STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Stony Brook overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit, topping Towson 3-1 on Thursday evening at LaValle Stadium. The Seawolves scored three unanswered goals in an eight-minute span to upend the Tigers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Towson had chances towards goal early on, including a shot that deflected off of Sammy Hannwacker in the box and found the mitts of Jona Hennings that was reviewed for a handball. The officials confirmed that it was a clean deflection by Hannwacker that allowed play to continue without penalty. Hannwacker had an early chance offensively, the best for the Seawolves in the opening 20-plus minutes of action, which sailed just high over the crossbar to keep things scoreless.
Each team had three first-half corner kick attempts, but neither could find twine. Towson eventually struck first, scoring in the 35th minute after persistent pressure led to a misplayed ball that Sophie Thibeault blasted into the back of the net.
Stony Brook had plenty of chances to find a goal, particularly a Reilly Rich opportunity after she escaped Towson's keeper off the line and fired a shot that ran parallel along the goal line, just through the box. The Seawolves did eventually find the back of the net on an Emanuelly Ferreira shot, but it was ruled offside and confirmed after video review, erasing what would have been a Stony Brook equalizer.
Trailing by a goal as the match entered the second half, Stony Brook continued to apply pressure offensively. Rich saw a great opportunity turned away by an acrobatic play from Towson's keeper with 25 minutes to play, leading to back-to-back-to-back corner kick opportunities that the Tigers again stifled.
With less than 19 minutes to play, it was Kristina Garcia who found the equalizer. Garcia was the beneficiary of a misplayed ball by a Towson defender that squeaked by Towson's keeper, finding the foot of Garcia behind the defense for a tap-in goal.
Minutes later, Rich, Hannah Maracina and Linn Beck combined to put the Seawolves in front in the 75th minute. Beck blasted one home after a perfect one-touch pass from Maracina gave her enough space to put a right-footed shot past Towson's keeper.
Leah Sparacio officially opened the floodgates in the 80th minute, scoring her first as a Seawolf, and Stony Brook's third unanswered tally in a ferocious comeback.
STATS AND NOTES
- Garcia opened the scoring for Stony Brook with her second score of the season. She is now up to five points this season, eclipsing her previous career high mark set in 2024.
- Beck's goal put the Seawolves ahead late, marking her first tally since scoring a goal in the Seawolves' 2-2 draw with New Hampshire nearly a month ago (September 7).
- Sparacio netted her first as a Seawolf in the 80th minute, representing Stony Brook's third unanswered goal after falling behind 1-0 in the first half.
- Stony Brook's three goals came in a span of 8:24. The equalizer was scored in the 72nd minute and Sparacio's 80th-minute strike gave the Seawolves a two-goal cushion.
- Defensively, Stony Brook limited Towson to just four shots in the second half, all of which were on net and all of which were stopped by Jona Hennings.
- With the victory, Stony Brook improved to 3-1 in conference play and remains alone atop the CAA North Division table.
- With tonight's result, the Seawolves have now won seven straight at home over conference opponents and are unbeaten at LaValle Stadium against CAA competition in 12 consecutive fixtures, dating back to September 2023.
UP NEXT
Stony Brook continues a brief homestand, hosting Drexel for senior day on Sunday, October 5. First touch is scheduled for 1 pm from LaValle Stadium, streaming live on FloCollege.
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