By Peter Langone
The Men’s Soccer team experienced another disappointing loss to Towson last Saturday in front of a big Stony Brook crowd. The large crowd, due to the Seawolves’ annual Alumni day, cheered throughout the whole game for a team that had stepped up their game but just couldn’t put the ball in the net. The team’s defense started off strong, not allowing the Towson offense to get off one shot. The sole goal of the game came in the 62nd minute by Towson’s forward Liam Maloney. This win was much needed to boost the seawolves’ morale, just before heading on a four game road trip beginning the following Monday against Marist. The Seawolves took many good shots, with a total of eleven for the game. Their inability to score was due to their lack of experience on the field. Coach Cesar Markovic played a freshman attack and midfield, which, although talented, were not able to finish off necessary plays to gain a lead. Junior James Palumbo subbed in late in the first half and began to give the offense the life it needed. He quickly took control of the game, distributing good balls and ripping a thirty yard shot, but was just barely blocked by Towson’s keeper. Palumbo left the game injured within the first fifteen minutes of the second half due to a head injury incurred while trying to contest a header with one of Towson’s defensemen. The Seawolves were unable to match the intensity of a rough Towson team, who were playing very rough defense.
The team was once again shut out for the second game in a row vs. Marist College. The team was plagued with injuries to most of its starters that occurred in both the last game and the rough practices their coach has been putting them through. Junior Mihailo Pavlisin took two great shots that were denied by the Marist keeper. Marist scored early in the 16th minute to give Marist a 1-0 lead. The ball hit off the cross bar and trickled into the goal.
Heading to Ohio, the team had low expectations coming into the game against Akron, their third ranked opponent this season. The 9th ranked team had a hard time against a Stony Brook team coming off a losing streak of three games. The defense played very physically against a strong offense that was expected to score more then just one goal. It came with nine seconds left in the second half by Steve Zakuani. Goalie Dawid Ditrich tallied three saves that kept the Seawolves tied for most of the game. Hopefully the men’s team can keep on their great play and momentum going into another tough match against 22nd ranked Duke on Tuesday September 20, ending their road game trip. Duke, powered by senior forward Mike Grella, will be a tough opponent for the men’s team.
The men’s team is now 2-7-1, with most of their loses coming from non-conference teams. Their next home game is against Boston University on Wednesday, October 20 at Lavalle Stadium.
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