Seawolves Fans

oh, right.  stuck in the AE days, clearly.

so, if we get back some players, and maybe get hot, maybe get lucky and there's an upset, we get a home game, maybe we make some noise. 

but otherwise, that's the only post-season berth we'll get.

am i crazy, or does everyone make the tournament, but 13 and 12 have a play-in?

i know im a broken record on this one but it's 22-4.  we are 1/8 from behind the arc.

this strategy- if it doesnt work- and id challenge anyone to find me a game where we hit many threes early and beat a good team- means you fall into the hole (see above).  and then what are your options- to take more threes.  of course, those are desperation threes, with short time, and the defense knows its coming and presses out.  lowering the chances youll hit them and catch up.

and so its no wonder we end up usually 8 for 30 or something like that.  and lose.  sometimes, by only a few.  here, have 22 free possessions on us and lets see who wins.

there's no other option.  stop shooting threes, as a strategy, so early in the game, without moving the ball and taking high % shots.  there's no other option.

everyone is pressing us, which is understandable because 1) its on film, 2) we are missing guards, and 3) we have no depth. 

also, we cant shoot outside (historically), so the 23 zone plus the FCP means 17-2 start.  its the perfect game plan- so far.

#CAALax Newcomers Stony Brook, Masera Tabbed for Unanimous Women's Lacrosse Preseason Honors
https://caasports.com/news/2023/1/30/-caalax-newcomers-stony-brook-masera-tabbed-for-unanimous-womens-lacrosse-preseason-honors.aspx

Stony Brook collected all seven possible first place votes in its first year in the CAA after appearing in the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five tournaments. The Seawolves went 16-3 with all three setbacks to eventual Championship Weekend teams while going undefeated through America East play and earning an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. Stony Brook earned five wins over ranked opponents during the 2022 campaign. Stony Brook enters the year at No. 6 in the IWLCA/ILWomen poll and No. 4 in the USA Lacrosse Magazine rankings, while three Seawolves – Masera, Kailyn Hart, and Clare Levy – were named to the preseason All-CAA team.
 
Masera is coming off a season where she was the first underclassman in program history to earn First Team All-America honors and one of two underclassmen in the nation to earn the recognition. Her 87 points and 67 goals were both team-bests and she was top 25 in the nation in goals per game (17th) and points per game (25th). The 100 draw controls by the Long Island native marked the fifth time in program history that someone reached the triple-digit figure, joining two instances each from alumnae Keri McCarthy and Ally Kennedy.
 
2023 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll
School (1st)   Points
1. Stony Brook (7)   49
2. Towson (1)   43
3. Drexel   35
4. Hofstra   30
5. Delaware   25
6. Monmouth   21
7. Elon   13
8. William & Mary   8

2023 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
Name   School   Cl.   Pos.   Hometown
Caroline Brennan   Monmouth   So.   A   Downingtown, Pa.
Kailyn Hart   Stony Brook   Sr.   A   North Babylon, N.Y.
Delaney McDaniel   Delaware   So.   A   Severna Park, Md.
Taylor Mennella   Hofstra   Sr.   A   Smithtown, N.Y.
Corinne Bednarik   Drexel   Sr.   M   Glenmoore, Pa.
Ellie Masera   Stony Brook   Jr.   M   Eastport, N.Y.
Cassidy Orban   Monmouth   Gr.   M   Long Valley, N.J.
Blair Pearre   Towson   Sr.   M   Pikesville, Md.
Belle McHugh   Drexel   Sr.   D   Berwyn, Pa.
Madison Hranicka   Delaware   Sr.   D   Mendham, N.J.
Clare Levy   Stony Brook   Jr.   D   Rocky Point, N.Y.
Jo Torres   Towson   Jr.   GK   Prince Frederick, Md.                                                     
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Ellie Masera, Stony Brook
 
Honorable Mention: Lindsay Clarke, A, Towson; Haley Dillon, D, Stony Brook; Bri Falco, D, Monmouth; Kailee Follette, D, Elon; Jackie Gatti, M, Hofstra; Jaden Hampel, A, Stony Brook; Caroline Hertzberg, D, William & Mary; Olivia Malamphy, D, Towson; Jess Smith, GK, Hofstra; Kerry Walser, A, Hofstra; Milana Zizakovic, M, Towson

2023 NCAA Lacrosse Rankings: No. 4 Stony Brook (Women)
https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/college/women/2023-ncaa-lacrosse-rankings-no-4-stony-brook-women

NO. 4 STONY BROOK
2022 Record: 16-3 (6-0 America East)
Final Ranking (2022): No. 5
Coach: Joe Spallina

TOP RETURNERS
Ellie Masera, M, Jr.; Kailyn Hart, A, Sr.; Clare Levy, D, Jr

Joe Spallina calls Ellie Masera the best midfielder in the country. USA Lacrosse Magazine’s prognosticators agreed, tabbing the junior middie and the Seawolves’ leading scorer in 2022 the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. Kailyn Hart adds flare and depth on offense, while Clare Levy does the same on D.

