Defense continued to be an asset for Stony Brook Women’s Soccer during Thursday’s home game against conference rival Maine at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, allowing only two shots on goal and forging a clear path to victory for the Seawolves.
“We all worked together really well,” sophomore defender Allyson Baner said. “Starting from the top and forcing it out wide. That’s what we know how to do, and it all trickled down from there.”
Stony Brook went on to defeat Maine, 2-0, to garner its fourth consecutive victory since losing to Albany to open America East play. Stony Brook improves its record to 4-1 in conference play, now boasting the top winning percentage in the conference.
Under head coach Brendan Faherty’s leadership, Stony Brook now has more total wins in its first five games in conference play than the team had in each of the past two seasons. It is also the first time since 2009 that the Seawolves have won four consecutive games in conference play.
“I’m a ‘live in the moment’ type of guy. I don’t really focus on what happens in the past.” Faherty said. “We have been working really hard training and I am really happy for the players that the results have started to go their way. To see it clicking now is the reward that they deserve.”
The defense even struck first on offense when Baner hit a header into the back of the net on a corner kick from her teammate, senior defender Hannah Groth, in the 10th minute. The goal was her first with the Seawolves.
Her goal was the only one scored by either team for the large majority of the game. Stony Brook struggled to break through Maine’s backline to get free for an open look for most of the game. It was not until the 88th minute that senior forward Amy Thompson fired the ball — assisted by Groth and senior midfielder Priscilla Wiggins — into the back of the net, closing the door on the Black Bears.
“Each game we have been getting better,” Thompson said. “I just think we are on a roll right now and we have to keep the energy going and the motivation going and we will keep doing great things.”
The Seawolves have not allowed a goal at home since Sept. 16 against Delaware. The single home loss they suffered this season came in the first game of the season against Bryant when the team fell in double overtime.
Stony Brook will look to extend its winning streak this Sunday when they travel to UMBC to take on the Retrievers at 1 p.m..
