'UP" AT LAVALLE ON MONDAY NIGHT!

Stony Brook, N.Y. - On Monday, August 2, Stony Brook University Athletics will host FREE "Movie Night" sponsored by Team Ardolino and Realty Connect USA at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium at 7 p.m. The gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission for all spectators is FREE.

The 1st Annual FREE "Movie Night" will feature a presentation of the Academy Award winning movie "Up" (PG) on the stadium jumbo video board. Concessions will be available and spectators will be able to watch the movie from the stands or on the stadium field. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or beach towels to watch the movie from the field of LaValle Stadium.

For more information on FREE "Movie Night", call 631-632-WOLF or visit us on the web at www.GoSeawolves.org. Remember, Get Your RED On and GO SEAWOLVES!

Gowins, Fenaroli Named Preseason All-Big South, Stony Brook Picked To Finish Second

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Charlotte, N.C. – Junior Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) and senior captain Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.) were each selected to the 2010 Big South Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced at the conference’s annual Media Day. Additionally, in a poll by the coaches and media contingent, Stony Brook was picked to finish second behind Liberty.
Gowins, a running back, earned All-Big South honors for a second straight year after rushing for 890 yards and nine touchdowns, both team bests. He’s already run for 2,200 yards, ranking fourth in school history. Aside from leading the Big South in rushing, Gowins was 22nd in the nation.
The anchor of the Seawolves’ offensive line, Fenaroli has started 27 consecutive games at center. He blocked for a rushing attack that ranked third in the conference and 30th in the nation.
Stony Brook, which claimed a share of the Big South Championship in just its second year in the conference, was picked to finish second for the second straight season. The Seawolves earned one first-place vote.
SBU opens the 2010 season at South Florida on September 4 at 7:00 pm. The game against the Bulls will be Stony Brook’s first against an FBS opponent.

2010 BIG SOUTH MEDIA DAY - THURSDAY

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Coming off a share of the Big South Championship in just its second year in the conference, the Stony Brook football team will meet with the media at the league's annual Media Day on Thursday at the Renaissance Hotel in Charlotte. Representing the Seawolves are head coach Chuck Priore and junior running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.). The Big South will broadcast the event from approximately 1:45-3:30pm on BigSouthSports.com, with a coach and student-athlete from each of the seven schools available for an interview session.
Each team's head coach and student-athlete will be interviewed in 10-minute intervals. In addition, the 2010 Big South Conference football season preview video will be accessible for viewing beginning Thursday afternoon. Again this year, fans can submit questions in advance or during the event through facebook.com/BigSouthSports and Twitter.com/BigSouthSports. The Big South will also provide tweets throughout the day with updates.
The Conference's annual preseason poll, preseason All-Conference teams and the preseason players of the year will be announced at Media Day. Big South Conference Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander will also be featured on the Big South Network, and will speak on several topics, notably the Conference's first-ever automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs and the League's Leadership branding campaign. All interview segments from Thursday will be archived and available for viewing on the Big South Network the next day.

USA men's lacrosse win back gold from Canada

By BOB HERZOG bob.herzog@newsday.com

It was a long four years, but the U.S. men’s national lacrosse team is back on top of the world.
USA defeated Canada, 12-10, on Saturday at the World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England, to take the gold medal away from the team that had dethroned the United States in 2006.
“We dreamed of this. This was our destiny,” Team USA coach Mike Pressler told reporters afterwards. “The script was written. We just had to go out there and prove it.”
A crowd of 4,651 at the University of Manchester was treated to a thriller. USA started fast and built an 8-4 halftime lead. But Canada rallied to take a 9-8 lead early in the fourth quarter and still led 10-9 with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Duke star Ned Crotty, the 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy winner who had a quiet tournament, took over late. He tied it at 10 on a rising shot off a feed from Mike Leveille with 8:24 left and gave the U.S. the lead for good on a bounce shot made as he fell.
USA regained possession on a Canada turnover with four minutes left and did not give the ball back. Leveille scored an empty-netter with 1:19 left to seal the United States’ seventh gold medal in the event.
Although the four Long Island players on the U.S. team did not score Saturday, midfielders Max Seibald (Hewlett, Cornell) and Matt Zash (Massapequa, Duke) were superb in running the field and helping the U.S. maintain possession in the final minutes, even after Canada pulled its goalie to chase the ball.
Midfielder Paul Rabil and Leveille led USA (6-1) with three goals each. Rabil was named MVP of the world championships. Stony Brook University star Kevin Crowley scored a goal for Canada (5-2).

