After two 1-0 losses in their last two games, the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium home remedy kicked in as the Stony Brook men’s soccer team returned to their winning ways. Three different Seawolves – Oscar Leis, Michael Palacio, and Pete Halkidis – were on the finishing end of scoring drives that boosted SBU to the victory that gave them a home record this season of 5 wins and only 1 loss. The 3-0 victory against Maine makes the Seawolves’ record 6-11-0 overall, and 3-4-0 in America East play. The loss drops Maine to 0-16-0, and 0-7-0 in the conference.
With rival Hartford’s loss to Boston University also occurring this past Wednesday, the Seawolves are now one win away from a conference tournament birth. SBU is now residing in sixth place in the conference standings. If they can pull out a victory at home this Saturday against New Hampshire, they will lock up a spot in the tournament.
From the opening to the closing whistle, the Seawolves were on the offensive. They disrupted their opponent’s game plan by taking the fight right to the Black Bear’s goal. In the 14th minute, Adam Ciklic, usually known for his goal scoring, sent a majestic cross into the box, that expertly headed into the back of Maine’s net by Leis. The goal upped the freshman’s total for the season to four, while the assist was Ciklic’s second of the season.
In the 43rd minute, defenseman Collin Geoghegan sent a ball into the Black Bear’s box that was mishandled by goalkeeper Ben Piotrowski. Noticing this blunder, Palacio stepped in and rocketed the ball into the goal giving the Seawolves a commanding 2-0 lead.
The second half was the same story, different chapter. The Seawolves continued to apply pressure on their opposition. In the 60th minute, Halkidis buried Maine’s hopes of a comeback by giving SBU a 3-0 lead that held true for the rest of the competition.
With this shutout, goalkeeper Rich Skoblicki picked up his fourth win and fourth shutout of the season. He only had to make one save in the entire contest. Throughout the game the Seawolves took 17 shots, while the Black Bears only managed to take five.
The regular season finale, which has been named Senior Night, is on Saturday, October 21 against New Hampshire, with kickoff scheduled for 7 PM.
