Nov. 7, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The second-seeded Stony Brook women's soccer team will be in search of its first ever America East title on Saturday when it travels to Boston, Mass. to take on the top-seeded Boston University Terriers in the 2008 America East championship game. The contest will kick-off at 1 p.m. from BU's Nickerson Field. Click Here for live video streaming of the game which is available for $5.95. Fans can also listen to the game live at http://wtburadio.org as well as follow Gametracker at www.goseawolves.org.

Winners of six of their last seven games, the Seawolves (11-7, 6-2 America East) vaulted to No. 15 in the Northeast Region in Soccer Buzz magazine on Tuesday after defeating sixth-seeded Binghamton, 2-0, in the America East semifinals on Sunday night at LaValle Stadium. Senior Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored the game-winner in the 32nd minute against the Bearcats with freshman Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.) adding her conference-best ninth goal of the season in the second half.

Sunday's victory over the Bearcats continued what has been a record-breaking season for the Seawolves have recorded their most victories since 1994 in addition to setting a program record for conference wins. SBU also placed a school record three players on the All-America East first team as McKenna and Barbuto were joined by junior goalkeeper Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y.) on the 11-player squad.

Viola and McKenna were also named America East Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year, respectively, for the Seawolves who will be making their first appearance in the America East title game since 2002. Viola finished first in the conference in saves (110) and save percentage (.859) in addition to ranking eighth in the country with 7.33 saves per game, while McKenna led the America East in goals (nine) and points (21).

The defending conference champion and winner of five of the last eight America East championships, BU (14-5-1, 8-0-0 AE) is currently riding its longest win streak in eight seasons and has gone unbeaten in 11 straight contests. The Terriers are led by senior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge who is first on the team with five goals and two assists. The 2008 America East Midfielder of the Year and a first team All-Conference selection, Schumacher-Hodge paces a Terrier offense that tied the Seawolves with a conference-high 25 goals.

SBU dropped a tough 2-0 decision to the Terriers at Nickerson Field during the regular season despite a season-high 14 saves from Viola who stopped two BU penalty kicks in the game. Mara Osher scored the game-winner for the Terriers in the 61st minute.

Stony Brook Seawolves Women's Soccer

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