Coley plans on fitting right in at Stony Brook

By Bob Herzog, Newsday

BUFFALO - On one sequence, David Coley used a hesitation dribble to dart past a defender, spin to the basket and convert the layup. Later in the same game, the 6-2 guard pulled up for a deep three that put the Long Island open men's basketball team ahead for good, capping an impressive comeback in a victory over New York City on Friday.
It's this combination of skill and athleticism that has the Stony Brook University basketball staff salivating, as Coley, a city kid from Thomas Jefferson High School who once was a Big East-caliber prospect, is playing his college ball in the suburbs. "I'll bring them some production right away," Coley said, confidently. "My strongest asset is that I can break my man down off the dribble. That's what I love to do late in the shot clock. But I can shoot the three."
Coley had four treys in Friday's victory over the City, in which L.I. overcame a 15-point halftime deficit. His entire Empire State Games experience is being closely chronicled by Stony Brook because the coach for the L.I. open team is Dan Rickard, a Seawolves assistant who helped recruit Coley.
"He's aggressive and tough. He gets after it. That's what we like," Rickard said. "He's a combo guard who wants to score. Getting [New York] City kids is a little different for us."
Coley might never have found his way to Suffolk County but for a knee injury that caused him to miss nearly all of his junior year. "When he was younger, he was highly, highly recruited," Rickard said. "Some teams backed off after that, but we saw him play that summer and we liked him a lot. He signed his national letter of intent last November."
Coley said a major reason he chose the Seawolves, fresh off an exhilarating season in which they wound up hosting an NIT game against Illinois of the Big 10, is because "They showed a great interest in me and they stuck by me. The players, the coaches, the staff - everyone treated me great. I liked the campus but my mother really loved it. She said she wanted to go there, too!"
With shooting guard Muhammad El-Amin and his 19 points a game gone, Rickard acknowledged, "There's a void that has to be filled," and said Coley has a chance to have an impact as a freshman, "if he gets more consistent."
Coley agreed with that assessment. "As I mature, I think I'll get better and fit right in," he said. "I like their style of play. El-Amin was a great player but I think I can start filling his shoes. It'll be like he never left."
He was well aware that Stony Brook hosted an NIT game for the first time in school history last March, but is driven to guide the Seawolves to a place they've never been - the NCAA Tournament. "This is where I can expose my talents," Coley said. "I'll keep Stony Brook buzzing. The main goal is to make it to the Big Dance."
The new kid has some flashy steps.

LONG ISLAND TAKES BRONZE IN MEN'S BASKETBALL AFTER 2 OT'S

By MARCUS HENRY marcus.henry@newsday.com

BUFFALO - Time and time again throughout the Empire State Games, the Long Island open men's basketball team showed its mettle.
It didn't come home with the gold, but it took every opponent to the limit.
The team's resilience was rewarded Sunday as Stony Brook's David Coley scored 23 points and Hofstra's Cornelius Vines 16 to lead L.I. to a bronze medal with an 85-80 double-overtime win over Adirondack.
"It was a great weekend of basketball," L.I. coach Dan Rickard said. "We were a little shorthanded, but they kept going at it hard."
L.I. needed two big plays to stay in it and received them from Vines and Stony Brook's Chris Martin.

Martin connected on a layup with eight seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Vines drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to force the second OT.
"We lost J.J. Walsh to an injury and had to play with eight guys the rest of the way," Rickard said. "Three of our guys fouled out today and we had just five guys available in the overtimes."
Vines was especially effective for Long Island late.
"Cornelius scored all [16] of his points in the second half and overtime," Rickard said.
Rickard lauded the play of the entire roster, including Central Connecticut State's Robby Ptacek (Bayport-Blue Point), who led the team in scoring over the first three days.
"Robby was our top scorer, but he got into a little foul trouble," Rickard said. "But everyone else picked up the slack when they had to."

Five Seawolves Honored By Phil Steele's College Football Review

Cleveland, Ohio - Junior Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.), senior Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.), senior Arin West (Toms River, N.J.), junior Michael Coulter (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and sophomore Wesley Skiffington (Brandon, Fla.) were each honored by Phil Steele's College Football Review this week. Gowins, Fenaroli and West were named to the All-Big South first team while Coulter was chosen as a second-team selection. Skiffington was honored as a third-team All-American.

