For the first time in a while, it was not a must-win game for Stony Brook.

With Vermont and Binghamton both losing their games earlier in the day, the Seawolves had already clinched the fourth and final playoff spot for the America East conference tournament.

Albany, having already clinched the top seed, did not ease up against Stony Brook, coming out with its trademark high-octane offense and defeating the Seawolves 21-12.

“We’re happy we’re in the tournament,” head coach Jim Nagle said. “We’re a young team, but we showed some of our youth tonight.”

Albany’s Miles Thompson scored the game’s first two goals within the first two minutes, scoring both with flashy behind-the-back shots.

Stony Brook freshman midfielder Challen Rogers would get Stony Brook on board at the 10:29 mark, but Albany would score three straight goals to take a 5-1 lead into the second quarter.

Albany’s offense would not let up, and the Great Danes held an 11-4 lead at the end of the first half.

While Stony Brook’s offense picked up in the second half, the Seawolves were unable to cut into the lead any further.

“We played them pretty close in the second half,” senior midfielder Jeff Tundo said. “We just got to come out better and stick to what we do.”

Stony Brook was led by Rogers, who finished with two goals and four assists. Freshman attack Brody Eastwood had three goals, and Tundo finished with two goals and one assist.

Albany’s Miles Thompson finished the game with five goals and nine assists as Stony Brook focused its defensive efforts on his brother Lyle, who finished with two goals and two assists.

“They are both tremendous players,” Nagle said. “I didn’t think we’d do as poor a job defending as we did.”

Prior to the game, Stony Brook honored the three seniors on its roster, defenders JJ Laforet, Savaughn Greene and Tundo.

Stony Brook will have a chance at redemption when it faces Albany again at LaValle Stadium on Thursday in the conference tournament’s opening round. The winner of that game will play the winner of the UMBC-Hartford game.

“We got to figure out how to contain them a little better,” Tundo said. “They’re a real good team and we got to get better this week.”