The Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team was launched into the national spotlight after boasting an 18-1 regular season record, last spring, before falling to then No. 11-ranked Princeton in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
This year they’re all set for another phenomenal season and poised for an NCAA title.
Head Coach Joe Spallina enters his 5th season coaching the team, which will look to build on its 66-14 record in the last 5 years. The Seawolves exemplify the characteristics of both an offensive juggernaut and a defensive fortress, which they proved by outscoring their opponents by an average of seven points per game last season.
Attack specialist and Tewaaraton award finalist Kylie Ohlmiller is coming off a spectacular freshman year composed of 42 goals and 44 assists. Alongside Ohlmiller on the offensive side of the field is junior Courtney Murphy, who led the Seawolves in goals scored with an impressive 71 of 122 shots. Murphy’s high-goal tally placed her third nationally, in the category. Junior midfielder Dorrien Van Dyke also played a key part in the Seawolves offensive onslaught, adding 39 goals and 20 assists, in addition to her defensive presence of 19 caused turnovers.
Going into the season, the team is nationally ranked seventh by Inside Lacrosse and eighth by IWLCA, as well as being an easy favorite to win the America East Championship for the fourth straight year. The challenging 17-game schedule ahead of the Seawolves features eight teams who made the NCAA tournament last season, including quarter-finalist Northwestern. Despite an initial road warrior-esque season, the team will play eight of its last 11 games at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Conference play begins on April 2 when the Seawolves host in Vermont.
Comments are closed.