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The reigning America East champions won't be going anywhere in 2015. Some even say they may the dark horse for the entire NCAA Division I bracket. When people think of top DI teams, they immediately jump to Maryland and their former ACC opponents, but they usually don't think of any teams from the America East. The Seawolves could just be one of those thought-of teams this year.They were primarily in the conversation last season because of their goalie Frankie Caridi who finished the season with the best save percentage and goals-against average, subsequently creating the best scoring defense in Division I. However, Caridi graduated, leaving a huge hole for coach Joe Spallina to fill. Yet from their starting lineup, only two field players in addition to their goalie graduated, providing a lethal lineup for the 2015 season. They returned three of four defenders, 90.8 percent (227 of 250) of its goal scoring, and top midfielder Michelle Rubino who captured a team-high 49 draw controls. Who's in the cage is really their only concern. Joining the Seawolves staff for next season to help solve this issue are All-Americans and Tewaaraton contenders Demmianne Cook and Alyssa Murray.Last year was a banner season for the Seawolves, advancing to the NCAA Tournament before falling to Syracuse by seven goals in the second round. Starting three freshmen all year (leading scorer Courtney Murphy, plus Kristen Yevoli and Dorrien Van Dyke), they clinched the America East title for the second year in a row with 7-1 crushing blow to Albany. Stony Brook finished with 17 wins, which is tied for a single-season program record.Michelle Rubino, Stony Brook, Sr., M #1A true power player for the Seawolves, Michelle Rubino will be key to the team's success in her senior campaign. She returns as a team captain and member of the All-America East first team and all-conference championship team. She tallied 59 points from 37 goals and 22 assists, but was a mainstay in the midfield grabbing 43 ground balls, 49 draw controls (team high) and 30 caused turnovers (league high). With coach Joe Spallina also as the head coach of MLL's New York Lizards, it has been said his college team embodies characteristics of how his MLL team plays. If this statement is true, Rubino would be a prime example.
Albany-Stony Brook RivalryWhen you examine a team like Albany in the America East, you can't help but mention their rival, Stony Brook. Since 2012, Joe Spallina's first year at the helm of the Seawolves program, the two teams have duked it out in the conference championship.Last year, Stony Brook captured its second crown in program history, topping the Great Danes for the second consecutive year in their third-straight meeting in the title game.But could 2015 be the year Albany makes a comeback? Although the Danes are young, Spallina said they are "revitalized offensively" and "pretty prolific scoring wise." They graduated some key players, including Kathleen Lennon, Ariana Parker and Allie Phelan, but Albany seems to be reloading, rather than rebuilding.Given the shakeup of the Nike/LM rankings so far this season, and if all continues to go well for Stony Brook and Albany, the lacrosse community may see two teams representing the America East in the NCAAs come May. Albany just beat Notre Dame on Tuesday night."We're both successful teams and organizations and I think there's respect on both sides of the ball," said Battaglino, whose team will play the Seawolves on April 4. "I consider Joe a friend of mine. He's a great coach and a good person. I look at it as a game where we're going to be tested. They know what we're going to bring and we know what they're going to bring."Both New York staples, the schools' rivalry extends beyond the lacrosse program. It has been built over years of tradition in the same conference. "It's a lot what's right with college athletics and having that natural rival," said Spallina."It's healthy. It's nice that it's called a rivalry," added Battaglino. "Both have been quality teams deserving to represent the league at the NCAA tournament over the past several years."
Yet a few upsets across the board caused some other rankings to shift around. James Madison topped Penn State, while Loyola handed Virginia yet another loss. Delaware dropped out after falling to Temple and Villanova, but Stony Brook continues to impress as they turn to face Florida on Tuesday.Who's Hot?Stony Brook (+1): The Seawolves are one team that no one can count out. They topped Notre Dame pretty handily, and blew Jacksonville out of the water. The first true test will be Florida on Tuesday.