Feb. 17, 2009
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's men's lacrosse team kicks off the 2009 season on Saturday when the Seawolves will host the No. 2 ranked team in the nation, Virginia, in LaValle Stadium at 1:00 p.m.. Stony Brook, which will play its first three games of the season at home, returns six starters and 18 letterwinners from 2008 when the team finished 7-7 overall and qualified for the America East Conference Tournament for a seventh straight season.
After two seasons as the head lacrosse coach at Stony Brook University, Rick Sowell has certainly built a foundation for future success for the Seawolves. During his second season at SBU in 2008 he guided the Seawolves to their fifth straight season of a .500 or better record, took the team to its seventh consecutive appearance in the America East Tournament, coached the team to its first victory over a top-10 ranked opponent, saw a record number of players earn All-America East honors and had a player earn All-America honors.
On paper the 2009 season would appear to be a "rebuilding" one at Stony Brook. With a senior-laden team in 2008, the 2009 edition of the Seawolves will have to absorb the loss of 18 letterwinners, including the bulk of the Stony Brook midfield. On the flip side of the coin, the Seawolves do return six starters and 18 letterwinners that include the top two scorers from a year ago who accounted for 40 percent of the SBU goals and most of the starters on defense.
While the team will be inexperienced at the start of the 2009 season with 20 newcomers on the roster, Sowell's recruiting class is impressive, one that includes high school and junior college All-Americans and players from Canada's team from last summer's U-19 world championships. All that is left for Sowell is to find the right mix from a deep talent pool and he will have Stony Brook taking another step forward on the national lacrosse scene.
"With so many new players, and just two seniors on this year's roster, it's going to take some time gel," said Sowell. "I think this group has talent to be successful, but we're untested at this time and need game experience."
Attack
After last season's standout performance by sophomore Jordan McBride, the Stony Brook attack looks to be one that will once again have the capability to light up the scoreboard.
McBride did nothing in his first season at Stony Brook other than win America East Rookie of the Year and All-America honors after leading the team in scoring with 44 goals, tying him for the fifth most goals in a season at SBU. He jumped into the national spotlight when his 10 goals at Delaware, which broke a school record and was one shy of the NCAA mark, led Stony Brook to a 19-16 upset win over the seventh-ranked Blue Hens. With a year of experience under his belt, his accurate shot will be one that opponents defenses will have to account for.
Behind McBride, junior Chris Scott and sophomore Brent Drost have the only experience at attack for Stony Brook, all coming last season in a pair of games each. Scott was the only one of the two to put points on the board, coming up with one goal.
Attack is one of the areas where Stony Brook's large group of newcomers will play a role right away. Joining McBride from British Columbia will be sophomore Kyle Belton, who earned All-Star status last year in the Junior A league after accounting for 60 points. Returning to the lineup after missing all of last season due to injury is junior Tom Compitello. Moving to attack from midfield, he had a strong fall and is expected to play a big role in the Seawolves' offense in 2009.
Another player that brings All-America status with him is freshman Graham Adams from Michigan where he helped his team to a state championship all four seasons.
"A year ago, I thought replacing two-thirds of our attack would be a difficult task," remarked Sowell. "But, bringing in Kyle Belton and moving Tom Compitello from midfield to attack, gives us a chance to be as strong, if not stronger than last year's group. Of course, when the one starter returning is Jordan McBride you can't help but to like your chances at that position. They all have the ability to put the ball in the back of the net, but are unselfish enough to be good feeders as well. Jordan will anchor the right side, Tom the left and Kyle will work from both behind and in the crease. Add to that mix Chris Scott, who has the ability to break down defenders, and I think we're solid at the attack position."
Midfield
While Stony Brook's losses at the midfield positions were significant, the Seawolves do have one key component back to build the unit around.
Like McBride, sophomore Kevin Crowley had an outstanding first season at Stony Brook, leading the team and finishing 10th in the nation in assists. Another first team All-America East selection, he proved to be adept at finding the open man on the Seawolves attack, usually ending up in a goal for SBU. In addition to putting his first year at Stony Brook under his belt, Crowley also brings the experience of playing for Team Canada in the 2008 U-19 World Championships where he scored 11 goals and was named to the All-World team.
