Men's Soccer Opens 2010 Season At Hofstra On Wednesday

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook's men's soccer team begins the 2010 season with a match at Long Island rival Hofstra on Wednesday evening. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised locally on Verizon Fios1, with Ralph Bednarczyk (play by play), Sal Rosamilia (color) and Eva Zaccaria (sidelines) providing all the action. Live stats are available on GoSeawolves.org.

Hofstra leads the all-time series, 14-8-5, but Stony Brook is 3-4-1 against the Pride since joining Division I in 1999. The Seawolves erased a two-goal deficit, tying the Pride, 2-2, in the last meeting in Hempstead. Dawid Ditrich '09 saved a penalty kick from Richard Martinez in the 79th minute before senior Mladen Ramic (Belgrade, Serbia) tied the game in the 88th minute.

The Seawolves, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, return eight starters from last year's team. Sophomore midfielder Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) led the Seawolves offense with seven goals and two assists en route to winning the 2009 America East Rookie of the Year. Sophomore Berian Gobeil (Montreal, Quebec) and junior Wilber Bonilla (Brentwood, N.Y.) combined to tally eight goals.

Three of Hofstra's four leading scorers are back, including Johannes Grahn and Stephan Barea, who each scored six goals.

Stony Brook was picked to finish second in the America East preseason poll while Hofstra was picked to finish seventh in the CAA.

KING ME!

After a breakout summer, Scott King put an early end to his recruitment on Monday.

Two months ago Scott King’s phone was quiet.

Despite being a long, athletic, and very skilled six-foot-eight forward, King hadn’t attracted much division I attention, too often being passive and not always competing with a sense of urgency.

But that all changed rapidly this summer as King brought his game to new levels and saw his recruiting stock rise perhaps more so than any other player in New England.

“I finally got more confident on the floor,” King said. “I would usually try to force stuff or pass up open shots but I just went out there a lot more confident and tried to do more with the ball, not being afraid to take it to the hole instead of just sitting out there and shooting threes.”

King’s month began with a strong performance at Hoop Mountain’s Super Week II followed by a terrific showing at the Elite 75 and 25 points against CBC a day later at the Basketbull National Invitational. It was more of the same throughout the month as King proved himself to be the latest in a rapidly growing line of skilled big men to come out of the Rivals program.

“I knew he was a big skilled wing and once he got confident he was going to be a division I player,” said Rivals head coach Vin Pastore. “Everybody knew he had skills but he showed he was willing to sacrifice his body and play hard. I think that was the difference for him.”

Proving himself to be a division I player was just the beginning as King finished the summer with numerous scholarship offers coming from leagues as high as the Atlantic 10. He narrowed his list to four at the end of the month and visited each of those spots unofficially in the weeks that followed.

After taking his final visit this weekend, King decided to end his recruitment on Monday and made a pledge to Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell.

“I went there Friday and I just fell in love with the campus,” King said. “Talking with the coaches and some of the players I thought it was a perfect fit.”

King was also impressed by the program's steady rise up the America East standings in Piikiell's five years at the helm of the program, culminating with the conference's regular season championship last season.

“Coach Pikiell just told me he needs me to score the basketball,” King said, “and I can do that.”

Join Stony Brook Athletics For "Seawolves Night Live"

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

With the excitement of a new year, Stony Brook fans can be a part of all the fun with the addition of "Seawolves Night Live". Hosted at The Bench from 7 to 8 p.m., co-hosts Jeff Bernstein and Curt Hylton will provide in-depth coverage of all things Seawolves athletics, conduct live interviews and take questions from the audience.

Today's show includes head football coach Chuck Priore, junior quarterback Michael Coulter and Director of Athletics Jim Fiore.

The Bench is located on Route 25A in Stony Brook directly across from the train station.

Ecuador Training Trip Gets Seawolves Ready for Season

Stony Brook men's soccer team takes 18-day tour of South American soccer hotbed.

By Adam Newman, Three Village Patch

After falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, Stony Brook men's soccer coach Cesar Markovic devised a new training plan to start 2010: a summertime soccer tour of Ecuador.

He said the goal of the trip was to give the team a new appreciation for the sport as well as a bonding experience for the players while taking on top competition from a soccer-mad nation.

On the field the Seawolves more than held their own. The team went 5-2-2 against under-20 teams and B squads from professional teams like Barcelona (Ecuador), FC Atacames, and Nacional. Markovic was pleased with the team's play and felt it progressed.

