Finishing Strong
 
This year, like each one before it, will find its own place in the rapidly evolving history of Stony Brook Athletics. I believe that when the proper time for reflection arrives in the not-too-distant future, we will talk about the 2021-22 year as another transformational turning point in our path toward prominence.
 
On July 1, we will begin a new year and a new chapter in our evolution as we officially become members of the CAA. We're excited to take on new challenges while fully embracing the opportunities that are in front of us. Before we officially put a wrap on 2021-22, however, I want to acknowledge the collective spirit and strength of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff that powered us through a year filled with twists and turns.
 
I'd also like to extend my gratitude to all of our supporters who have helped to elevate our program in a variety of ways. Our support system stretches far and wide. I am indebted to President McInnis and the campus community, our donors and season ticket holders, the parents and families of our student-athletes and everyone who believes in the role of intercollegiate athletics at Stony Brook. They all provide the essential emotional and financial lift necessary for success.
 
We're going into our first season of competition in the CAA expecting to win. This is what we have all worked for, and if the last two years have taught us anything, time is of the essence. Next week I will attend CAA meetings in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and for the first time will be there not just as a football AD, but a full-member AD.
 
This is a major inflection point in college athletics as the NCAA Transformation Committee will soon recommend sweeping reform that will create a tidal wave of change across the Division I landscape. It is no longer a question. Change is coming.
 
Your Stony Brook Seawolves are ready for all of it.
 
Appreciation for Women's Lacrosse
 
Last Thursday night, as the members of our women's lacrosse team warmed up on the grass of North Carolina's Dorrance Field in advance of their NCAA quarterfinal game against the No. 1 Tar Heels, I felt so incredibly fortunate to be around a program that has come so far in such a short period of time.
 
When I arrived at Stony Brook in the summer of 2014, I met with each head coach to get to know them and learn more about their programs. I still have my notes from those meetings, including the one that I had with Joe Spallina.
 
I'll never forget when he said that "we've got the America East on lockdown" and that his goal was to win a national championship. At that time, he was coming off of his second-straight conference title and had yet to advance beyond the second round of the NCAA tournament. Fast forward to last week in Chapel Hill where our team took the field having reached the quarterfinals for the fourth time since 2017.
 
We knew that a quarterfinal matchup with No. 1 UNC was inevitable after our team was given the No. 8 seed in the tournament. It was a disappointing and disrespectful seed after spending the entire season ranked either No. 5 or 6, but nevertheless we were there to win. Our game was the last of the four quarterfinal games, all of which resulted in blowout wins by the higher-seeded teams.
 
Although our defense held the potent North Carolina offense to their lowest scoring output on the season (by six goals), the game ended in a tough 8-5 loss. It was a gut-wrenching loss for our team, and I felt for our women who competed at an elite level and gave everything that they had.
 
Our women's lacrosse team has become a Power Five program outside of a Power Five conference. It's what makes it so unlikely, especially given the abundance of resources at those institutions. We have something, however, that those schools don't have. The sport of women's lacrosse is special at Stony Brook. I see it in our home crowds, which include scores of young girls who aspire to be the next Kylie Ohlmiller, Ally Kennedy or Ellie Masera.
 
One of those young girls is my 13-year-old daughter, who stood with me on the field at North Carolina. She decided to pick up a stick and play lacrosse two years after we moved to Long Island. Today, I am a full-fledged lax dad – all because she grew up around our team and was inspired to play the game by the women who built Stony Brook into a national power.   
 
We will break through. After that meeting with Joe in 2014, I knew that it would only a matter of time before we win a national title. I still believe that just as I believed his comment about the America East – 60-0 against the league since that conversation confirmed it.
 
I also ask you to consider this: established in 1789, UNC was the first public university in the nation. Stony Brook was established 168 years later in 1957. It takes time to build history and tradition, and we are doing everything that we can as an institution to make up for lost time. It's true that UNC is one of the nation's leading public research institutions, a member of the prestigious AAU and the home of one of the nation's powerhouse women's lacrosse teams. Just like us.
 
Baseball Makes Season-Ending Statement with Conference Title
 
Our baseball team rarely needs motivation, but winning a regular season conference championship meant that much more in 2022.
 
After the inexplicable end to last year's conference tournament (long story) and our exclusion from this year's tournament (longer story), our guys wanted to make a statement on the field. They did just that by clinching their third consecutive America East regular season title.
 
Trailing 5-0 and needing a win in Saturday's season finale, the team showed the grit that has been the hallmark of our program over the years. A five-run sixth inning evened the score before Evan Giordano, who this week was named conference Player of the Year, won the game – and the title – with a walk-off single to center in the bottom of the 10^th.
 
Watching the dogpile that ensued in shallow center field after the winning run crossed home was one of the most satisfying sights of the year. Our guys wanted it and they won it. I'm so proud of them for staying together and battling to the very end.
 
This year is the 10-year anniversary of the 2012 College World Series team so it was only fitting that the 2022 version made history of their own.
 
Five Seawolves Compete in NCAA Track & Field East Regionals
 
Qualifying for the NCAA regional meet is an outstanding achievement for any student-athlete with the ultimate goal of competing against the nation's best. This year five Seawolves earned qualifying marks to advance to this week's NCAA East regional meet in Bloomington, Indiana.
 
Rob Becker (1500m), Evan Brennan (10,000m), Luke Coulter (800m), Fiona McLoughlin (10k), and Carlos Santos (3000m steeplechase) all made the trip to Indiana to represent our program. Three of our runners competed yesterday with Rob and Luke advancing to Friday's quarterfinals of their respective events while Evan missed out on advancing despite an impressive run in the 10,000.
 
When our final runner crosses the tape for the last time at the NCAAs, our 2021-22 competitive year will end… but a new chapter will soon begin.   
 
Even though our halls are quieter now that the school year has ended and most of our student-athletes have returned home, the urgency of our work continues. You will hear from us throughout the next few weeks as we share exciting news in the buildup to our official launch as a member of the CAA on July 1. 
 
I wish you a peaceful Memorial Day weekend as we honor all who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
 
In the meantime, get ready for the next chapter. It's going to be epic.
 
Keep believing!
 


Shawn