KEY ADDITIONS
Jolie Creo, A, Gr. (Holy Cross); Hailey Duchnowski, G, Gr. (LIU); Shana Hecht, G, Gr. (Temple)

With Charlie Campbell and Kameron Halsall gone, the Seawolves brought in grad transfers Hailey Duchnowski (LIU) and Shana Hecht (Temple) to compete with redshirt freshman Aaliyah Jones for the starting netminder nod. Jolie Creo from Holy Cross will likely take on the offensive quarterback role, freeing up Hart to be more of a wing dodger.

KEY DEPARTURES
Graduations: Charlie Campbell, G; Kameron Halsall, G; Siobhan Rafferty, M; Rayna Sabella, M

STORYLINES TO WATCH
Ellie Masera appears “unguardable” after the fall.

It would be hard for Ellie Masera to top her 2022. The midfielder led Stony Brook in goals (67), points (87) and draws (100), won silver with USA in Sixes and played for the senior national team at Fall Classic. But Spallina put the lacrosse world on notice for 2023 — Masera got better.

“She developed an ability to dodge from X,” Spallina said. “She’s a premiere wing dodger.”

And Spallina has seen her develop the ability to pass off the dodge.

“Last year, she was an elite player, but now she’s raising the level of players around her,” Spallina said.

The players around her will include Charlotte Verhulst (3 G, 3 A, 63 DC), who has transformed from a draw specialist into a true two-way midfielder. Jaden Hampel (21 G, 21 A, 22 DC) is also versatile. Though much of the offense is run out of the midfield, don’t sleep on Hart. The attacker finished second in goals (64) and points (78) in 2022.

Who will start in goal?

Stony Brook’s backer-zone defense ranked first nationally in goals allowed per game last season (6.63). But starting goalie Charlie Campbell (7.22 GAA, .494 SV%) and formidable backup Kameron Halsall (5.54 GAA, .532 SV%) are both gone. Aaliyah Jones redshirted last season and turned heads in Stony Brook’s open scrimmage against Notre Dame this fall for her quickness and athleticism.

A pair of transfers are also in play. Hecht appeared in one game at Temple in 2022. Duchnowski (.505 SV %) originally came to SBU to be a grad assistant coach, but the NEC Defensive Player of the Year from LIU decided to use her last year of eligibility in 2023.

Whoever it is will have a historically stout defense in front of her.

“For us, our defense is so good that we need goalies who need to make the saves they are supposed to make,” Spallina said.

All-Americans Clare Levy (18 CT, 31 GB, 39 DC) and Haley Dillon (50 CT, 35 GB) and all-conference defender Ella Whitehouse (12 CT, 12 GB) headline the list of returners.

Is this “the year?”

The Seawolves have been on the cusp of their first Final Four berth in close-call quarterfinal games in four of the last five seasons.

What makes this year different?

The switch from the America East to the CAA, where Stony Brook will play historically tougher teams like Drexel, Hofstra and Towson, should help the RPI. SBU has been seeded eighth for the last three NCAA Tournaments and played top-seed UNC close in the last two, drawing questions about whether the Seawolves should have been slotted higher.

“The closest quarterfinal has been the one-eight game, which is an alert that we are not placed properly,” Spallina said. “But at the end of the day, we’re not in to just to make the Final Four or quarterfinals. We’re in it to win the national championship.”

And Spallina thinks SBU has the depth to do it this year.

“We've never been aligned like we are now,” he said. “We return our top scorers and the majority of our starting defense. When you look at those things right there, it’s easy to see how we are poised to do what we are supposed to do.”

ENEMY LINES
WHAT RIVALS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SEAWOLVES
“They do an incredible job of player development. They find a lot of players who aren’t the five-star, blue-chip recruits and make them become really incredible players who have a chip on their shoulders. I don’t think you can ever sleep on Stony Brook. Their defense is really tough. They’ve got some big weapons returning.”

BEYOND THE BASICS

14.2%

The Seawolves finished the 2022 campaign with the top-rated defense in the country, as measured by opponent-adjusted defensive efficiency. It was the third time in the past eight seasons that they finished on top in this metric, but the first time since 2017. And it’s hard to point to one thing that made the difference. They allowed just .43 shots-per-possession (1st); they turned teams over on 36% of the possessions they faced (2nd) and their keepers saved 48.1% of the shots on goal (3rd). No weaknesses there.

Stony Brook Online Master’s Nursing Program Named by U.S. News to Top 10 Best List
https://news.stonybrook.edu/newsroom/press-release/medical/stony-brook-online-masters-nursing-program-named-by-u-s-news-to-top-10-best-list/


https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/nursing/rankings

Stony Brook University--SUNY
HSC Level 2 - Rm 218, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8240

#8 in Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs (tie)

Overall Score 96/100