"I don't think they realized what they experienced until they got there," Markovic said. "Since I've been in America I've always wanted the kids to see the passion [the Ecuadoreans] have for the game. I wanted them to see the love the people have for the game. Some people had nothing, but the love they had for the game filled them. Neighborhood children would come to see our games."

Junior midfielder Wilber Bonilla said the culture difference had a lasting impression and motivating effect on the team.

"We were able to see how fortunate we were to live in America," Bonilla said. "We have a lot that we take for granted for soccer and for life...Over there the kids play barefoot and they didn't mind. Just to see something like that was a great learning experience."

Midfielder Mihailo Pavlisin agreed that the change of mindset was helpful.

"It was a very exotic destination," he said. "A great experience to learn and experience how people live on and off the soccer field. Very different ways of thinking."

Spending 18 days together helped to solidify the bond between teammates.

"We ate, slept, and played soccer together 24/7," Bonilla said. "We were able to build our relationship as teammates closer and become a closer family."

One highlight of the trip was the game with Esmeraldas, where Markovic played over 20 years ago. This game was his first time back to that stadium.

"It was really exciting," Pavlisin said. "Our coach used to tell us a lot about his most exciting moments of his playing career…We said 'lets do really well for coach this time.'"

Will the trip add a tangible result in the team's performance this season? Pavlisin is one of the many believers on the team, which went 6-10-4 during the 2009 regular season and has been picked to finish second in the America East conference this year.

"Last year we were a pretty good team that was able to win a [conference] championship," he said. "This year we get to come back from this, we have more experience. It adds up to being a better team."

Maysonet, Jackolski fitting in at Stony Brook

By STEVEN MARCUS steven.marcus@newsday.com

They had just endured the shock of their athletic lives and, in a way, were looking for comfort in the enemy's lair.

Brock Jackolski and Miguel Maysonet were the biggest stars on Hofstra's football team, but when that program was terminated last November, the former All-Long Island high school running backs had to look elsewhere.

Stony Brook was the choice, but there was some trepidation. There was that competitive tension of coming from a local I-AA rival combined with being in a room filled with mostly strangers.

"I remember looking into Brock and Miguel's eyes,'' Stony Brook linebacker Stephen Schwicke said. "I could tell they were a little uncomfortable. I remember talking to them and saying, 'You're with our family now.'

"At the end of the day, we want to win games, they want to win games. That's what we're after. They had their program taken away; to their credit, they handled it amazingly. They both worked extremely hard. They are humble kids. They handled it as well as anyone could.''

Jackolski, a Hansen Award winner from Floyd High School, spent two seasons at Hofstra. Maysonet, who won the Hansen at Riverhead, played his freshman year at Hofstra.

"For the most part, Hofstra is pretty much out of my system,'' Jackolski said. "Since I've been here, I feel like I've always been here. The guys have treated me so well. And the coaches as well. I'm learning the plays real quickly.

"Of course, I miss my friends that were with me at Hofstra. But it turned out for the best. You can't dwell on things. You have to make the most of it.''

Maysonet has taken a similar approach. "It didn't take that long for me to get acclimated,'' he said. "I'm really not thinking about that [Hofstra] anymore. I haven't been back there since I left. I will always have that bond that I created with the few friends that I made at Hofstra. It was such a short time there. Then the bond had to break and we all went our separate ways.''

Jackolski and Maysonet will be prime-time players for Stony Brook. Eddie Gowins is the leading running back, but coach Chuck Priore said there will be plenty of opportunities for the Hofstra transfers.

"The three will control 80 percent of the touches,'' Priore said, "whether it is through the air or on the ground. Brock is a very good receiver and so is Miguel. When we can flex these guys out, we become hard to defend. If we have 40 running plays, Eddie has 22 or 23, he deserves them. The other two are going to touch the ball 10 times and seven or eight in the passing game.''

Jackolski invites those who enjoyed watching him and Maysonet at Hofstra to see them play for Stony Brook.

"Absolutely,'' he said. "Between me, Miguel and Eddie and all the other athletes, Stony Brook is going to be putting on a show.''

Stony Brook's big test: Big East's South Florida

Steve Marcus (Newsday)

Photo Gallery
SBU, the lone FCS team left on Long Island, goes primetime this year with a game against Big East team

South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels said he knows all about Stony Brook University football and its location on Long Island as his Big East team prepares to host the Seawolves - who are playing their first game against an FBS (I-A) opponent.

"Sure I've heard of them,'' Daniels said. "My dad is from Buffalo.''

That keynotes Stony Brook's foray into big-time football. Unknown, but undaunted, Stony Brook wants this opportunity to step into the spotlight.