Gowins earned All-Big South first-team honors for a second straight season after leading the Seawolves in rushing. His 2,200 rushing yards already are fourth all-time at SBU despite starting just a single game. Gowins also is just four rushing touchdowns shy of breaking the school's all-time record, set by Bobby Kane in 1996.

Fenaroli has started 27 straight games at center and anchors a line that blocked for a rushing attack that ranked 30th in the nation and allowed just 1.36 sacks per game to rank among the top 24 in the nation. Fenaroli, who also earned All-Big South first-team honors in 2009, was named honorable mention for the Fabulous Fifty All-America Team by the College Sporting News.

West had an outstanding junior season as he also earned All-Big South honors after recording 80 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He has played in 32 of 33 games, including 17 straight starts.

In his first year at Stony Brook, Coulter threw for over 2,000 yards and led the Big South with 15 touchdowns. He also was second in passing efficiency and one of just three Big South players to finish with over 2,000 yards of total offense. Coulter engineered three game-winning drives in the waning moments against Brown, VMI and Liberty.

Skiffington led the team with 71 points after going 15-for-17 on field goals and 26-for-30 on extra points. He was named a College Sports News National All-Star after connecting on four extra points and four field goals against Presbyterian.

Stony Brook Football To Host Pre-Game Tailgate Reception At South Florida

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's football program will host a pre-game tailgate reception prior to the team's game against Big East foe University of South Florida at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Sept. 4, 2010. The event will be located in the East Restaurant of Raymond James Stadium from 4:00-6:30 p.m. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
The cost is $30 for adults, $20 for children, ages 5-20, and children under four are free. The reception will include unlimited drink, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and dessert as well as a game ticket (valued at $36).
To purchase your reception package, please contact Susan Abbott at 631-632-4647 or Susan.Abbott@stonybrook.edu.

Four Seawolves Named America East Spring Scholar-Athletes

Seawolves earn Scholar-Athlete honor in four of eight spring sports.

Cambridge, Mass. - Stony Brook University had four of its student-athletes recognized as 2010 America East Spring Scholar-Athletes, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Senior pitcher Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.), sophomore right-hander Tyler Johnson (Chatsworth, Calif.), junior midfielder Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, British Columbia) and junior long-distance runner Holly Van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand) each earned the honor in their respective sports.

A three-time first-team all-conference member and 2008 America East Pitcher of the Year, Struzenberg is the school's all-time leader in career wins, shutouts and strikeouts and was recently named named to the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for the second straight year. A three-time America East All-Academic Team pick, she graduated earlier this spring with a double major in business management and economics, registering a 3.85 GPA.

Johnson went 10-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 starts, earning a spot on the All-America East first team and the ABCA All-Northeast Region second team. He went 6-1 with a 2.44 ERA during conference play and his 10 victories are a Stony Brook single-season record.

He also earned a spot on the All-Myrtle Beach Regional Tournament Team after allowing just two runs in 8.0 innings to lead the Seawolves to their first ever Division I NCAA Tournament win, a 6-2 win over North Carolina State. Johnson has a 3.72 GPA as a history major.

The 2010 recipient for the Enners Award, given to the USILA's most outstanding Division I player, Crowley had one of the best seasons ever by a Stony Brook men's lacrosse player, posting 51 goals and 26 assists in 17 games. His 51 goals are a single-season program record and he's the only player in school history in the top five in goals (101) and assists (75).

The 2010 unanimous America East Player of the Year and a Tewaaraton Award finalist, Crowley was recently added to Team Canada's roster for the 2010 World Championships in Manchester, England. He posted a 3.31 GPA in business management and philosophy.

Van Dalen became Stony Brook track & field's first Division I All-American when she finished seventh in the 5,000 at the NCAA Championships at the University of Oregon on June 11. Van Dalen ran the 5,000 in 16:06.77, a new school record. The 2009-10 Northeast Track Athlete of the Year, Van Dalen has a 3.78 GPA in English/Sociology.

The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the eight championship sports which America East sponsored during the spring. A committee of athletic administrators and NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives chose an honoree in each of the eight spring championship sports.

Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.20. These eight student-athletes will automatically be nominated for the male and female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award recognized by the conference in late July.

