Nov. 12, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

A schedule that includes three top-10 teams in the first half of the season awaits the Stony Brook University men's lacrosse team in 2010. The slate of games includes contests against eight teams that received votes in the final 2009 polls, with all eight coming among the first nine contests of the season. Head coach Rick Sowell also announced that senior Steven Waldeck (Levittown, N.Y.) and junior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, B.C.) will serve as team captains.

"We're excited about our 2010 schedule," said Sowell. "Adding Towson, St. John's, Bryant and Cornell adds to an already challenging schedule. With our conference getting better and better, and continuing our relationships with Siena, Virginia and Delaware, 2010 will be a year of great battles."

Stony Brook, which finished the 2009 season ranked #20 in the USILA Coaches Poll, will open the 2010 season at home on February 20 when it hosts Siena. For a fourth straight season the Seawolves will play Virginia early, taking on the Cavaliers in Charlottesville on Feb. 27.

In March, Stony Brook will play four of its six games at home as it gears up for the start of conference play in April. The Seawolves will host Towson, St. John's, Denver and the 2009 national runner-up, Cornell, in LaValle Stadium. SBU will play road contests at Delaware and Bryant to complete the non-conference schedule. The games against Towson and Bryant will be the first-ever meetings between those schools and Stony Brook in men's lacrosse.

America East play will start off on April 3 in Baltimore when Stony Brook will face-off against UMBC in a rematch of last season's America East championship game. The Seawolves will also face Binghamton and Albany on the road and host Hartford and Vermont, with the game against the Catamounts marking the end of the regular season on May 1.

Both All-America East selections last season, Waldeck and McBride are two key components of a Stony Brook squad that will return all but one starter from a year ago. Waldeck was a stalwart on defense for the Seawolves in 2009, leading the team with 21 caused turnovers and 96 groundballs, ranking No. 7 in the nation in groundballs per game. He also contributed on offense with five goals and five assists to rank among the national leaders among long poles. McBride had another standout year on offense for Stony Brook, leading the team with 42 goals and ranking second nationally with his average of 2.8 goals per game.

"I am also pleased to announce senior Steve Waldeck and junior Jordan McBride as captains for our 2010 season," said Sowell. "As captain in his junior year, Steve helped lead us through a big transition when we added 20 newcomers to our roster. He is the heart and soul of our team. Jordan's presence will be felt in his passion for the game as he leads by example. Both players have the upmost respect from both our team and coaching staff, and we are looking to them to lead a veteran roster in what should be an exciting 2010 season."

STONY BROOK MEN'S LACROSSE 2010 SCHEDULE 
Feb. 20     SIENA                  1:00 p.m.
Feb. 27     at Virginia            3:00 p.m.
Mar. 6       TOWSON             1:00 p.m.
Mar. 13     at Delaware          3:00 p.m.
Mar. 16     ST. JOHN'S           7:00 p.m.
Mar. 20     DENVER                1:00 p.m.
Mar. 23     CORNELL              7:00 p.m.
Mar. 27     at Bryant              1:00 p.m.
Apr. 3       at UMBC*             1:00 p.m.
Apr. 10     HARTFORD*          7:00 p.m.
Apr. 17     at Binghamton*     7:00 p.m.
Apr. 24     at Albany*             7:00 p.m.
May 1       VERMONT*            7:00 p.m.
May 6       America East Semifinals
May 8       America East Finals