"It's an awesome opportunity, win-win,'' SBU running back Brock Jackolski said of Saturday's game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa against a team that has been ranked as high as No. 2 in recent years. "We get there and we stun USF and it's a win. We go there and don't do so well, nothing against us.''

Senior center and co-captain Paul Fenaroli added, "We can't look at them as being D-I. They are humans, just like us.''

Camp has been all about playing the Bulls at the home of the Tampa Bay Bucs, site of Super Bowl XLIII. Capacity is listed at 66,321.

Besides the chance to play in an NFL stadium against a Big East team, Stony Brook will also receive a $350,000 guarantee for the game, according to Bill McGillis, South Florida's executive associate athletic director.

McGillis said he expects a crowd of at least 35,000 for the season opener and the debut of new coach Skip Holtz. Stony Brook has been engaging in, well, Bulls sessions as part of its preparation. "It's mentioned more than once a day,'' Jackolski said. "If not 10 times a day.''

Coach Chuck Priore is revving up his players. "You've got an opportunity to play in front of more people than you'll play when you add up your entire career,'' he said. "They [USF] certainly have more to lose by not having a great performance than we do. It should have no factor on the rest of our season.''

Stephen Schwicke, the senior linebacker from Bellport, can't wait, saying "I don't think anyone on this team is intimidated at all. If anything, we're welcoming the challenge. Growing up we all dreamed of playing in front of huge crowds. The greatest noise would be to hear the silence of that crowd if we are out there making plays.

"We're ready to rock n roll.''

While USF's Daniels may need a geography lesson - Buffalo is about 450 miles from Stony Brook - the Seawolves do not require a history lesson on its opponent. "It is a football town,'' said Stony Brook wide receiver Matt Brevi, who lives in Tampa. "There are a lot of fans and they are crazy. They really get after it.''

But South Florida is also a team with something of an inferiority complex, said Stony Brook linebacker Casey Callahan, also of Tampa. "You think of the big three in Florida as Florida, Florida State and Miami; they [USF] have been knocking on the door. They beat Florida State last year. That was a big win for them.''

Daniels agreed with that, saying, "In a way, we're in the same stages as Stony Brook, trying to make a name for ourselves.''

South Florida started football on the same path as Stony Brook, taking the FCS route in 1997 but then quickly establishing itself in I-A.

The Bulls peaked in 2007 when one poll ranked them second in the nation. They are 95-57 in the sport and have won three bowl games. The New York Giants' No. 1 pick this year was USF's Jason Pierre-Paul.

Last season ended in controversy for USF as coach Jim Leavitt was fired after it was alleged that he struck a player. Holtz, son of former Notre Dame and Jets coach Lou Holtz, replaced him.

USF plays the Florida Gators in 13 days, but Holtz said, "Right now Stony Brook is more important because they are first. I'm not necessarily worrying about them overlooking Stony Brook. Everybody understands how important it is that we get off on the right foot. Stony Brook is not a team you can overlook, they have talent.

"The excitement and energy our players talk about in getting ready for Florida, that's the same excitement and energy Stony Brook has in getting ready for South Florida. They are going to come in and try to make a statement, try and win.''

Daniels added, "It's not necessarily who you are playing, it doesn't matter. Everybody is under scholarship. We can never overlook anybody.''

Jim Fiore, Stony Brook's athletic director, sees this game as a natural progression of the program's growth. It was conceived three seasons ago between Fiore and McGillis. The two have been friends for years. The timing seems perfect. Stony Brook shared the Big South title last season - culminating a decades-long transition from club football to non-scholarship to full scholarship in a state-of-the-art stadium - and is expected to vie for the championship again this season.

"Stony Brook will have very little name recognition in Tampa,'' McGillis said, "but I will be spreading the word about what Chuck and Jim have done there. I fully expect they will be a program that plays in the FCS playoffs.''

Fiore has always shot for the moon in his planning for all of the university's teams. Most of his visions are becoming reality. "My job is not to set us up for the next two years, but for 20 to 40 years,'' the 41-year old Fiore said. "We're not dropping football, not reducing scholarships, not downgrading our athletic program. We have a large vision for athletics.''

To wit, he is talking about playing Army and Boston College in the next few seasons. "Army gives us a great brand and Boston College, another great brand and ACC school at Chestnut Hill. I think we are out of puberty, into adulthood. We have an identity now.''

