Oct. 18, 2012
2012 Stony Brook Men's Soccer
Game #14: Stony Brook Seawolves (9-3-1, 3-1-0 AE) vs. UMBC Retrievers (7-4-4, 1-2-1 AE)
Fri., Oct. 19 • LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, N.Y. • 7 p.m.
LIVE: STATS | VIDEO
Stony Brook Seawolves (9-3-1, 3-1-0 America East)
Head Coach: Ryan Anatol, second season
Career Record: 19-9-5
Record at SBU: same
UMBC Retrievers (7-4-4, 1-2-1 America East)
Head Coach: Pete Caringi, 22nd season
Career Record: 226-143-48
Record at UMBC: same
The Matchup: Stony Brook hosts UMBC in a critical America East match for both teams. The Seawolves are looking to lock up a spot in the America East Championship and challenge for first-place positioning while the Retrievers are seeking to move up in the standings after a difficult start to the league schedule. This is the 13th all-time meeting between the two teams, and the series is tied 6-6-0. SB is 4-1-0 against UMBC at home.
The Opponent: UMBC is enjoying a strong season but has stumbled in conference play early. Despite a glowing 7-4-4 overall record, the team has already lost twice in league play to Albany and Vermont. Despite that, the Retrievers are an incredibly dangerous team, ranking second behind only Stony Brook in goals and goals per game. The team has also allowed the third-fewest goals in the conference, behind only Stony Brook and Vermont. The team's biggest win was perhaps just a few days ago when it rocked Boston University at home, 5-1, behind three goals and two assists from Pete Caringi. Caringi has been a scoring machine of late, posting five goals in the last three games to take over the league lead in goals (9) and points (22).
Last Time Out: Leonardo Fernandes scored his fifth game-winning goal of the season, this one coming in the 73rd minute to break a 1-1 tie and lead the Seawolves to a 2-1 victory over Hartford. Fernandes' goal was a blast from about 25 yards out. Raphael Abreu also scored for the second consecutive game, his goal coming in the 25th minute. The Seawolves defense held Hartford to just two shots on goal.
The Standings: The Seawolves are alone in second place in America East, three points ahead of Binghamton and Albany and just one point behind Vermont for first place. A win over UMBC will clinch a spot in the America East Championship and ensure that the team will host at least one game in the tournament. A win plus losses by Binghamton and Albany will clinch the Seawolves a first-round bye. The team controls its own destiny towards winning the regular season title.
In the Rankings: Stony Brook has been ranked in the NSCAA Northeast Region poll each week this season except for one. Here are the Seawolves weekly rankings.
- Aug. 28 - #6
- Sept. 4 - #8
- Sept. 11 - #10
- Sept. 18 - #9
- Sept. 25 - #9
- Oct. 2 - #8
- Oct. 9 - unranked
- Oct. 16 - #10
Road Warriors: Stony Brook has been an impressive 5-1-1 in true road games this season and is now unbeaten over its last five road matches (4-0-1).
Quite the Rankings Debut: In the NCAA's first RPI rating of the 2012 season, the Seawolves come in at No. 46, the highest ranked team in America East. RPI, which is the Ratings Percentage Index, is a formula used to rank all the teams in Div. I soccer and is a component of how teams are chosen for at-large berths into the NCAA Tournament.
Starting Fast the Key: Stony Brook is 16-1-1 under head coach Ryan Anatol when the team scores the first goal of the game. The Oct. 5 loss vs. Boston University was the first time SB had lost when scoring first.
Leo the Lion: Senior Leonardo Fernandes is quickly rising up the Stony Brook Men's Soccer record book. As one of the program's most decorated student-athletes, he has posted some incredible numbers and earned some outstanding honors. Here's the list:
- Second all-time in points (75), first in Div. I history
- Third in goals (30), first in Div. I history
- Third in assists (15), second in Div. I history
- 2012 Hermann Trophy Watch List
- Two-time America East Midfielder of the Year (2010, 2011)
- Two-time NSCAA All-Northeast Region (1st team in 2011, 3rd team in 2010)
- Two-time All-America East first team (2010, 2011)
- 2009 America East Rookie of the Year and second-team All-America East
- 2011 America East Championship Most Outstanding Player
Keeper Records: After a 1-0 shutout at Albany on Sept. 29, senior Stefan Manz is now the all-time leader in career shutouts in program history with 16. He is also first all-time in goalkeeper wins in program history with 26.
America East Rookie of the Week: Martin Giordano was named America East Rookie of the Week on Sept. 24 for posting a goal and an assist in Stony Brook's 1-0-1 week. Giordano scored less than a minute into SB's match at Sacred Heart and then assisted on the game-tying goal at Central Connecticut.
America East Player of the Week: Following a three-goal, one-assist weekend Sept. 14-16, Leonardo Fernandes was named America East Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career.
Making the pass: Freshman Alejandro Fritz notched a pair of assists vs. Buffalo on Sept. 16, matching the program's all-time single-game record. It's the 12th time in program history it's occurred. Fritz also scored a goal two days earlier against Fordham, giving him a strong four-point weekend.
What a Start: Freshman Alejandro Fritz scored a goal on his first collegiate shot, and it represented the game-winner in a 5-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Aug. 24. The effort netted Fritz America East Rookie of the Week honors.
Preseason Pick: Stony Brook goes into 2012 as the favorite to repeat as America East champion. The Seawolves were picked first in the preseason coaches poll, receiving six out of a possible seven first-place votes.
Tough Schedule: Stony Brook has a tough 17-game schedule that includes nine matches against teams that finished in the top 100 in RPI last season.
Up Next: Stony Brook wraps up its regular season home schedule Wednesday against New Hampshire at 7 p.m. Prior to the game, the team will honor its seven seniors in a Senior Night ceremony.
