Oct. 31, 2000

Stony Brook, N.Y. - When the Stony Brook men's soccer team (11-1-2, 4-1-1 Atlantic Soccer Conference) finished its debut Division I season last year, the Seawolves looked at their 4-13-1 record and wondered what could have been. Despite boasting Independent Player of the Year Moses Sarr, the eighth-leading scorer in Stony Brook history, USB fell on the short end of many winnable games during the 1999 campaign.

As it would turn out, the 2000 season would be a much different story.

With 16 newcomers, including nine transfers, the Seawolves got off to a quick start this season, racing out to a 6-0 start. With the help of leading scorer Shane Arikian and the Seawolves' flat-back four defense made up of junior transfer Kenyatta Montgomery, junior Kwame Richardson, junior Johan Thomsson and junior transfer Jermaine Wright, Stony Brook's first five wins were shutouts, giving USB the top spot in the nation in goals-against average, shutout percentage and winning percentage. As a reward, the Seawolves earned the first-ever Division I Top 25 ranking in any sport at Stony Brook, making their debut at No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The Seawolves then suffered their only loss this season, falling to Atlantic Soccer Conference rival Oneonta. However, Stony Brook quickly rebounded, going seven straight games without a loss, a streak that is still intact. During that span, freshman goalkeeper Dan Ferrin, ranked seventh in the country in GAA with his average of 0.62, set the USB record for most shutouts in a season with nine.

The Seawolves also equalled the record for victories in a season with their 11th win over Adelphi last Wednesday. The Panthers, who were previously unbeaten in conference play, opened up a 2-0 lead against Stony Brook, but the Seawolves came roaring back to win 3-2 in overtime, the second time this season they have come back from a 2-0 deficit to win. The win marked Stony Brook's first over Adelphi in 33 years, only their fifth victory in the all-time series. As a result, Stony Brook jumped to second in the ASC behind Florida International and cracked the Top 25 for the third time this season, appearing once again at No. 23. USB also achieved its highest ranking in the New York Region at No. 2.

Along the way, the Seawolves have avenged seven of last year's losses and earned Team of the Week honors on the website Collegesoccer.com. Ferrin has been named ASC Goalkeeper of the Week four times, with Arikian, also a freshman, receiving Rookie of the Week accolades. In addition, junior transfer Hector Dillon has been named Player of the Week in the conference.

Stony Brook has outscored its opponents, including teams such as Boston College, Towson, Northeastern and Adelphi, 30-10 en route to arguably the most remarkable turnaround in men's college soccer this season, and the Seawolves have four games remaining to extend their unbeaten streak. With conference leader Florida International on tap for this weekend, Stony Brook will face a daunting obstacle in the form of the 10-5-1 Golden Panthers, a team that lost in the 1996 championship game to St. John's.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Seawolves have already enjoyed what could be the best season in Stony Brook men's soccer history. The Seawolves have done something no other team at Stony Brook has done--achieved a Division I national ranking. But the men's soccer team hopes that the joyride doesn't end anytime soon, and that one other first lies on the horizon--obtaining Stony Brook's first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament invitation.