Where might all this lead? Fiore foresees other opponents from the Big East, SEC and ACC. "Maybe play it at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field,'' he said. There's also talk about expanding SBU's LaValle Stadium beyond its current capacity of 8,136.

Fiore isn't quite talking about inviting Michigan, but said, "Look at where we were, look at where we are. We're not stopping.''

Volleyball To Open 2010 Season At Golden Gopher Invite This Weekend

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's volleyball team will begin their 2010 season this weekend as it travels to Minneapolis for the Golden Gopher Invite on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The Seawolves will open against Marquette on Friday at 6 p.m. EST. SBU will then play two matches on Saturday, taking on sixth-ranked Minnesota at 1:45 p.m. EST before closing the Invite against Denver at 4 p.m. EST. Live audio and video of the match against Minnesota can be found at www.goseawolves.org. Gametracker of all matches also can be found at www.goseawolves.org.

The Seawolves return seven letter-winners from last season including 2009 All-America East second team selection, senior middle blocker Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.) and 2009 America East All-Rookie selection, sophomore setter Corinne Perry (Northport, N.Y.). SBU also brings back senior libero Jeanette Gibbs (Port Jefferson, N.Y.), who reached double-digits in digs 22 times last season.

Headen led the team in blocks (92) and attack percentage (.328) last season. She also recorded the first double-double of her career against Hartford, registering ten blocks and ten kills. Perry dished out 756 total assists a season ago and her 8.22 assists/set ranked fifth in the conference. Her average improved to 9.83 in conference play as did her defense, ranking 19th overall with 1.97 digs/set.

Ranked sixth in the AVCA Top 25 preseason poll, the Golden Gophers finished 28-9 last season and advanced to their third Final Four since 2003. Minnesota is led by senior All-American Lauren Gibbemeyer, who set school records in single season blocks (181) and block assists (161) in 2009 in addition to recording the third highest single-season hitting percentage in program history (.385).

Marquette returns five starters from last year's 18-12 squad and was picked fourth in the Big East preseason poll. The Golden Eagles are led by two 2009 All-Big East second team selections, senior setter Nikki Klingsporn and junior outside hitter Ashley Beyer. Klingsporn finished last season with 1,235 assists, the seventh best single season mark in school history.
Denver finished 16-17 in 2009 after going 25-7 the previous season. The Pioneers welcome six newcomers to their squad and will be led by senior libero Kacie Wikierak, the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Stony Brook football ready for national stage

Doric Sam (Statesman)

“Who is Stony Brook?? Fastest rising D1 program in America. Emerging power at FCS level. EXCELLENT school on Long Island.”

Those words, indicative of the growing esteem for Seawolves athletics across the country, were tweeted earlier this month by Executive Associate Director of Athletics Bill McGillis of the University of South Florida, Stony Brook football’s first opponent in 2010. After earning respect at the national level with the most successful year ever for Stony Brook’s athletics programs, the Seawolves are prepared to continue their rise this year, starting with the football team.

In 2009, just its second year in the Big South, Stony Brook was able to win a share of the conference title with a dramatic victory in the last week of the season over perennial conference powerhouse Liberty. The Seawolves finished the season 6-5 overall and an outstanding 5-1 in the Big South. The conference title is the Seawolves’ first since winning a share of the Northeast Conference in 2005.

“It was certainly rewarding to be conference champs,” said head coach Chuck Priore, who was named Big South Coach of the Year. “But last season had its ups and downs, so we’re looking to be more consistent this year as we have higher expectations.”

These high expectations are inherited by a young team, as Stony Brook graduated 26 seniors last year and are only returning a total of eight starters on offense and defense.

“This year’s team is going to be younger on both sides of the ball and doesn’t have the same number of leaders,” said Priore. “But I think it’s also a team that has a little more talent and is a little closer together.”

Leading the offense will be junior quarterback Michael Coulter (Yorba Linda, Calif.), who started every game for the Seawolves last season. He led the Big South with 15 touchdown passes and was one of only three players in the conference to finish with more than 2,000 yards of offense last season. Coulter also engineered game-winning drives in three games, including the final game against Liberty.

“The offensive game always starts with the quarterback,” said Priore. “Coulter had a good campaign in 2009 and has prepared correctly to lead the team in the 2010 season.”

Coulter is the only quarterback on the roster with significant game experience.

Joining Coulter in the backfield will be standout running back Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.), who was named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference Team last month. In just two seasons he has already totaled 2,200 yards on the ground, ranking fourth all-time in school history. Gowins managed to lead the team in rushing for the second straight year with 890 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to being named to the All-Big South first team in 2009. Not only did he lead the conference in rushing, he also ranked 22nd in the nation, despite being slowed by a foot injury for most of the season.

