RICHMOND, Va. – Seven members of the Stony Brook women's lacrosse team earned All-CAA recognition; sophomore Isabella Caporuscio was unanimously selected as the CAA Midfielder of the Year as Avery Hines was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year, and Joe Spallina received CAA Coach of the Year honors.
The Seawolves had four student-athletes named to the All-CAA First Team in Caporuscio, Hines, graduate attack Riley McDonald, and graduate attack Charlotte Wilmoth. Senior attack Casey Colbert and senior midfielder Alexandra Fusco earned All-CAA Second Team honors as freshman midfielder Julia Fusco was tabbed to the CAA All-Rookie Team.
Caporuscio recorded 61 points on 42 goals and 19 assists, along with 70 draw controls, 45 ground balls, and 30 caused turnovers through 17 games this season. In the CAA, she ranks second in ground balls per game (2.65), third in caused turnovers per game (2.07), seventh in draw controls per game (4.12), and 10th in goals per game (2.47). She opened the season with a career performance at Bryant, recording eight points on six goals and two assists before notching a season-high 11 draw controls over UAlbany. She grabbed six ground balls against both ranked Johns Hopkins and Hofstra, while recording four caused turnovers in three contests. Along with her statistical accolades, Caporuscio was named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American.
Hines anchored the Seawolves' defense as a member of the Tewaaraton Watch List, an IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week (March 24), a seven-time CAA Defensive Player of the Week (February 24, March 10, March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 28), and an Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American. The senior defender caused a team-high 57 turnovers and picked up 46 ground balls through 17 regular season games for the Seawolves. Her 57 caused turnovers are currently second-most in a single-season in program history (behind her 66 caused turnovers last season). She ranks third in the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.35) and leads the CAA in both caused turnovers and ground balls per game (2.71).
Spallina has led the Stony Brook squad to a 13-4 overall record, which includes going a perfect 8-0 in CAA play. The Seawolves earned the No. 1 overall seed in the CAA Tournament and the Regular Season Championship after defeating Long Island rival Hofstra, 15-5, in the regular season finale. Spallina has led the Seawolves to 87 consecutive conference wins, a streak that began in 2014, and a 27-0 record in conference and conference tournament games as a member of the CAA.
Spallina captures his third consecutive CAA Coach of the Year honor and 12th overall in his career (three CAA, six America East, two NE-10, one ECC). Over his career at Stony Brook, he has posted a stellar record of 221-44 and his overall career head coaching record is 294-46.
Wilmoth has had a standout season for the Seawolves, leading the offense with 78 points (56 goals, 22 assists), adding six ground balls and three caused turnovers. She took home CAA Player of the Week twice this season (March 31, April 14) and ranks second in the league in points per game (4.59), third in goals per game (3.29), and sixth in shots per game (6.06). The graduate finished top 25 in the nation in both total points and goals, while registering a team-high 15 multi-point games and 13 multi-goal games.
In her first season on Long Island, McDonald helped fuel the Stony Brook offense with 61 points (50 goals, 11 assists), along with seven ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers. She was named the CAA Player of the Week on March 24, while closing out the regular season ranking fifth in the league in goals per game (3.29) and 10th in points per game (3.59). The graduate tallied 14 multi-goal games to lead the Stony Brook squad, while scored a team-high 12 free position goals, sitting 23rd in the nation in free position percentage (.632).
Colbert has recorded 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists) in 17 games this season. She leads the team and CAA in total assists and assists per game (2.88), while ranking eighth in the nation. She dished out a career-high five assists against Towson, Monmouth, and Drexel and registered three or more assists in 10 games. Her 49 total assists are currently seventh-most in a single-season in program history.
A. Fusco played in all 17 games during the regular season and totaled 43 points (34 goals, nine assists), 33 ground balls, 28 draw controls, and 13 caused turnovers. She recorded a career-high four points in three games against Villanova, Delaware, and Campbell. She also collected a career-high four draw controls against both the Blue Hens and Vermont. Playing alongside her sister, she dished out the assist on Julia's first collegiate goal.
J. Fusco made an impact in her first season of collegiate lacrosse with 16 points (10 goals, six assists), 11 ground balls, nine caused turnovers, and four draw controls in 17 games. She currently holds a team-high .588 shot percentage and .882 shot on goal percentage, while leading Stony Brook freshmen in all statistical categories. She tallied a pair of multi-goal games including her first career hat trick against William & Mary.
Stony Brook returns to the field on Thursday, May 1, when it hosts the No. 4 seed Elon in the CAA Tournament semifinals at noon. The winner of the semifinal will take on either Drexel or Delaware in the CAA Championship game on Saturday, May 3, at 12:30 p.m.
All-CAA First Team
Riley McDonald
Charlotte Wilmoth
Isabella Caporuscio
Avery Hines
All-CAA Second Team
Casey Colbert
Alexandra Fusco
CAA All-Rookie Team
Julia Fusco
CAA Midfielder of the Year: Isabella Caporuscio
CAA Defensive Player of the Year: Avery Hines
CAA Coach of the Year: Joe Spallina
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