a goal.
Stony Brook’s offense was strong on Saturday, as was the defense. The team held the Great Danes to just 16 total shots and 12 of those were on goal. Rubino caused two turnovers and controlled four draws. Cook also caused a turnover and controlled five draws of her own.
Junior Hannah Perruccio stopped seven shots, three of which were on free position attempts.
Amanda Pollock’s two goals and an assist led the Great Danes.
Albany won the opening draw and scored two and a half minutes into the game on Jess Antelmi’s goal. Cook responded swiftly with a goal on an assist from Petersen at 25:54 to tie the game. That ignited the Seawolf offense, which had a five-goal surge, which included two goals from Rubino.
Mercier scored two goals in the final 7:19 of the fist half to help send the Seawolves into halftime up 8-2.
Cook opened the second half with a goal. She won the ensuing draw, and in less than 10 seconds, Petersen found Ford, who scored to make it 10-2. Albany responded with a Rachael Burek goal, but Stony Brook scored the next four goals. Ford scored on a pass from Hillier, Petersen scored on a free position shot and Cook added her fourth and fifth goals of the game, to make it 14-3.
Cook scored her sixth and final goal with 4:31 remaining to put the game away.
Stony Brook will finish its regular season next Saturday against New Hampshire at LaValle Stadium at 1 p.m. Before the game, the team will honor its outgoing seniors, who will play their final home game as Seawolves.
