Oct. 26, 2012

2012 Stony Brook Men's Soccer

Game #16: Stony Brook Seawolves (10-4-1, 4-2-0 AE) vs. Vermont Catamounts (7-4-5, 4-0-2 AE)

Sat., Oct. 27  •  Virtue Field  •  Burlington, Vt.  •  12 p.m.

LIVE: VIDEO

Stony Brook Seawolves (10-4-1, 4-2-0 America East)
Head Coach: Ryan Anatol, second season
Career Record: 20-10-5
Record at SBU: same

Vermont Catamounts (7-4-5, 4-0-2 America East)
Head Coach: Jesse Cormier, ninth season
Career Record: 71-60-37
Record at UVM: same

The Matchup: For the second straight season, Stony Brook will play the final game of the conference season with the regular season title up for grabs. This year, it's a winner-take-all battle against Vermont. A win is the only way SB can claim the championship; a tie or loss will award the title to the Catamounts. This is the 14th all-time meeting between these two teams, and the Seawolves lead the series 6-5-2. SB is 3-0-1 against the Catamounts since the start of 2009. Stony Brook is seeking its first regular season championship since 2005.

The Opponent: Vermont is unbeaten in conference play this season and has displayed a near inpenetrable defense against America East opponents. The Catamounts have surrendered just three goals in six America East matches this season, two coming against Hartford and one to UMBC. UVM has shut out its last four opponents, including a 1-0 result over Albany this past Wednesday. Joe Losier and D.J. Edler have led the offense with six goals apiece. Losier has scored five of his on penalty kick attempts. Conor Leland has been outstanding in net, stopping 85.3% of shots on goal while recording six clean sheets. Three season ago, Vermont was dead last in America East and is now seeking its first regular season championship since 2009.

Last Time Out: Against a tough New Hampshire defense, the Seawolves had an agressive, but patient attack. They outshot the Wildcats while taming the UNH offense and ultimately got the goals when they needed them in a 2-0 win at LaValle Stadium. Raphael Abreu was the goal scorer in both instances. First, he took a header pass from Will Casey and flicked the ball into the net in the 85th minute. Just three minutes later, the SB attack had a string of passes that ultimately landed on Alejandro Fritz, who walloped a shot that the UNH goalkeeper saved, bu the rebound went right to Abreu, who pounded the ball home on a wide open net for the goal.

The Standings: The Seawolves are alone in second place in America East, one point ahead of Boston University and two points ahead of UMBC. Here's what will happen based on Saturday's possible results:

• Stony Brook win
  Stony Brook wins the regular season title and earns No. 1 seed and first-round bye
• Stony Brook tie + UMBC loss
  Stony Brook earns the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye 
• Stony Brook tie + UMBC win
  Stony Brook is No. 3 seed based on UMBC winning tiebreaker and will play a home quarterfinal match
• Stony Brook loss + UMBC loss
  Stony Brook earns the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye
• Stony Brook loss + UMBC win
  Stony Brook is No. 3 seed based on UMBC winning tiebreaker and will play a home quarterfinal match 

In the Rankings: Stony Brook has been ranked in the NSCAA Northeast Region poll each week this season except for one. Here are the Seawolves weekly rankings.

• Aug. 28 - #6
• Sept. 4 - #8
• Sept. 11 - #10
• Sept. 18 - #9
• Sept. 25 - #9
• Oct. 2 - #8 
• Oct. 9 - unranked
• Oct. 16 - #10
• Oct. 23 - #10

Road Warriors: Stony Brook has been an impressive 5-1-1 in true road games this season and is now unbeaten over its last five road matches (4-0-1).

Quite the Rankings Debut: In the NCAA's first RPI rating of the 2012 season released on Oct. 16, the Seawolves came in at No. 46, the highest ranked team in America East. RPI, which is the Ratings Percentage Index, is a formula used to rank all the teams in Div. I soccer and is a component of how teams are chosen for at-large berths into the NCAA Tournament.

Starting Fast the Key: Stony Brook is 17-1-1 under head coach Ryan Anatol when the team scores the first goal of the game. The Oct. 5 loss vs. Boston University was the first time SB had lost when scoring first.

Leo the Lion: Senior Leonardo Fernandes is quickly rising up the Stony Brook Men's Soccer record book. As one of the program's most decorated student-athletes, he has posted some incredible numbers and earned some outstanding honors. Here's the list:

• Second all-time in points (75), first in Div. I history
• Third in goals (30), first in Div. I history
• Third in assists (15), second in Div. I history
• 2012 Hermann Trophy Watch List
• Two-time America East Midfielder of the Year (2010, 2011)
• Two-time NSCAA All-Northeast Region (1st team in 2011, 3rd team in 2010)
• Two-time All-America East first team (2010, 2011)
• 2009 America East Rookie of the Year and second-team All-America East
• 2011 America East Championship Most Outstanding Player

Keeper Records: After a 1-0 shutout at Albany on Sept. 29, senior Stefan Manz is now the all-time leader in career shutouts in program history with 16. He is also first all-time in goalkeeper wins in program history with 26.

America East Rookie of the Week: Martin Giordano was named America East Rookie of the Week on Sept. 24 for posting a goal and an assist in Stony Brook's 1-0-1 week. Giordano scored less than a minute into SB's match at Sacred Heart and then assisted on the game-tying goal at Central Connecticut.

America East Player of the Week: Following a three-goal, one-assist weekend Sept. 14-16, Leonardo Fernandes was named America East Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career.

Making the pass: Freshman Alejandro Fritz notched a pair of assists vs. Buffalo on Sept. 16, matching the program's all-time single-game record. It's the 12th time in program history it's occurred. Fritz also scored a goal two days earlier against Fordham, giving him a strong four-point weekend.

What a Start: Freshman Alejandro Fritz scored a goal on his first collegiate shot, and it represented the game-winner in a 5-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Aug. 24. The effort netted Fritz America East Rookie of the Week honors.

Preseason Pick: Stony Brook goes into 2012 as the favorite to repeat as America East champion. The Seawolves were picked first in the preseason coaches poll, receiving six out of a possible seven first-place votes.

Tough Schedule: Stony Brook has a tough 17-game schedule that includes nine matches against teams that finished in the top 100 in RPI last season. 

Up Next: Stony Brook completes its regular season with a huge matchup on the road against West Virginia in a battle between a pair of top 50 RPI teams. The game is Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Stony Brook Seawolves Men's Soccer

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