STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook men's lacrosse team used a six-goal scoring spree in the fourth quarter to get within one, but was unable to close it out, falling 15-14 to No. 9 Virginia at LaValle Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves move to 1-5 on the year, while the Cavaliers sit a 6-1.
 
Nagles' Reaction
"I'm very proud of how our guys fought, they really pulled together," said head coach Jim Nagle. "It was a tremendous lacrosse game with a lot of back-and-forth action and I really thought we played our best lacrosse of the preseason. I think it's something we can take into league play that gave us a renewed sense of urgency."
 
Highlights

• Virginia jumped out to a three-goal lead to start the game. Freshman Mike McCannell (Orangeville, Ontario) got the Seawolves on the board with under three minutes to play in the opening period and sophomore Connor Grippe (Setauket, N.Y.) made it a one-goal game with nine seconds left in the quarter.
• The Cavaliers added a pair to open the second quarter, but Stony Brook closed out the period scoring three of the remaining four goals to get within one at the break, 6-5.
• Virginia came out firing and scored in the opening minute of the new half, but the Seawolves answered when sophomore Chris Pickel, Jr., (Bayport, N.Y.) buried a pass from McCannell. The Cavaliers responded less than 20 seconds later to return the difference to two goals.
• Things got chippy when a battle for a ground ball in front of the team benches resulted in a scrum that saw Stony Brook's Chris Pedone (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) and Virginia's Zach Ambrosino be ejected. Virginia earned a man-up opportunity as freshman Patrick Kaschalk (Windsor, Ontario) served the 30-second pushing penalty, the original foul on the play.
• Both teams added a pair of goals in the three-minute stretch of five-on-five play before Virginia went on a five-goal spree to close out the third quarter and begin the fourth, putting the team up, 15-8.
• Junior Justin Pugal (Manorville, N.Y.) sparked Stony Brook, scoring his only goal of the day after the Seawolves won the face-off and freshman Jack Walsh (Miller Place, N.Y.) fed the long stick middie from behind the cage.
• The Cavaliers called a timeout with under eight minutes to play and sophomore Tom Haun (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) got right to work following the break in action, putting away his third of the day five seconds later.
• Grippe notched the first hat trick of his career on a feed from Pickel and senior Matt Robison capitalized on a Virginia turnover following the ensuing face-off as he buried a pass from Walsh to make it four straight goals for the Seawolves nearing five minutes remaining in the game.
• Sophomore Wayne White (Huntington, N.Y.) teamed up with McCannell to get the Seawolves within two with 2:24 on the clock and senior Tyler Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.) caused a turnover and sent the Seawolves down field following a Virginia timeout. Sophomore Harrison Matsuoka (Calgary, Alberta) made the most of the big play on defense and cut it to one with 58 seconds left in the game.
• Virginia was called for delay of game with 16 on the clock, which put the ball back in Stony Brook's hands, but a late turnover prevented the Seawolves an opportunity for a final attempt.

 
Notes

• Four Seawolves tallied at least three points in the game, as Haun and Grippe each notched hat tricks.
• Pickel, Jr., finished the day with a goal and an assist, and has now scored in all six games this season.
• It was a strong defensive effort from the Seawolves as they forced Virginia into 15 of its 19 turnovers. Matsuoka and junior Ryland Rees (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) led the way with three caused turnovers apiece.
• Sophomore Michael Bollinger (Holbrook, N.Y.) got the start in cage, playing all but one minute against the Cavaliers. He notched his second double-digit save game of the year with 10 on the day.

 
Up Next
The Seawolves return to the field on Sunday, March 18, traveling to Baltimore to being league play at UMBC. Opening face-off is set for 12 p.m.