Previewing Stony Brook’s 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule

The Stony Brook Seawolves are the 50th team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the fifth team from the America East. Stony Brook finished 9-6 overall in 2019 and 5-1 in America East play. The Seawolves were the America East regular season champions, but fell to UMBC in the America East semifinals. They also hired former Towson assistant Anthony Gilardi as their new head coach in the summer.

Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:

Who’s In?

• Fairfield Stags (2/15)
• Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2/29)

Who’s Out?

• Penn State Nittany Lions (17-4 L)
• Marist Red Foxes (10-5 L)

Circle These Dates

• 2/11 vs. St. John’s: Gilardi’s head coaching debut comes against fellow New York rival St. John’s on a Tuesday. The Seawolves trailed 10-8 late in the third quarter, but went on a 4-0 run and held on for the one-goal win after the Johnnies got off five shots after their last goal with 5:39 left in the game. Michael Bollinger made 18 saves in the win, including seven in the second quarter.
• 2/2 vs. Brown: Since they first faced off annually in 2016, both teams have scored at least 10 goals in every meetings. And the road team has won every matchup, including Stony Brook’s 13-11 win over the Bears last season. After holding Brown to two goals in each of the first three quarters, Stony Brook allowed five in the final quarter and held on for a two-goal win. The Bears should be a tough team to face with young talent on offense in Darian Cook and George Grell as well as senior goalie Phil Goss.
• 2/25 vs. Hofstra: Another year, another Long Island rivalry showdown with the Pride. The Seawolves held the largest lead for any team with a three-goal margin with 9:09 left in the game. But Whit Stopak and Hofstra went on a 3-0 run to tie the game at nine before Tom Haun scored 29 seconds after Stopak’s tying goal and held on for the one-goal edge.
• 3/21 at UMBC: Stony Brook dominated the regular season meeting over the Retrievers in 14-7 decision. The Seawolves began that game on a 7-0 run and held UMBC scoreless for the first 37:27 of the game. Five players recorded three or more points, including Haun’s four goals. But UMBC took the rematch in the America East semifinals, 14-8. Stony Brook ended the game on a 4-0 run to make it look better than it was. UMBC could be a legit threat in the America East if their offense and defense play to their potential.
• 4/18 vs. Vermont: Perhaps Stony Brook’s toughest tests will be their final two games of the regular season. Before they travel to Albany for the regular season finale, they’ll host Vermont, a team that looked like they would be the America East regular season and tournament champions. But despite being down 7-2 at the half, the Seawolves built up a big comeback with a trio of three-goal runs capped off by Layton Harrell’s third goal of the game with 3:24 left for the game-winner to pull off the mild upset. Expect the Catamounts to be an early favorite to win the America East in 2020.