STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Anthony Gilardi challenged his team after the first quarter of Sunday's Stony Brook men's lacrosse game against NJIT.

The Seawolves had found themselves trailing the conference newcomer by a goal as the period neared completion.

"I'm going to be completely honest," Gilardi said. "At the end of the first quarter, we brought them in the huddle and I challenged every one of those guys on the defense end, and the goalie. That was unacceptable for what we expect out of them and how talented we feel like we are defensively. And those guys rose to the occasion." 

In fact, including Cory VanGinhoven's game-tying goal  with 75 seconds remaining in the  first quarter, Stony Brook closed the game with 10 unanswered goals. And goalie Anthony Palma and Stony Brook proceeded to hold the Highlanders scoreless for the game's final 49:21 en route to a 13-4 win at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.

Second-year head coach Anthony Gilardi, who never had a chance to face a conference opponent before last season was halted, earned his first career America East win.

The Seawolves (3-3, 1-1 AE) snapped a three-game skid.

VanGinhoven finished with a team-high four goals. Chris Pickel Jr. and Dylan Pallonetti had two apiece.

Palma recorded seven saves.

Austin Deskewicz won 16 of 21 faceoffs and had eight ground balls.

It marked Stony Brook's first time shutting out an opponent after halftime since Feb. 7, 2015 against Manhattan.

The Seawolves last held an opponent scoreless for more than 40 minutes against St. John's on Feb. 19, 2017 (41:32).

"Especially at the defensive end, I think we were a little sloppy to start," defenseman Danny Cassidy said. "We homed it in after that."