Feb. 19, 2010

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

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Game Preview
Stony Brook's men's lacrosse team opens the 2010 season at home against Siena. Today's game marks the first time since 2005 the Seawolves did not open their season against Virginia. SBU will travel to Charlottesville to face the Cavaliers next week. Stony Brook has won all six meetings against Siena, but the last three games have been separated by a total of four goals. In last year's game at Siena, Robbie Campbell's goal with 1:02 remaining broke a 7-7 tie, giving the Seawolves an 8-7 win.

An Early Look At The Team
After losing just eight goals from a year ago, Stony Brook's offense is poised to be among the nation's best in 2010. Preseason All-Americans Kevin Crowley and Jordan McBride lead an offensive unit that ranked ninth in the country in goals per game. A defense led by Steven Waldeck, who was among the country's best with 96 ground balls last year, and goalie Charlie Paar are ready to get back to the America East Championship game and an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2002.

And The Schedule
Nine of Stony Brook's first 10 opponents are either ranked or receiving votes to start the season in the major lacrosse polls. Stony Brook will play Towson and Cornell, both for the first time, at LaValle Stadium and will take on Virginia, Delaware and Bryant on the road. Also facing the Seawolves at home are Denver, Hartford and Vermont. UMBC, Binghamton and Albany are Stony Brook's conference road opponents.

Scouting The Saints
Siena, which won its first MAAC title last year, was picked to win the conference in 2010. Seniors Brent Herbst and Shaun Dunn and sophomore Bryan Neufeld were named to the preseason all-conference team. Herbst, an honorable mention All-American, was second in the country in GAA (6.34) and fourth in save percentage (.617). Dunn was tied for third on the team with 20 goals and Neufeld was named the MAAC's Rookie of the Year.

2010 Season Preview
This could be the season in which Stony Brook emerges as one of the nation's best men's lacrosse teams. "From the minute we stepped on the field after the America East championship game last season, our focus has been on returning to that game in 2010," coach Rick Sowell said. "I could not be happier with the way we have gone about our business preparing for the season. It was clear from day one the team was motivated to improve. The combination of talent, confidence, experience and motivation is dangerous, and we have all of it."

On offense the Seawolves are essentially intact from a year ago. They lose a total of eight goals from 2009, a season in which their attack ranked ninth in the nation in goals per game, ninth in ground balls per game and first in face-off percentage. The starting attack and midfield positions all return, giving SBU one of the top returning offensive machines in the nation. The one loss among the starters comes on defense, where the Seawolves have a number of capable players ready to step into a starting role. And the starting goalkeeper from a year ago is back as well.

Stony Brook finished the 2009 season ranked in the top 20 for the first time in program history and earned a number of top 20 positions in the 2010 preseason polls. The Seawolves tied perennial power UMBC for first place in the final America East standings and battled the Retrievers in the conference championship game, finishing 9-6 overall and 4-1 in the league. Stony Brook earned its most victories since 2005, which had been the last time it made the conference final.

Attack
With the return of 95 percent of its goal-scoring from 2009, a season in which Stony Brook averaged more than 11 goals per game, offense should not pose a problem in 2010. Junior Jordan McBride averaged more than 40 goals during his first two seasons and is poised to challenge SBU's all-time scoring records. After a 42-goal season, McBride earned honorable mention All-American and first-team All-America East honors for a second straight season. A quick shot with uncanny accuracy, he places well over 70 percent of his shots on goal and will be the go-to guy again for the Seawolves. Senior Tom Compitello came off a medical redshirt season and had a breakout year for Stony Brook in 2009. Moving to attack, he flourished in his new role, scoring 13 goals and setting up many of McBride's goals with his team-leading 25 assists. His possession skills behind the net provided a big boost to the SBU offense. Sophomore Kyle Belton quickly turned into another potent stick on offense, scoring 18 goals as a freshman and proving to be an accurate shooter. Junior Brett Drost picked up his first career point in 2009 and will be getting more playing time in 2010. Senior Tyler Hope brings two years of junior college experience to the team. He totaled 28 goals in two seasons at Suffolk Community College. Freshman Tim Hawkins, a local product from Rocky Point, will round out what should be a potent position for Stony Brook. "I like what I see with our attack; we have a really nice blend of players there," Sowell said. "Of course, it all starts with Jordan McBride, who will draw a lot of attention from our opponents. Tom Compitello has shown that he can make plays, either scoring on his own or setting up other players. He really takes the pressure off our midfielders. Kyle Belton came on strong his first year for us and showed improvement in the fall. Brett Drost also had a strong fall and I expect him to play a role for us this season."

