2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #37 Stony Brook Seawolves

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with Monmouth, Sacred Heart, Harvard, and Colgate.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#37 Stony Brook Seawolves

Conference: America East
2018 Record: 7-8 (5-1 in America East play)
Postseason: Lost to Vermont in America East semifinals
Head coach: Jim Nagle (7th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Tom Haun (22)
Assists: Jack Walsh (25)
Points: Tom Haun (36)
Faceoffs: John Ehlers (27-of-63; 42.9%)
Ground balls: Ryland Rees (45)
Caused turnovers: Ryland Rees (24)
Goals against average: Michael Bollinger (10.63 GAA)
Save percentage: Michael Bollinger (47.6%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: D Kyle Abdellatif (30 GBs, 9 CTs, 2 Gs, 1 A), LSM Tyler Anderson (34 GBs, 4 CTs, 2 Gs, 33.3% faceoff draws), SSDM Matt Robison (20 GBs, 5 CTs, 2 Gs, 1 A), G Brandon Maciejewski (8.70 GAA, 52.9% SV %), FOGO Matt Philbin (51.7% faceoff draws)
Senior scoring departing: 8 of 217 points (3.7%)
Senior starts lost: 22 of 150 (14.7%)

Season Summary

Stony Brook’s record four games into the season: 0-4. After that: 7-4. The Seawolves had a tough start to the regular season, falling to Sacred Heart, Penn State, Brown, and a brutal midweek defeat to Hofstra.

But that might have been a good thing in the long run for Stony Brook. Once the calendar turned to March, that’s when the Seawolves began to play much better. Despite it being a loss, Jim Nagle’s squad put up a valiant six-goal effort in the final quarter against Virginia in a one-goal loss. They also opened up America East play with wins over UMBC and Hartford before falling to eventual conference champion Albany the following game.

After games against St. John’s and Princeton, Stony Brook’s Chris Pickel helped give Vermont their second loss of the season in double overtime for what was the team’s best win of the season. And with wins over UMass Lowell and Binghamton, the Seawolves were able to clinch a share of the America East regular season championship. They did fall to Vermont in a rematch in the conference semifinals.

Sophomore Tom Haun and freshman Jack Walsh each put up at least 30 points at attack. Haun had a team-high 22 goals and put up double-digits in assists, while Walsh led the squad with 25 helpers. Fellow freshman Patrick Kaschalk bounced around attack and midfield but still racked up 25 points in his first year. Chris Pickel Jr. racked up 22 points with Mike McCannell, Cory VanGinhoven, Wayne White, Owen Daly, and Connor Grippe recording at least 10 points of their own.

The face of this team is probably defenseman Ryland Rees. The junior led the team with 45 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers, the only Seawolve to record double digits in CTs this year. Seniors Kyle Abdellatif and Tyler Anderson, junior Justin Pugal, and freshman Devin O’Leary were some of the other notable names at close defense or LSM. Sophomore Harrison Matsuoka and senior Matt Philbin were two of the shorties this past season, while sophomore Michael Bollinger protected the net for the majority of the season. The Seawolves had plenty of guys take faceoffs, with seven players taking at least 10 draws.

Looking Ahead

Stony Brook doesn’t lose a ton of scoring or starters. Abdellatif is the only main loss in regards to starters, but Anderson and Robison are also important on the “rope” unit. The offense returns all nine of their 10 or more point scorers. If you include Rees and his eight points, that’s their entire top 10.

The big question has to be what the Seawolves do at the faceoff position. Having seven guys take more than 10 draws, five of them at least 30 draws, doesn’t do a lot. Senior Matt Philbin was the only player to have a win percentage of at least 50%, but he graduates. Sophomore Tristan Dowd and freshmen John Ehlers and Nolan Enneguess need to find a way to stand out from one another in the fall to pull away and become the top FOGO for Stony Brook.

Here’s who the Seawolves will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.