Feb. 28, 2002

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Game Backdrop: Stony Brook opens the 2002 campaign today against the No. 12 UMass Minutemen. The game marks the second consecutive year that the Brook has opened the season againt UMass. Last year, UMass earned a 17-5 opening day win in Amherst, Mass.

Season Openers, Stony Brook is 5-8 in season openers since the move to the Division I level in 1989. The Brook is 5-13 overall having lost all five season openers at the Division III level.

About UMass:Dan Paccione and Kevin Leveille each scored hat tricks in last week's 11-10 overtime loss to No. 10 Hofstra. Rob Schneider made eight saves in the loss. The Minutemen return six of 10 starters that helped them earn a share of the ECAC Lacrosse League title last spring.

The Best Of What's Around: Senior attackman Kevin Pall is out to prove he is just that. Last year in the rugged ECAC Lacrosse League, he finished with a school and career best 50 goals. His 3.57 goals per game average ranked first in the nation as he became the first Stony Brook lacrosse player in Division I history to capture the national scoring title. He set the mark against some of the best competition in the nation scoring four goals against No. 8 Georgetown and five versus No. 19 Rutgers. He finished with 17 goals in conference play and was selected to the All ECAC Lacrosse League first team. Pall was the only Stony Brook player to earn All ECAC honors in the two seasons that SB was in the league. Along the way, Pall shattered the Stony Brook single season goal record, eclipsing John Warrack's mark of 48 that was set back in 1985. Pall has now scored in 30 straight games.

Note - Worthy: The Seawolves should be solid in the goal in 2002 as well. Senior Steve Armsworthy made a big splash last year after transferring from Catonsville Community College. He posted a .643 save percentage which ranked third in the nation and a 8.62 goals against average which placed him 13th in the country. His save percentage mark also ranked first in the ECAC Lacrosse League.

Hat Attack: Long-stick middie Eric Hatkewitz emerged as a force last year. The former Stony Brook linebacker made lacrosse his full time gig in 2002 and the results paid off for head coach John Espey. Hatkewitz recorded 52 groundballs which ranked third best on the team and chipped in with a goal and four assists. His play was recognized by Face-Off Magazine as he earned 2002 preseason Honorable Mention All-America honors this December.

All American Boys: Three Stony Brook laxers earned preseason honorable mention All-America honors by Face-Off Yearbook. Kevin Pall, Steve Armsworthy and Eric Hatkewitz became the first SB players in Division I history to earn preseason All-America honors.

Versus Ranked Teams: The Seawolves are 2-14 versus ranked teams since 1997. The highest ranked opponent that SB has ever defeated was its 10-9 win over No. 16 UMBC last spring.

Preseason Polls: Stony Brook is the favorite to capture the America East title according to the America East coaches poll released on Tuesday, February 26. Stony Brook received five of a possible six first place votes and is picked to finish first ahead of Hartford, Quinnipiac, Vermont, Albany and Binghamton. Face-Off Yearbook also picked Stony Brook to capture the America East title and highlighted Kevin Pall, Denis Scannell, Eric Hatkewitz and Steve Armsworthy as players to watch this season.