Midfield
Much like the attack position, the Stony Brook midfield returns virtually everyone from 2009. The Seawolves lost only two letterwinners at the position who saw significant playing time, and with three all-conference performers back, the position will be talented and deep. Junior Kevin Crowley, a two-time first-team all-America East selection, is a do-it-all player for the Seawolves. He is equally adept at scoring and setting up goals. Last season he led the team in points, putting in a career-high 28 goals and recording 23 assists to give him a hand in nearly a third of the Seawolves' goals. He also picked up a career-best 58 ground balls and finished among the America East leaders in goals, assists and ground balls. Sophomore Robbie Campbell made an immediate impact, finishing third on the team with 21 goals and adding 12 assists. Junior Timmy Trenkle emerged as a starter last season and responded with 16 goals. Senior Chris Scott played in every game for SBU in 2009, scoring a career-high seven goals, including four against Albany in the America East semifinals. Sophomore Graham Adams had a three-goal game against UMBC and should see more playing time in 2010. Sophomore Tyler McCabe is in his first season at Stony Brook after transferring from Quinnipiac. He scored two goals in six games as a freshman. Senior Paul Randazzo will battle for playing time after getting into three games in his first season with the program in 2009. "This is just like our attack; all of our guys are back," Sowell said. "With Crowley, Trenkle and Campbell all returning, we think that this is a very formidable group. Crowley is a player that can both score goals and set up his teammates to score. Campbell scored 33 points as a freshman, had a great fall and is in great shape; he can be a very versatile player for us. Timmy has a split-dodge that is as good as any out there, so we expect great things from our first midfield. We also feel that we have good depth with our second midfield line. Most of them gained valuable game experience last year." One of Stony Brook's few losses comes at short stick defense with the graduation of Taylor Eason '09 after a solid career. Sophomore Jared LeVerne was impressive as a freshman playing in every game on his way to America East All-Rookie honors, scoring four goals and finishing among the team leaders with 37 ground balls. Junior Vonzel LeGall also had a solid season, seeing action in every game but one and contributing a goal and an assist. Freshman Joseph Laforet adds to the growing contingent of Canadian players at SBU, coming out of Ontario, where he gained plenty of experience playing Junior A lacrosse. Named Stony Brook's Male Athlete of the Year in 2009, senior Steven Waldeck flourished as SBU's long stick middie in 2009. He was an All-America East selection, and his tenacity on defense and on face-offs resulted in career highs in ground balls (96) and caused turnovers (21). He ranked seventh in the nation in ground balls per game and among the national long pole leaders with five goals and five assists. After leading the nation by winning nearly 64 percent of his attempts, junior Adam Rand returns to handle the face-offs for Stony Brook. He won more than 50 percent of his face-offs in every game but two and finished in the top 30 nationally in ground balls per game.

Defense
Senior Chris Gignilliat, an all-America East pick in 2006, came back last season after missing all of 2008 with an injury, starting every game and providing solid, experienced play. Senior Michael Sopko brings 40 games of experience to this defense and was among the team leaders in caused turnovers in 2009. Junior Bryan Reinert and sophomore Greg Miceli, who saw significant playing time a year ago, will have their roles expanded in 2010. Reinert, who was quite impressive in the fall, played in a career-best 11 games last season. Miceli had a solid season as a freshman, picking up 16 ground balls and causing four turnovers. Sophomores Robert Gibson, Savaughn Greene and Steve Kaufman and freshman Devin Feeney will provide depth. "We feel that we have enough talent and experience on defense this season to improve upon years past," Sowell said. "We have three seniors back; Chris Gignilliat for a fifth year, and he is healthy for the first time in his career. Mike Sopko is also back for his senior season and gives us plenty of experience at close defense. And of course we have Steven Waldeck, our team MVP a year ago. Bryan Reinert had an impressive fall and we expect him to step in and start along with Gignilliat and Sopko at close defense. Greg Miceli, who also had a great fall, will back up Waldeck at the pole as well as get time at close defense."

Goalkeeper
Goalkeeping is another position for Stony Brook that will be in solid, experienced hands. Senior Charlie Paar is back after starting the first 12 games of the 2009 season. In his first season with the Seawolves, the former junior college All-American won seven of his starts and recorded 36 ground balls. Injured in the Hofstra game, he is back to full strength and will be the starter again. Backing him up will be senior Rob Camposa. He stepped in when Paar was hurt and helped lead the Seawolves into the America East final with a pair of wins over Albany, reaching double figures in saves in each of his three starts at the end of the season. "Charlie Paar coming back healthy for us in goal is a plus," Sowell said. "He is a leader and takes great command over our defense. He really showed what he can do this past fall and I think getting that first year under his belt has helped his confidence and will help our overall team defense."