STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Michael Bollinger's standout 2020 season in goal for the Stony Brook men's lacrosse team included a career-high 22-save performance in an overtime win against Brown as well as USILA Scholar All-American recognition, while simultaneously volunteering with the Holbrook Fire Department.

Yet despite Bollinger's graduation, the Seawolves remain strong at the position.

Anthony Palma, Kyle Hebert and Liam Daly all are capable goaltenders on the roster as Saturday's noon season opener against Sacred Heart at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium approaches.

"I think that Michael last year did an excellent job between the pipes saving the ball, which first and foremost is his job obviously as a goaltender," said associate head coach JP Brazel, who oversees the goaltending. "He stepped up in multiple games, multiple victories, where he made some great saves that made us a better defense and made us look better. We're going to miss everything that he did. He gave us everything he had when he was here. Now he's not here. And we've got a core group of three talented guys."

The trio does have limited regular-season game experience.

Palma, a 6-foot, 175-pound junior from East Islip, made his collegiate debut when he handled the fourth quarter against Fairfield last Feb. 15 and is being praised for his poise.

Hebert, a 5-11, 185-pound senior from Ontario, logged 34 minutes over four games in 2019 and is viewed as a leader on the team.

The 5-9, 182-pound Daly recoded a combined 326 saves in 2018 and '19 at Shoreham-Wading River High School, but is a freshman entering his first spring. Head coach Anthony Gilardi describes him as one of the most-improved players during training.

Still, Brazel likes what he sees in practices leading up to Saturday's opener.

"We're saving the ball at a solid rate with these new guys," Brazel said.

As for the lack of career minutes in official games, Brazel added: "I was having this conversation with a friend recently — a former goaltender of mine. I think we're lucky that Anthony Palma played a ton of minutes last fall (in 2019), when we scrimmaged Yale and Providence. We didn't clear the ball very well in those, and we weren't ourselves quite yet. We played a lot of defense. So, luckily, Anthony can say he's seen Division I rubber from two quality teams like that in the past and played well.

"Obviously now, going into the season as a goaltender coach, you really hope that he gets out there against somebody else besides a Stony Brook jersey and makes that first save and gets his rhythm and gets his confidence, because that position is so much about rhythm and confidence."