April 11, 2003

Stony Brook, N.Y. - State bragging rights and an inside track to the America East playoffs is at stake Saturday night when the Seawolves host the Great Danes at LaValle Stadium. Both teams enter the game with a 1-1 record in conference play in the first meeting between the two teams since last year's America East championship game. Face-off is 7 p.m.

Series Notes: Stony Brook holds a 5-2 series edge.

Last Time Out: Stony Brook lost its third straight game 13-5 at the hands of No. 18 Villanova last Sunday. The Wildcats scored the first seven goals of the game to take control and go on to victory. Jason Cappadoro recorded three goals and an assist in the loss.

Scouting The Great Danes: * Albany is coming off a 13-11 loss to No. 19 Yale on Wednesday. * The Great Danes boast the top scorer in the America East in Luke Daquino, who is averaging over three points per game. Daquino is a native of nearby Farmingville, N.Y. and attended Sachem HS. * Kevin Rae, last year's America East Rookie of the Year, handles the goalkeeping duties.

About The Seawolves: * The Seawolves are 2-3 at home and 1-1 in night games so far this season. * Stony Brook has scored in double figures only once in 2003. * Stony Brook will most likely have seven underclassmen in the starting lineup - four freshmen and three sophomores.

Renewing Acquaintances: Saturday's game is a rematch of last year's America East championship game that Stony Brook won 8-6 last May. The Seawolves overcame a 6-5 deficit in the fourth quarter to win the title and earn their first-ever NCAA Division I tournament berth.

Jump For Joiner: Freshman defenseman Jason Joiner has been terrific in his first season as a Seawolf. The tenacious defender often draws the opponent's best attackman and has the ability to shut them down. Joiner has started all 10 games at close defense this season.

The Cap In The Hat: Freshman attackman Jason Cappadoro recorded his fourth hat trick and sixth multiple-goal game of the season last Sunday against Villanova. The freshman from Levittown, N.Y. leads the team in scoring with 27 points and ranks fourth in the America East in scoring at 2.7 points per game.

Double Trouble: Last season, the Seawolves gave up 10 or more goals only four times in 17 games. In 2003, Stony Brook has yielded 10 or more goals in seven of 10 outings.

Lending A Hand: Junior George LaFlare has emerged as Stony Brook's top assist man in 2003. After a one-goal, two assist performance last Sunday, he now has a team-best 12 assists this season. LaFlare ranks second in the America East in total assists and has now surpassed his previous season-high in points. He has 22 points this season, surpassing his previous high of 19 that he set last year.

Uptown Pearl: Sophomore close defenseman Kyle Pearl has been outstanding in 2003. Also moonlighting as a long-stick middie, Pearl has scooped up a team-best 58 ground balls in 10 games. His 5.8 ground balls per game ranks first in the America East. Pearl's play is good enough to be ranked among the best in Division I. He currently ranks 12th in the nation in ground balls per game.

News And Notes: Errol Wilson relieved Jeff Slater in goal against Villanova and made five saves in just under three quarters of action . . . Stony Brook is 1-1 in night games this season, 1-0 at LaValle Stadium . . . Adam Marksberry had his scoring streak stopped at five against Villanova . . . a loss against Albany would be the fourth straight for Stony Brook and mark the longest losing streak since the Seawolves began the 2000 season by losing their first six games . . . Stony Brook wraps up the home slate on Wednesday, April 23 against the nationally-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.