“I’m 100 percent recovered this year,” Gowins said. “We have a big year ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“Big year” is the appropriate phrase. The 2010 season marks the first time the winner of the Big South will receive an automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs to compete for the national championship. But instead of getting overexcited in the hype of the playoff bid, Gowins said the team is taking it one game at a time. Still, he said,the chance for an automatic bid does give them added motivation.

Gowins spent the first two years of his career sharing the ball-carrying duties with Stony Brook’s all-time leading rusher, Conte Cuttino, giving the Seawolves the most dangerous rushing attack in the conference. While he did say he was happy about moving into the lead role, he said that having Cuttino made it a lot harder for teams to defend the running game.

“It feels good but then again it’s going to be harder than it was last year because it was hard for defenses to key on two running backs at once,” he said.

This year, it could be even harder for opposing defenses, as they will have to watch three running backs at once. Stony Brook added a pair of transfers at the position: junior Brock Jackolski (Shirley, N.Y.) and sophomore Miguel Maysonet (Riverhead, N.Y.). Both backs transferred from Hofstra University after the school announced that it was dropping its football program at the end of last season.

Both Jackolski and Maysonet won the New York State Player of the Year award in their respective senior seasons. They were also winners of the Carl Hansen Award, given to Suffolk County’s most outstanding player. Jackolski was an all-around threat for Hofstra last season, ranking second on the team with 787 all-purpose yards. As a true freshman in 2009, Maysonet led the Pride in rushing with 385 yards.

“They’re competing for playing time, they’re both good players,” Priore said. “I think both of them will provide us with leadership and experience.”

Paving the way for the rushing attack will be senior captain Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.), an All-Big South first-team selection in 2009 and a preseason all-conference pick in 2010. He has made 27 consecutive starts at center and will anchor an offensive line that has cleared the way for a rushing attack that ranked 29th in the nation last season.

Probably the biggest loss from last year’s team comes on the defensive side of the ball in the form of linebacker Tyler Santucci. The 2009 Big South Defensive Player of the Year, Santucci ended his career tied for the Stony Brook career record for solo tackles with 145. He also was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press last year. But he is still a part of the Seawolves family, serving as a graduate assistant this year.

“It’s great having him here with us,” said Priore. “It’s good for the kids too because they have somebody to identify with. He’s very well-respected.”

Priore said there is no replacing him, but still believes the team has quality talent at the linebacker position.

Picking up the slack will be senior captains Julian Glenn (Uniondale, N.Y.) and Stephen Schwicke (East Patchogue, N.Y.). Both of them have been in the program for four years and bring that experience to the position.

Anchoring the secondary is senior captain safety Arin West (Toms River, N.J.), who returns after an outstanding junior season. A first team All-Big South selection, West recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

Stony Brook will begin the season on the road for what may be the biggest game in school history. For the first time ever, they will face a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) program when they take on the University of South Florida in Tampa on September 4. USF ended the 2009 season with a 27-3 victory over Northern Illinois in the International Bowl. They finished with an 8-5 record.

“I certainly expect it to be a challenge for us, but I expect us to be prepared,” Priore said of the game. “Anytime you’re playing a team that’s supposed to beat you, it gives you an opportunity to earn some respect.”

The Seawolves will start the conference schedule on October 9 in the homecoming game against VMI. For the second year in a row, they will face Liberty in the final game of the season, a matchup that could decide the conference championship. Stony Brook was picked to finish second in the conference behind Liberty for the second straight season. Priore said he doesn’t care about the preseason polls.

“When it’s all said and done it doesn’t matter who picks us, it matters what we do on the field,” he said. “I don’t really pay attention to what people say about us.”

Gowins does, however.

“I honestly think we should be first,” he said. “But we just have to prove everybody wrong because we were second last year too and we finished out on top.”

2010 also marks the first season that Stony Brook will be the only football program on Long Island. Priore said the Seawolves are ready to accept that responsibility.

“I certainly believe that we’ll represent correctly on the field,” he said. “More importantly I think it’s a place where the fans on Long Island can come and enjoy a great Saturday game.”

William Carmona Named to 2010 NECBL First Team

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Rising sophomore William Carmona (Hempstead, N.Y.) of the Stony Brook University baseball team has been named to the 2010 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) first team, the league recently announced. The honor capped an outstanding year for Carmona, who was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American as well as America East Rookie of the Year.

