After drawing with #21 ranked Harvard University on Friday night, the Stony Brook men’s soccer team continued its impressive run with a 3-2 win against Quinnipiac at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Sunday.

The Seawolves (5-4-1) clawed their way back despite finding themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 score early in the game.

Seawolves head coach Cesar Markovic saw the comeback win as a learning experience.

“Obviously, we had to come back,” Markovic said. “That’s gonna help us down the road, the fact that we know we can come back from 2-0 down and win a game is important for us.”

Stony Brook started the game off sloppily, falling behind in the 5th minute after Quinnipiac defenseman Matthew Rothbart hammered a shot off the left post and into the net to put the Bobcats up 1-0.

Quinnipiac (0-5-1) would add on to the lead in the 25th minute when Rothbart ripped a shot from 25 yards out that whistled by the outstretched arms of sophomore goalkeeper Stefan Manz (Bronx, N.Y.) to put the Bobcats ahead 2-0, quieting the 500-plus people in the crowd.

The Seawolves finally got on the board in the 35th minute as sophomore forward Raphael Abreu (New York, N.Y.) rolled a ball under the arms of Quinnipiac goalkeeper Josh Lavallee to cut the score to 2-1.

It was Abreu’s second goal of the season on a well-timed pass from junior midfielder Wilber Bonilla (Brentwood, N.Y.).

The teams went into the locker rooms with the visitors ahead.

With new faces in the starting lineup, Coach Markovic was not discouraged by the halftime score.

“We were trying to get some guys rest,” he said of the sudden lineup change. “It’s been a long haul, we have league play starting next week, and with a lot of new players out there, there was a little bit of confusion. Towards the end of the half they actually got it together and got a goal back, which was a positive sign. “

Down 2-1 and heading into the second half, sophomore forward Berian Gobeil (Montreal, Quebec) was called in as a substitute and made an immediate impact volleying in a corner kick from sophomore defenseman Christian Molinar (Bay Shore, N.Y.). It was Gobeil’s fourth goal of the season, and it could not have come at a better time as it tied up the score.

With the score even, the stage was set for sophomore midfielder Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) to score his fourth goal of the year.

In the 76th minute, Fernandes teamed up with fellow sophomore Abreu and senior midfielder Greg Tinari (Holbrook, N.Y.) on a dazzling play to give the Seawolves the lead.

With his back turned to the goal and defenders on either side, Fernandes gathered a pass into the box from Abreu, and punched it in with the heel of his shoe past the stunned Quinnipiac keeper. The no look shot was the final goal in the Seawolves impressive come -from-behind win.

Coach Markovic was praising Fernandes’s heroics at the end of the game.

“Tremendous” he said. “I keep saying this kid is an unbelievable talent. When you need him the most, he gives you something brilliant and that’s what he did today.”

Fernandes was named Stony Brook Athlete of the Week for his outstanding performances this season, continuing to add to his personal accomplishments which also include the America East Rookie of the Year award which he won last season.

With the win, the men’s soccer team concluded its homestand with an undefeated home record of 3-0-1. The team travels to Iona on Wednesday to play a tough Gael’s team who is ranked #2 in the New York region.