Last four at-large to play in first round

Last four at-large to play in first round

The final four at-large teams and final four automatic qualifiers in the newly minted 68-team NCAA men's basketball tournament field will meet for the right to enter the traditional 64-team draw, tournament selection committee chairman Dan Guerrero announced Monday.

The "First Four" will be played either the Tuesday or Wednesday after Selection Sunday. The winners of the four games will advance to what will now be called the "second round" on either Thursday or Friday. The newly named third round -- with 16 games -- will be Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the tournament -- regional semifinals (Sweet 16) and regional finals (Elite Eight) -- will remain as they have been, as will the Final Four, which is set for Houston in 2011.

The games will be televised on TruTv (formerly CourtTV), which is available in 93 million homes, said NCAA vice president Greg Shaheen, who manages the NCAA tournament. CBS, Turner, TBS and TruTV are in their first year of a $10.8 billion, 14-year television agreement. ESPN had carried the tournament's opening-round game in previous years.

Dayton, which had been the host site for the opening-round game, is the likely destination for the games but there could be other sites looked at for future First Four games beyond 2011, Guerrero said. When the winners would play in the second round is still to be determined but one aspect is certain: If teams meet on Tuesday they would feed into a Thursday format, and the Wednesday winners would play on Friday if the First Four is split into two days.

This is the first time the last four at-large teams will be revealed publicly. Traditionally, the at-large teams are scattered throughout the seeding process, rarely going past No. 12, making it relatively easy to identify them. Yet the committee now will formally announce the last at-large teams by putting them in the first round.

Guerrero and Shaheen said the last four at-large teams would be put on the seed line the committee decided they earned. So, this could mean that two could be considered No. 12 seeds playing for the right to play a No. 5 and two could be No. 11s vying to play a No. 6 in the second round.

In its news release, the NCAA listed the 10th seed as a possible destination for the last at-large teams, something that has occurred in past years. It is unlikely that the committee will have one team seeded 10th, 11th or 12th to avoid having teams seeded differently playing in a First Four game.

"The teams selected for these games will be like teams," Guerrero said. "We felt if we were going to expand the field it would create better drama for the tournament if the First Four was much more exciting. They could all be on the 10 line or the 12 line or the 11 line. We won't know until the seeding takes place and the principles and procedures are used and the teams are slotted appropriately."

Shaheen said the process will follow the same model used to select the previous 34 at-large teams, with the number now 37. Committee members go through a series of ballots, moving teams into the field and eliminating others by voting privately on a computer to determine the last at-large teams. The seeding and bracketing takes place once the teams have been selected to the field of 68.

Guerrero and Shaheen said they don't anticipate a problem in accommodating the principles and procedures of bracketing, such as repeating regular-season matchups in the second round (formerly the first round) or pitting teams from the same conference earlier than a regional semifinal.

The bracket on Selection Sunday will have both teams listed for the same seed line, just like it has for the two teams playing in the opening-round game between Nos. 64 and 65 since that game's creation in 2001.

The 10-member committee spent the last two months debating how to format the larger field. The committee decided in April to increase the field from 65 to 68 with three more additional at-large teams (going from 34 to 37) at the same time it announced it had agreed on a new television contract.

Other options discussed during the committee's meeting in Chicago the last week of June were: the last eight automatic qualifiers -- the Nos. 16 and 17 seeds -- playing against each other for the right to be the 16th seeds; and making the last eight at-large teams playing for specific seed lines. The compromise was this hybrid model which Guerrero said evolved out of many discussions with committee members and among the NCAA Division I membership.

"There was no consensus," Guerrero said. "We selected a format that will break new ground. We're excited about the concept of the First Four. We think we've added value to the tournament."

The NCAA made clear it's not interested in hearing complaints from high-profile conference teams that have to play in the First Four.

"Three of the four teams that would be in these games [the two First Four games involving at-large teams] wouldn't have been in the tournament in 2010," Shaheen said. "The fact is they weren't in the tournament before."

Shaheen said the First Four should be a natural bridge from Selection Sunday to the second round of the tournament. He said the opening-round game was the only presence of the sport in years past between Selection Sunday and Thursday's first round.

Guerrero said there would be no limit as to the number of times a conference participates in one of the First Four games. Previously, the opening-round matched the two lowest-rated automatic qualifiers. That standard will still apply for the game between the last two automatic qualifiers for two of the No. 16 seeds.