Playing for the Vermont Mountaineers, Carmona tied for the most home runs in the NECBL with six in addition to ranking third in the league in RBI (27). He also was named the league's Co-Player of the Week on July 17 after hitting .318 with seven hits including two doubles and two home runs including a grand slam. He also participated in the Home Run Derby at the NECBL All-Star game.

In his first season with the Seawolves, Carmona led the America East in batting average (.387) and on-base percentage (.457) and was the only freshman named to the All-America East first team. He hit .462 in the America East tournament on his way to a spot on the All-Tournament team and he also was selected a third team Freshman All-American by Ping!Baseball.

Hansen BROTHERS ready for Stony Brook Football

Big South 2010 Football Preview

Men's Soccer Picked To Finish Second In America East

Seawolves receive three first-place votes.

Cambridge, Mass. - Stony Brook University’s men’s soccer team has been picked to finish second in the America East Conference, in a vote by the conference coaches. The Seawolves tied preseason favorite Boston University with three first-place votes and received 43 total points, one behind the Terriers.

Despite a 6-10-4 record in 2009, Stony Brook went 5-0-2 down the stretch to capture its second America East title. Sophomore Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) tallied seven goals and two assists in leading a young group last season. The 2009 America East Rookie of the Year is among eight returning starters.

The 2010 season begins at Long Island rival Hofstra on September 1 at 7:30. America East play starts with Boston University on October 2 at 7:00 pm at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.

2010 Preseason Poll

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Total

1. Boston U. (3) 44

2. Stony Brook (3) 43

3. UMBC (1) 37

4. New Hampshire (1) 29

5. Binghamton 25

6. Hartford 22

7. Vermont 14

8. Albany 10

Women's Soccer Picked To Finish Second In America East Preseason Poll

Seawolves open 2010 season at No. 18 Rutgers on Friday.
2010 Media Guide

Cambridge, Mass. - Coming off its third straight America East semifinal appearance, Stony Brook University women's soccer team was picked to finish second in the America East conference on Tuesday in a preseason vote of the leagues coaches. The Seawolves open up the 2010 regular season at No. 18 Rutgers on Friday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. The Seawolves home opener is Friday, Aug. 27 against Siena at 7 p.m.

Stony Brook received 52 points, including one first-place vote, which was behind tournament champion Boston University (64 points), who received eight first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own team.

The Seawolves return nine starters from last year's squad, including junior Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.), the 2008 America East Rookie of the Year, and sophomores Sa'sha Kershaw (Baltimore, Md.) and Taryn Schoenbeck (Newark, Del.), who each earned a spot on the 2009 All-America East Rookie team. Kershaw led the team in points (14) and tied for the team lead in goals (six).

SBU tied No. 23 Rutgers, 1-1, last season, its best ever result against a ranked opponent and defeated BU, 2-1, during the regular season. The victory over the Terriers ended BU's 22 game conference-win streak

Men's Basketball To Play Monmouth On ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon

Seawolves to play Monmouth on ESPN on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6 a.m.


Click Here To See 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Coming off its first America East regular season title, Stony Brook University's men's basketball team was selected to play in ESPN's third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. The Seawolves will appear on ESPN for the first time in program history, traveling to take on Monmouth on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Tip-off is set for 6 a.m.

ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon is highlighted by 12 live college basketball games in 24 consecutive hours on ESPN for the second straight season. Overall, ESPN's celebration of the opening of the college basketball season will include 20 live games - 19 men's and one women's -- in a minimum of 25.5 hours across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. ESPN3.com will offer two exclusive games as well as a simulcast of every ESPN and ESPN2 telecast.

Stony Brook set Division I program records for overall wins (22) and conference wins (13) in 2009-10 and won 10 straight games to clinch its first America East Conference regular season title. Under the guidance of head coach Steve Pikiell, who was selected as the America East Conference Coach of the Year, the Seawolves also earned their first ever Division I postseason berth, hosting the University of Illinois on ESPNU in the first round of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament in front of the largest crowd in program history.

Season ticket packages for the 2010-11 Stony Brook men's basketball season will go on sale on Sept. 1. For more information visit www.goseawolves.org or call 631-632-WOLF.

Baseball Wraps Up Successful Summer

Sophomore Nick Tropeano led the Cape Cod League with 44 strikeouts.

Click Here to read article on Tropeano from Cape Cod Times Online.
Click Here to read recap of championship game from Kettleers website.

