Nov. 21, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

A challenging fall practice that included games against defending national champion Syracuse, North Carolina and Navy has set the tone and prepared the Stony Brook University men's lacrosse team for a challenging schedule in 2009, including an exciting set of home contests against some of the nation's best according to the schedule released by head coach Rick Sowell. The Seawolves will take on six teams that received votes in the final polls of 2008, including four that qualified for the NCAA Championships.

"Once again our schedule presents a significant challenge for the Seawolves," remarked Sowell. "It seems every team on our schedule is better than a year ago. That said, we are very much looking forward to the competition as we strive to take the next step in our development process."

As it did last season, Stony Brook will face one of the best right off the bat on February 21, opening the season by hosting NCAA participant Virginia, which ended the season as the No. 2 team in the nation. That will start a stretch of three straight home games to open the season, the first time the Seawolves have opened with three straight at home since the 1999 season. After Virginia the Seawolves will face Harvard (Feb. 28) and Lehigh (Mar. 4) before traveling to Siena for their first road game of the season.

Other NCAA participants on the schedule include a home game with UMBC, a game that opens America East play for Stony Brook, and road contests at Denver and Hofstra. Stony Brook will also face Delaware and Albany at home, both of which were ranked among the top-25 in 2008.

Transition was the theme of fall practice for the Seawolves, who lost six starters and 18 letterwinners from the 2008 squad. While the number of players lost seems high on paper, Stony Brook does return some key players for the 2009 season that Sowell will be able to build his team around. The Seawolves return three All-America East performers, sophomore Jordan McBride (New Westminster, B.C./attack), sophomore Kevin Crowely (New Westminster, B.C./midfield) and junior Steven Waldeck (Levittown, N.Y./defense). Stony Brook also returns another starter in senior Nick Maturro (West Islip, N.Y./defense) as well as its starting face-off man, sophomore Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn./midfield).

Adding to the experience base that the team will build on are junior Chris Gignilliat (Cicero, N.Y./defense) and junior Taylor Eason (Freeport, N.Y./midfield). Both missed the entire 2008 season, but bring to the team the equivalent of two more starters to the lineup. Sowell will incorporate a new group into his lineup that includes 14 freshmen and five transfers, including junior goalkeeper Charlie Parr (Huntington, N.Y.) who was an All-America selection in 2008 at the junior college level.

STONY BROOK MEN'S LACROSSE 2009 SCHEDULE
Date      Opponent       Place                  Time
Feb. 21   VIRGINIA       STONY BROOK            1:00 p.m.
Feb. 28   HARVARD        STONY BROOK            3:00 p.m.
Mar. 4    LEHIGH         STONY BROOK            4:00 p.m.
Mar. 7    at Siena       Loudonville, N.Y.      TBA
Mar. 14   DELAWARE       STONY BROOK            1:00 p.m.
Mar. 17   at Lafayette   Easton, Pa.            3:00 p.m.
Mar. 21   at Denver      Denver, Colo.          TBA
Mar. 28   UMBC*          STONY BROOK            2:30 p.m.
Apr. 4    at Vermont*    Burlington, Vt.        TBA
Apr. 11   at Hartford*   West Hartford, Conn.   1:00 p.m.
Apr. 18   BINGHAMTON*    STONY BROOK            7:00 p.m.
Apr. 21   at Hofstra     Hempstead, N.Y.        7:00 p.m.
Apr. 25   ALBANY*        STONY BROOK            7:00 p.m.
Apr.-May 30-1   at America East Championships