March 30, 2001
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
Butler vs.Stony Brook Game Notes
Sunday, March 28
Face-off: 1:00 p.m.
BACKDROP: Stony Brook returns home to face the Butler Bulldogs after a convincing 14-8 win over Lafayette on Wednesday.
LAST TIME OUT: Kevin Pall scored four times and Matt Toner added three goals and an assist to lead Stony Brook past Lafayette, 14-8, last Wednesday. Pall and Jon Tompkins scored 29 seconds apart in the fourth quarter to break open a 9-7 game early in the fourth quarter en route to a convincing 14-8 win. Tris Gillen was superb in the playmaking role, finishing with a career-high four assists. Steve Armsworthy was impressive in the net for Stony Brook and earned his first win as a Seawolf.
LOOK FOR 22: Kevin Pall has 19 goals in six games and has scored at least twice in each of the games this season and has four hat tricks to his credit. His torrid scoring touch puts him on pace to challenge the Stony Brook record for most goals in a single season. If he continues to score at the rate of 3.2 goals per game, Pall will finish with 44 on the season-- tying him for the third best single-season effort of all-time and the best season turned in at the Division I level. The Stony Brook record is held by John Warrack who scored 48 times during the 1985 season - Warrack scored 46 in 1984. The best mark since moving to the Division I level is currently held by Dave Fritz who totaled 44 goals in 1990. Tony Cabrera finished with 43 in the same year.
SERIES DATA: This is the first meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Butler is coming off a 13-12 win over No. 23 Ohio State earlier this week. The Bulldogs are now 3-3 on the year. Adam Cichostepski led the Bulldog attack with two goals and three assists. Butler's Brendan Winkler made 19 saves in the win.
EXTRA SPECIAL: Stony Brook's man-up offense was clicking against Lafayette, converting 3-of-5 man-up opportunites. The Seawolves have scored on 11-of-37 attempts this year (.297) . . . entering the week, SB's man-down defense ranked 14th in the country.
THE MENACE: Denis Scannell is starting to hit his stride over the last few games. After being held scoreless through the first three games of the season, Scannell has responded with goals in each of the last three games, including a two-goal effort last Wednesday against Lafayette.
HIGH RANKING SEAWOLVES: This week's NCAA statistical rankings find Keivn Pall and Matt Toner among the nation's best. Pall entered the week tied for seventh in the nation in goals per game (3.0) while Toner placed 12th in assists per game (2.0). Pall also ranks first in the conference in goals per game (3.00) and is tied for eighth in points per game with Toner.
LEAVE IT TO STEVE: Steve Armsworthy was impressive in his first start in goal for the Seawolves last Wednesday. The junior transfer stopped 13 Leopard shots to earn his first win of the season. He now has a 8.94 goals against average and an impressive .656 save percentage.