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Coming off its second America East Championship in three seasons, the Stony Brook University baseball team saw many of its players have impressive seasons in summer ball led by sophomore right-hander Nick Tropeano (West Islip, N.Y.), who pitched 6.2 innings of no-hit relief in leading the Cotuit Kettleers to a 6-0 victory in the decisive third game of the Cape Cod League Championip series.

The performance in the championship capped a terrific summer season for Tropeano, who posted a 3.76 ERA in 55.0 innings for the Kettleers. Tropeano also led the league with 44 strikeouts.

Tropeano was not the only the Seawolves player to play in the Cape Cod League, considered by many to be the best summer league in the nation. Freshman outfielder Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.) signed a contract with the Bourne Braves late in the summer and hit .346 with five runs scored in 26 at-bats.

Jankowski came to the Cape after having a spectacular season with the Marion Bobcats of the Kitty League. Jankowski played in 40 games for the Bobcats and led the league in batting average (.484), hits (62) and stolen bases (45)

Freshman second baseman Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ontario) also signed a contract to play in the Cape Cod League, signing with the Orleans Firebirds. Tissenbaum played for Orleans after recording 34 hits in 35 games for the Lowell All-Americans of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).

Tissenbaum was joined in the NECBL by freshman designated hitter William Carmona (Hempstead, N.Y.), who played for the Vermont Mountaineers. Carmona tied for the league-lead in home runs (six) and was also tied for third with 27 RBI.

Carmona was also named the the league's Co-Player of the Week on July 17 after hitting .318 with seven hits including two doubles and two home runs including a grand slam. He also participated in the Home Run Derby at the 2010 NECBL All-Star game.
Junior shortstop Chad Marshall (Paris, Ontario) also had a successful summer, hitting a team-best .444 for Team Canada at the 2010 World University Games in Japan. Marshall helped Canada to fifth place, its best-finish ever.

JOE NAMATH LOVES STONY BROOK

Hall of Fame NY Jets QB, Joe Namath hangs-out with Michael Derice, Stony Brook Director of Football Operations.

Inside Lacrosse September 2010 Issue: Shooting from the Hip - Stony Brook's Kevin Crowley

Last year’s leading midfielder scorer nationally, Kevin Crowley is a big, fast, physical middie who plays at both ends of the field, puts up huge numbers and picks up big groundballs. For all that and more, he was a Tewaaraton finalist last season and a key part of Canada’s silver medal-winning outfit last summer.


Returning to the Seawolves as a senior, Crowley has his sights set on exceeding 2010’s NCAA Quarterfinal finish.

On the Field
What are your thoughts on a great 2010 season?
It was unbelievable coming from the year before when we had a letdown in the America East final against UMBC. Coming out and winning that first tournament game and getting to quarterfinals playing in front of 10,000 people — that was the best moment. Walking out there and seeing so many people at Stony Brook, for a Stony Brook game? It almost felt like we were one of those programs putting fans in the seats.

What’s it like playing with attackman Jordan McBride?
Unbelievable. Every pass I throw him if he can get his hands free it’s going ot be a pretty good shot on goal. I get a lot of points off of just feeding him.

How about FOGO Adam Rand?
Rand’s unbelievable on the face-off being able to control it and get it to a specific winger.

What’s it like playing for Coach Ricky Sowell?
I love Coach Sowell. When Jordan and I came in, he was like another parent that we could go to if we needed something and he understood that we were from so far away. And the fact that he gave me the opportunity to come down and play in the States — it was just unbelievable. I love the guy.

How do you describe your game?
My dad put me in a lot of sports growing up, a lot of soccer. He never had me as a striker or goalscorer; he really put a lot of emphasis on defense. As I got older I adapted into more of an offensive role because I was practicing my shot, and it only takes one good game to get a shot to play offense.

Most important lesson you learned at the World Games?
I learned what it takes to be a leader. You have guys like Shawn Williams, John Grant Jr., Brodie Merrill and Chris Sanderson… everything they say is right on cue and what the team needs to here. Playing with guys you look up to when you’re younger, everything they say is always the right thing.

What’s your best characteristic as a teammate?
I’ve always strived to make people around me better, whether it’s communicating on defense or finding that guy who is open but it’s gotta be a perfect pass… Those little things like that.

What’s your go-to offensive move?
The lean. I like to get my shoulder into the guy and lean and he can’t throw a check on me when I’m leaning on him, so I’m scanning the field looking for the open man.

What’s your expectation for Sony Brook in 2011?
After the god year we had, we brought in some awesome guys on defense. We’re going to be able to fill those spots right away. We’re looking to get more and for me it’s my last chance, so I say why not shoot for a national championship?