Two players that bring previous experience with them and could crack the starting lineup are junior Michael Palmer and sophomore Timmy Trenkle. Palmer showed some spark on offense last season when he played in every game for the first time in his career, scoring a pair of goals. Trenkle improved steadily during the season, finishing with five assists. A new face that had a solid fall practice and will contend for playing time in 2009 is junior Paul Randazzo. A transfer from nearby Farmingdale State, he totaled 29 goals in his two seasons there.
Another of Stony Brook's growing contingent of Canadian players, freshman Robbie Campbell was a teammate of Crowley's on the Canadian national team, bringing valuable international experience that could pay dividends right away for the Seawolves in the midfield.
Also returning to the lineup after missing last season will be senior Taylor Eason. One of the team's most athletic players, his two years of experience will enable him to step in as the team's primary short stick defender as well as seeing time as part of the SBU offensive set. Sophomore Vonzell LeGall, who played in a pair of games in 2008, and freshman Jared LeVerne will provide depth behind Eason.
Much like other positions on the field, Stony Brook will have a mix of experience and young talent among the long pole midfielders. Junior Michael Sopko has the experience, seeing action in all but three games in his first two seasons. A versatile player, he can also move over to close defense for the Seawolves. Freshman Greg Miceli had an impressive fall practice and has the potential to see a lot of playing time in his first season.
Sophomore Adam Rand had a solid first season as one of Stony Brook's primary face-off specialists, steadily improving to the point of becoming the Seawolves primary player at that position. By the end of the season he wound up finishing in the top-25 in the nation in face-off percentage, winning over 52 percent of his draws. Crowley, who took some face-offs in his freshman season and was the primary face-off player for Canada at the world championships, will again be in the mix at the position as will freshman Dermott Kramer.
"This is the position where our youth and inexperience shows up the most. We'll be led by a workhorse, Kevin Crowley, who will be a marked man, but who has also prepared himself well and is up for the challenge. I'm hopeful Tim Trenkle and Mike Palmer are ready to step up and take some of the load off Kevin. While Taylor Eason will primarily play the d-midfield, I believe he can and will help us on offense, he's had a tremendous fall season. There is a host of young players vying for playing time at both the offensive and defensive position. It's going to take some time to sort itself out, but I feel good about the future of this position."
Defense
Of all the positions on the field, defense is where Stony Brook will have the most experience. The Seawolves return of a pair of starters and, with the addition of an All-American goalie, defense could be a strong suit of the squad.
Returning after earning first team All-America East honors as a sophomore, junior Steven Waldeck has already emerged as one of the top defenders in the conference. A captain this season, he led the team in ground balls in 2008 and has been a starter in each of his two seasons.
Granted a fifth year, senior Nick Maturro has been one of Stony Brook's primary defenders for three years and will combine with Waldeck to form the backbone of what has the makings of a solid defensive unit. Another experienced face on defense will return when junior Chris Gignilliat, an All-America East selection in 2006, returns after sitting out the 2008 season with an injury.
The defense also returns junior Jon Goodelman and sophomore Bryan Reinert. Both were in their first seasons at Stony Brook a year ago and after a year of experience in the system should see more playing time in 2009. Sophomore Mike Mizvesky, a transfer from Navy, also had a solid fall and will add to the depth of the Stony Brook defense.
"Getting Nick back for a fifth year and Chris Gignilliat back from an injury is significant. They'll team up with Steve Waldeck who just gets better every year. We have good depth at this position and, combined with improved goal tending, I'm counting on them to keep the score down and allow our offense to mature."
Goalkeeper
In goal Stony Brook is expected to turn the duties over to junior Charlie Paar who transferred to the Seawolves after a standout career at Nassau Community College. Last season he was a key component to that team's run to the national championship, earning both first team All-America honors as well as being named the defensive MVP of the national tournament.
Stony Brook's starter over the final five games of the 2008 season, junior Rob Camposa posted a solid 7.98 GAA in league play and will give Stony Brook an experienced back-up between the pipes. Sophomore John Bella gives the Seawolves even more experience in goal.
