Oct. 23, 2012

2012 Stony Brook Men's Soccer

Game #15: Stony Brook Seawolves (9-4-1, 3-2-0 AE) vs. New Hampshire Wildcats (5-6-4, 1-2-2 AE)

Wed., Oct. 24  •  LaValle Stadium  •  Stony Brook, N.Y.  •  7 p.m.

Stony Brook Seawolves (9-4-1, 3-2-0 America East)
Head Coach: Ryan Anatol, second season
Career Record: 19-10-5
Record at SBU: same

New Hampshire Wildcats (5-6-4, 1-2-2 America East)
Head Coach: Rob Thompson, 18th season
Career Record: 136-134-54
Record at UNH: same

The Matchup: Stony Brook hopes to end its home schedule on a high note and possibly secure a playoff home game when it takes on New Hampshire on Senior Night. The Seawolves will honor seniors Raphael Abreu, Antonio Crespi, Leonardo Fernandes, Berian Gobeil Cruz, Stefan Manz, Christian Molinar and Kyle Schlesinger in a pre-game ceremony. This is the 13th all-time meeting between the two teams, and the Wildcats lead the series 4-3-5. In the last five meetings, SB is 1-1-3. At home against UNH, Stony Brook is 1-0-4 with two scoreless ties.

The Opponent: New Hampshire has just one win in its last eight matches (1-4-3), but most of the matches have been close. Six of the eight matches went to overtime. Over the last two games, UNH has no goals and just four shots on goal. The Wildcats have just 14 goals this season overall, which is tied for last in the league. However, the defense has given up only 19 goals, which is fourth-best in the league. UNH's best scoring threat this season has been Jordan Thomas, who has three goals and two assists. Travis Worra has performed well in net, making a save 78% of the time while recording four clean sheets.

Last Time Out: The Stony Brook offense was unable to cash in its chances against UMBC, and the Seawolves ultimately fell to UMBC 1-0 at LaValle Stadium last Friday. A 74th minute goal by UMBC's Stephen Ho did in Stony Brook, who had 11 shots but was unable to clear one past the goalkeeper.

The Standings: The Seawolves are alone in second place in America East, one point ahead of Boston University and two points ahead of UMBC. A win or tie vs. New Hampshire tonight or a Hartford tie or loss will clinch a spot in the America East Championship. A win plus a UMBC loss or tie will clinch a first-round bye in the tournament. The team controls its own destiny towards winning the regular season title. A win over UNH will ensure that SB will play Vermont Saturday for the regular season crown.

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
• Oct. 23 - #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 released on Oct. 16, the Seawolves came 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 will complete its conference schedule Saturday at Vermont at 12 p.m., in a match that is bound to have major America East Championship implications.