On Sunday the Seawolves will face Boston in the American East Championship game, looking for a title, but redemption as well.
“I think that we can have a lot of success, if we score first,” coach Ryan said. “It would be a situation that they are not familiar with and that could fluster them.”
The Boston University Terriers have been unstoppable coming into the championship game, winning all eight of their conference games and putting up an overall record of (13-5-1). The team is led by strong defense and goal keeping, which has shut out 11 of the team’s 19 opponents this year. The team has won eight out of ten games at home this season including, their semifinal win over Maine last week. One of those home victories was a (3-2) win over the Seawolves, who will leave Friday with the hopes of redemption.
“We definitely have a chance to beat them,” Stony Brook goalkeeper Marisa Viola said. “We have more of a chip on our shoulder now because they did beat us and we are ready to bring it.”
The Seawolves are going into the game as the second seed, after having won six out of eight games in the conference for an overall record of (10-7). The Seawolves started the season struggling on the road, winning only two of the team’s first seven road games. The Seawolves turned it around in the final weeks of the season and won two out three consecutive road games. The Seawolves are a balanced team on both sides of the ball. Their offense is led by the America East Rookie of the Year Colleen McKenna, who led the conference with eight goals scored in the regular season. The defense is led by the American East Goalkeeper of the Year, Marisa Viola, who recorded a conference high 105 saves in the regular season.
Both players carried their regular season success into the conference semifinal last week. McKenna scored one of the team’s two goals and Viola added another shut out to her resume, with a five save game.
As the Seawolves prepare to leave Friday for the A.E. Championship game at Boston University on Saturday at 1pm, the team hopes that getting off to a quick start will help avoid Boston University repeating as Champions.
“People are listing us as the underdog, so I believe that it puts more pressure on Boston,” coach Ryan said. “I think we can go up there relaxed, play our game and be very successful.”