Off the Field
This story appears in the September 2010 issue of Inside Lacrosse. To purchase a copy, click the cover image.
What’s your go-to meal?
Chicken parm.

Best thing about Long Island?
The beaches.

The worst?
Gotta be the techno. It’s all the time.

Funniest Team Canada teammate?
Phil Sanderson. But Junior’s a pretty funny guy too.

Favorite city to visit?
The Okanagan Falls in British Columbia. Obviously nobody would’ve heard of it.

Favorite TV show?
Entourage. My favorite character’s gotta be Drama. Turtle has changed over the last couple seasons.

If you could play another sport, what would it be?
Golf.

More epic US-Canada showdown, hockey or lacrosse?
In the grand scheme, the Olympics. But to be a part of the Gold Medal game was unbelievable.

Favorite Website?
Other than homepage, InsideLacrosse.com, menshealth.com. Actually no, that’s lame. Let’s say addictinggames.com.

What do you drive?
2000 Ford Ranger, midnight blue.

What’s on your iPod?
Lotta country music, lotta Metallica for before games.

What would your callsign be?
Big Cat.

Who’s your hero?
My dad.

Men's Basketball Announces 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

Road contests against Big East Conference opponents University of Connecticut and University of Notre Dame highlight the 2010-11 non-conference schedule

Click Here To See 2010-11 Non-Conference Schedule

Stony Brook, N.Y. (Aug. 12, 2010) – Road contests against Big East Conference opponents University of Connecticut and University of Notre Dame, as well as Ivy League champion and Sweet 16 participant Cornell University, highlight the 2010-11 non-conference schedule for the Stony Brook University men’s basketball team as released today by head coach Steve Pikiell. The defending America East Conference regular season champions will also host five contests at Pritchard Gymnasium after recording a program record five sellouts last season.

"Coming off an outstanding 2009-10 season, I think we have put together a terrific non-conference schedule that will challenge our veteran team and give us a good idea of things we need to work on as we get ready to play in what will be a very tough America East Conference," Pikiell said.

Stony Brook will open its 2010-11 campaign on Friday, Nov. 12 against UConn in Storrs, Conn. This will mark the 11th straight season in which the Seawolves have played a Big East opponent and the second time in the last three seasons they will take on the Huskies. Stony Brook will travel to South Bend, Ind. on Dec. 19 to take on Notre Dame, who won 23 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Stony Brook also played the Fighting Irish during the 2006-07 campaign.

The Big Red of Cornell will host the Seawolves on Jan. 8. Cornell won its third straight Ivy League title last season and then advanced to its first ever NCAA Sweet 16.

The Seawolves home opener will come on Sunday, Nov. 14 against Mount Ida College. Stony Brook will then hit the road for its first ever meeting with Monmouth University (Nov. 16) before facing off against Fairleigh Dickinson University two days later (Nov. 18). Stony Brook will then return home to host Wagner College on Nov. 21.

Patriot League champion Lehigh University visits Pritchard Gymnasium on Dec. 1 before Stony Brook hits the road for a two-game swing against Columbia University (Dec. 4) and Holy Cross (Dec. 7). Stony Brook will then return home to take on Sacred Heart University on Dec. 11 and will round out its home non-conference schedule on Dec. 29 against Colgate University.

Stony Brook set Division I program records for overall wins (22) and conference wins (13) in 2009-10 and won 10 straight games to clinch its first America East Conference regular season. Under the guidance of Head Coach Steve Pikiell, who was selected as the America East Conference Coach of the Year, the Seawolves also earned their first ever Division I postseason berth, hosting the University of Illinois in the first round of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament in front of the largest crowd in program history.

Season ticket packages for the 2010-11 Stony Brook men's basketball season will go on sale on Sept. 1. For more information visit www.goseawolves.org or call 631-632-WOLF.

Football Set To Open Preseason Practice on Monday

2010 PRESEASON ROSTER

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Stony Brook, N.Y. - After completing physicals and meeting with athletic department staff, Stony Brook's football team opens preseason practice on Monday afternoon. Starting with tomorrow's 3:30 practice, head coach Chuck Priore and his staff will guide the Seawolves through 26 total practices over 18 days.

Junior Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) and senior Paul Fenaroli (Monroe, Conn.) were each named to the preseason All-Big South team as Stony Brook was picked to finish second in the conference. Adding to the excitement of the 2010 season is the opportunity of an automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. 2010 marks the first season the Big South will send its conference champion to the postseason.

All practices are open to the public. Stony Brook opens the season at South Florida on September 4.