Oct. 14, 2011
• 2011 Virtual Guide
Men's Soccer Gameday
Game #14: Stony Brook Seawolves (6-4-3) vs. Boston University Terriers (6-6-0)
Sat., Oct. 15 • Nickerson Field • Boston, Mass. • 2 p.m.
LIVE: STATS | VIDEO
Stony Brook Seawolves (6-4-3, 2-0-1 America East)
Head Coach: Ryan Anatol, first season
Career Record: 6-4-3
Record at SBU: same
Boston University Terriers (6-6-0, 2-1-0 America East)
Head Coach: Neil Roberts, 27th season
Career Record: 304-151-70
Record at BU: same
The Scene: Stony Brook, unbeaten in conference play and unbeaten overall in its last four matches, plays an important America East contest on the road Saturday when it faces Boston University. The two teams are separated by just one point in the standings with the Seawolves in second place. The top two teams in the league at the end of the regular season receive a bye into the America East Championship semifinals. This is the 11th all-time meeting between the two teams, and Boston University holds a 7-3 series edge and has won each of the last four matchups. Stony Brook is 1-5 all-time at Nickerson Field.
Last Time Out: The Seawolves and Albany battled to a scoreless draw last Wednesday, which extended Stony Brook's unbeaten streak to five matches. Both teams had their opportunities to score. The Seawolves had a great chance in the first half with a Leonardo Fernandes shot that hit the post, and Albany had two second half shots hit the crossbar. The Seawolves barely missed a goal in the first overtime on a Will Casey header shot that was saved by Albany's goalkeeper. Stony Brook was led on defense by Kyle McTurk. Stefan Manz made two saves to earn his third shutout of the year.
Scouting Boston University: The Terriers were the preseason pick to win America East, according to the league's eight head coaches. Last season, BU won the regular season title and was on a collision course to face UMBC in the championship final, but its title hopes were derailed by New Hampshire in the semifinals. This season, the Terriers returned 13 letterwinners, including first-team All-America East performer Ben Berube. Although BU is only at .500 this season (6-6), the Terriers have played a very competitive schedule that has included nationally ranked teams Monmouth, Connecticut, Brown and Providence. So far in conference, BU has defeated Hartford and Vermont and lost to UMBC. Stephen Knox is the team's leading scorer with four goals, and goalkeeper Nick Thomson has allowed only nine goals in almost 1000 minutes of action.
Gobeil Earns Some Honors: Berian Gobeil Cruz had a five-point night vs. Vermont and that earned him College Soccer News National Team of the Week and America East Player of the Week honors.
Entering the Record Books: With their goals in the Vermont win, juniors Leonardo Fernandes and Berian Gobeil Cruz each have tallied their 17th career goal, tying them with Wilson Pun (1991-94) for 10th all-time in program history. Aaron George (1969-72) holds the all-time Stony Brook record with 36 goals, but Fernandes and Gobeil Cruz are already the program’s top Div. I all-time goal scorers.
Schlesinger Makes Them Count: Junior Kyle Schlesinger has two goals and an assist and they have all been important this season. His first goal was the game-winner at High Point. He then won the game at Temple with a goal in the final six minutes of regulation. His assist on Berian Gobeil Cruz’s goal at UNH last Friday helped secure the game-winner as well.
On the Road: With the win at New Hampshire, Stony Brook is now 4-0-2 over its last six America East Conference road matches, dating back to Oct. 24, 2009. The Seawolves will play at Boston University Oct. 15 and at UMBC Oct. 26.
The Comeback Kids: Stony Brook has four comeback victories this season, which already surpasses the team's total comeback wins from 2010. The comeback from a two-goal deficit at Temple on Sept. 25 matches a two-goal comeback Stony Brook had against Quinnipiac on Sept. 26, 2010, nearly a year to the day of the two events.
Player of the Week Honors: Junior Leonardo Fernandes was named the America East Player of the Week and the ECAC Player of the Week for his five-point effort in three matches the week of Sept. 19-25. Fernandes assisted on a goal in SBU's 4-1 win over Fairfield and then provided two goals in Stony Brook's comeback win at Temple, including the game-tying goal.
Four Times the Charm: After scoring four goals on Sept. 20 vs. Fairfield and again on Sept. 25 at Temple, the Seawolves have now reached four goals in a game in each of the last two seasons. SBU defeated Central Connecticut State 4-2 during the 2010 season.
The High Point of the Weekend: The Seawolves topped High Point 3-1 on Sept. 9 on the strength of goals by juniors Raphael Abreu, Kyle Schlesinger and Leonardo Fernandes. The win helped Stony Brook finish second at the four-team Flash Gordon Invitational, hosted by High Point University. The victory was the first in the career of head coach Ryan Anatol.
First Goal: Senior Steven Medwinter notched both the team's first goal of 2011 and his first career goal in a Stony Brook uniform. The goal came in the second half against Duquesne on Sept. 4 and helped the Seawolves to a 1-1 tie.
Main Manz: With a 1-0 win against New Hampshire, junior goalkeeper Stefan Manz recorded his 11th career shutout. He had eight during the 2010 season.
Preseason Poll: The Seawolves were picked to finish fourth in the America East preseason poll, according to the league's eight head coaches. Stony Brook is behind defending champion UMBC, Boston University and New Hampshire.
Strong Incumbents: Stony Brook returns 18 letterwinners from last season's team that finish 10-7-3 and advanced to the America East Championship semifinals. Among the returnees are America East Midfielder of the Year Leonardo Fernandes and second-team All-America East forward Raphael Abreu. The team returns 92 percent of its goal scoring offense, and Fernandes, Abreu and Berian Gobeil Cruz combined to score 19 goals.
Going for the Title: The Seawolves previously have captured two America East Championships, winning titles in 2005 and 2009. The team will look to win its third championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where it previously has won with a 2005 victory over Yale.
