Stony Brook, N.Y. - Despite cutting a four-goal, fourth-quarter deficit to one, the Stony Brook men's lacrosse came up one-goal short, losing to Towson, 10-9, before 2,488 fans at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Mike Rooney (East Islip, N.Y.) recorded his third hat trick of the season for the Seawolves (1-5). Andrew Hodgson and Matt Hughes each totaled two goals and assist for the Tigers (3-3).
Sophomore Matt Bellando (Miami, Fla.) scored both of his goals in the fourth quarter, and Rooney added another as Stony Brook cut Towson's 10-6 lead to one with 3:59 left in regulation.
Both teams traded possessions before a Stony Brook turnover gave Towson the ball with just over a minute left. Towson's Thomas DeNapoli had an open net to score on with 39 seconds left, but freshman Bryan Judge (Melville, N.Y.) forced the turnover. Senior Kyle Moeller (South Setauket, N.Y.) picked up the ground ball and found sophomore Cole Millican (Sunrise, Fla.) in transition. As Millican dodged his defender, Towson's Sean Sheehe was called for a push, putting Stony Brook man-up for the final 29 seconds of the game.
Stony Brook missed the cage on its next three shots, but junior Nick Watson (Manchester, England) took a pass from the door step with two seconds. Watson appeared to score, but the officials ruled that the ball had not crossed the goal line as time expired.
"I thought we did some things well, but we still must commit ourselves to the right style of play," coach Jim Nagle said. "Fundamentally, we getting better, but it's not where it needs to be."
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Rooney and Tundo each scored in the third quarter, but the Tigers' Matt Hughes scored back-to-back goals to give the visitors its biggest lead of the game, 10-6, with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter.
Towson won the ensuing face-off, but senior Greg Miceli (King City, Ontario), who totaled a career-high seven ground balls, caused a turnover, igniting a fast break. Senior Jared LeVerne (Jericho, N.Y.) found Bellando in transition for the score and Stony Brook's first in nearly 15 minutes.
The two Bellando goals and Rooney's score capped a three-goal outburst in just 1:08.
Stony Brook had eight shots in the 2:57 of regulation. Towson's Andrew Wascavage played the final three quarters, stopping 11 shots. Junior Sean Brady (Huntington Bay, N.Y.) finished with seven saves.
Senior Russ Bonanno (Seaford, N.Y.) tallied an assist for a sixth straight game. Millican, LeVerne and sophomore Jak Wawrzyniak (Manchester, England) each recorded their first points of the year.
Stony Brook is on the road for two games next week, beginning Tuesday at Siena at 3 p.m. The game will be televised live on Time Warner Cable Sports. Fans with Time Warner Cable in the Empire State can find the game on the following channels.
Albany - Channel 3 (SD) and 1803 (HD)
Buffalo - Channel 13
Rochester - Channel 26
Syracuse - Channel 13
New York City/Hudson Valley - Channel 197
