Oct. 30, 2010
UMBC Retrievers (9-4-2) at Stony Brook Seawolves (9-5-3)
Sunday, Oct. 31 | LaValle Stadium | Stony Brook, N.Y. | 5 p.m.
LIVE: STATS | VIDEO
UMBC Retrievers (9-4-2, 3-1-2 America East)
Head Coach: Pete Caringi, 20th season
Career Record: 209-131-39
Record at UMBC: same
Stony Brook Seawolves (9-5-3, 3-1-2 America East)
Head Coach: Cesar Markovic, seventh season
Career Record: 153-124-34
Record at SBU: 57-57-22
The Matchup
Stony Brook and UMBC battle today for the all-important first-round bye in next week's America East Championship. The two teams come into the match with identical 3-1-2 records and 11 points. Stony Brook is 8-1-3 over its last 12 matches while UMBC is 5-1-2 over its last eight matches and has won three straight. The winner of the match will be the No. 2 seed and will not play until the semifinals Nov. 10. The loser will host a first-round match Nov. 6. This is a matchup of two potent offenses, as UMBC ranks first in conference in goals, assists and points, and the Seawolves rank third in goals and fourth in assists and points. This is the 10th all-time matchup between the two clubs, and the Seawolves lead the all-time series 5-4-0, including a victory in the 2009 America East Championship title game here at LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook has never lost to UMBC at home. It's Senior Day for Stony Brook, and the team will honor Mihailo Pavlisin, Mladen Ramic and Greg Tinari for their efforts.
Scouting the Opponent
UMBC is having another strong season under 20th year head coach Pete Caringi, as he has the Retrievers offense running on all cylinders. The team has had three goals or more in six matches this season, leads the America East in goals, assists and points and sports the top goal-scorer in the league in Levi Houapeu (12 goals), the top assist man in the league in Andrew Bulls (13 assists) and the top two overall scorers in the league (Houapeu and Bulls with 27 and 19 respectively). The Retrievers are looking to avenge last season's America East Championship title game loss to the Seawolves and are still seeking their first-ever conference championship.
The Playoff Picture
Stony Brook has clinched a playoff spot in next week's America East Championship. With a win or tie over UMBC, the Seawolves would earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. They would then face the winner of the No. 3 Binghamton or UMBC vs. No. 6 Vermont match next Wednesday Nov. 10. If the Seawolves lose, they would be the No. 3 and host No. 6 Vermont at LaValle Stadium Saturday Nov. 6.
Last Time Out
Stony Brook got a 56th minute goal from Mladen Ramic and held Hartford without a shot on goal as the Seawolves clinched a playoff spot with a 1-0 win over the Hawks Wednesday in West Hartford, Conn. Ramic put in a header goal off a corner kick from Medhi Belakehal. It was Ramic's first goal of the season and Belakehal's fourth assist of the year. Stefan Manz did not face a shot on goal, but earned his America East leading seventh shutout of the season and fourth during conference play. In what has become an annual defensive battle between these two clubs, Stony Brook's goal was only the third goal of the series over the last six meetings.
Kings of the Road
Should Stony Brook defeat UMBC, it will be the only America East team to run through the conference regular season undefeated. The Seawolves were 3-0-1 on the road during conference play while the Retrievers are 1-0-1. Conversely, the Seawolves are the only team not to win an America East home match yet, going 0-1-1.
In the Rankings
Stony Brook is No. 3 in this week's BigAppleSoccer.com top 10 poll, up one spot from No. 4 last week. The Seawolves are also knocking on the door of the NSCAA/hendrickcars.com Northeast Region poll. Four weeks ago, they were ranked No. 10, but fell out after a loss to BU. They are currently receiving votes in the poll.
Vote For Leo!
Leonardo Fernandes is Stony Brook's nominee for 2010 America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year. Fernandes is the team's leading scorer and is tied for second in the conference in goals. He was the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year. Vote for him by clicking here.
Rafa Rules
Raphael Abreu earned numerous accolades for his two-goal performance on Oct. 23 at Binghamton. He was named America East Co-Player of the Week and was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. His game-winning goal was named BigAppleSoccer.com's Goal of the Week.
Timely Keeping
Stefan Manz has had a strong performance in net this season. After a shaky start, he has won eight of his last 12 matches (8-1-3) and has allowed only three goals over his last seven matches. His 1-0 win at Hartford Oct. 27 was his seventh shutout of the season, tying him for first in America East. He is also second in saves and third in GAA.
Fernandes on Top of the Conference Once More
On Oct. 11, Leonardo Fernandes was named America East Player of the Week for the second time this season after scoring the game-winning goal to lift Stony Brook to a 2-0 win at Albany. Fernandes is tied for second in the conference in goals and game-winning goals. He is also fifth in overall points.
Learning on the Road
Stony Brook's 2-0 win at Albany on Oct. 9 was the program's first America East road victory since Oct. 27, 2007, a 2-0 win at Maine. The Seawolves had gone 0-4-3 away from LaValle Stadium since.
A Late Bloomer
Leonardo Fernandes leads Stony Brook in goals, and all of them have been timely. All six of his goals this season have come in the 60th minute or later and three of them have been game-winners.
Most Valuable Player
When Leonardo Fernandes scores, Stony Brook is usually in good shape. The Seawolves are 4-1-0 this season and 8-2-1 all-time when he scores a goal in a match.
Gobeil Cruz earns an accolade
Berian Gobeil Cruz was named BigAppleSoccer.com's Men's College Player of the Week on Sept. 27 after scoring a pair of goals to lead Stony Brook to a tie against Harvard and a win over Quinnipiac.
Fernandes Earns Multiple Honors
Leonardo Fernandes scored seven points the weekend of Sept. 17-19 and has been recognized for his efforts. He was named the America East Player of the Week and the SimplexGrinnell Stony Brook Athlete of the Week and was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Four Goals A Plenty
Stony Brook had an offensive outburst against Central Connecticut State Sept. 17, beating the Blue Devils 4-2. The four goals were the most by a Stony Brook team since putting five on the board on Sept. 11, 2005.
Beating One of the Best
On Sept. 12, the Seawolves knocked off Dartmouth 1-0 on its home field in the Dartmouth Classic Tournament. Stony Brook got a goal from Berian Gobeil Cruz in the 34th minute and keeper Stefan Manz made four saves to preserve the shutout. The victory was big for SBU considering that Dartmouth was receiving votes in last week's NSCAA/hendrickcars.com National Rankings and was fourth in the Northeast Region poll.
Looking For Two Straight
Last season was a magical one for Stony Brook as the Seawolves finished the regular season with a five-match unbeaten streak to get into the America East Tournament, where they dispatched Hartford and UMBC to win the conference title, just the second in program history. This season's squad will look to replicate that success and bring the Seawolves back to the NCAA Tournament.
