The Stony Brook women’s soccer team waited out a long period of inclement weather on Thursday night and came away with a 2-1 victory over Wagner. Second half goals by senior Larissa Nysch and sophomore Stella Norman were the difference for the Seawolves in a game that took four hours and 22 minutes to complete.
With the win the Seawolves improve to 5-1-1 on the season, and also are 5-0 in there five home matches this season. And head coach Sue Ryan was extremely pleased with the mental toughness her team showed powering through the long delay. “In order to be successful, you have to win in many different environments and overcome many different obstacles and hurdles,” Ryan said. “Tonight was an example of that.”
The Wagner Seahawks were able to take an early 1-0 lead in the contest, on a goal by Alyssa Azzinaro. Then shortly after, with 19:35 remaining in the first half, play was halted due to lightning flashes over the stadium. The game was put on hold for over two and half hours, as heavy rain eventually began to pour onto the field.
Play finally did resume, and Wagner would take a lead going in to the second half, despite being outshot 12-3 in the first 45 minutes.
Stony Brook picked up their offensive play in the second half, and would finally get on the board at the 52:58 mark of the game. Nysch scored her fifth goal of the season, on a great individual effort, which was capped off by a shot that found the top right corner of the net.
Just over two minutes later Norman would give her team a lead they would not relinquish. She found the back of the net on a free kick from thirty yards out, to put her team ahead.“Larissa’s goal and Stella’s goal were exceptional,” coach Ryan said. “They are both becoming cornerstones of our attack.”
Junior Christina Casamassina played strong as well, but could not find the back of the net in the game. She instead had two of her shots hit off the crossbar. Freshman Lindsay Hutchinson had more luck on the night, picking up her first collegiate assist on Nysch’s goal.
Stony Brook has now scored 13 of their 17 goals on the season in the second half. The Seawolves also currently lead the America East in goals scored.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Ashley Castanio did not have a busy night in net, but still came up with three saves in the game.
The Seawolves kept Wagner goalkeeper Katie Marcy much busier in the game. Stony Brook had twenty shots in the game, eight of which came from freshmen.
Stony Brook will now head to Colorado to participate in the Omni Hotels Colorado Women’s Soccer Classic. The Seawolves will play against Colorado tonight at 6 p.m., and Northern Colorado on Sunday at 1 p.m.
