Stony Brook continues to dominate Vermont
(L) Stony Brook University's Kevin Crowley drives for the goal to score as Vermont University's Michael Connors defends during the game held at Stony Brook University. (May 4, 2010) Credit: Frank Koester
A mere three days after being hammered by Stony Brook in the regular-season finale, Vermont's lacrosse team was back on Long Island last night for the America East Tournament semifinal, again face-to-face with its perennial masters and that intimidating midfield logo: SB.
Still Boss.
This time, Stony Brook (11-3 and ranked sixth in the nation) climbed all over the Green Mountain State lads, 10-6. Like Saturday's 16-10 game, the score was more attractive to Vermont (3-13) than the beating it took on the field - Vermont's four goals in the final six minutes came much too late to matter - and the result was Stony Brook's 10th victory over Vermont in 10 all-time meetings dating to 2002.
It stretched Stony Brook's 2010 winning streak to seven and set up the Seawolves' second consecutive appearance in the conference tournament final, to be played Saturday at Stony Brook against the winner of tonight's Maryland-Baltimore County vs. Albany match. An automatic berth in the 16-team NCAA championship tournament awaits Saturday's winner.
In last night's Vermont rematch, "It's 10-2 and I'm still not happy," said Stony Brook's Rick Sowell, named conference coach of the year earlier in the day. "We didn't bring our A game, but thanks to Charlie making some incredible saves, at this stage, we'll take the win."
He referred to senior goalkeeper Charlie Paar, the Huntington High and Nassau Community College product and one of five Stony Brook players named to the all-America East team Tuesday. Paar's 16 saves included several highly unlikely ones from point-blank range.
"After I make some of those, I kind of black out," Paar kidded, to which Sowell teased, "It's called closing your eyes."
Quite the contrary. Paar's keen work through the first three periods provided the Stony Brook offense with the space to steadily - if slowly - build its insurmountable lead. Junior Kevin Crowley, who was named the conference player of the year, scored a pair of first-period goals and finished with three, giving him eight in two games and 43 this season.
Sophomore Robbie Campbell added three goals and Hauppauge junior Tom Compitello, usually an assist machine, scored twice (and added an assist). Compitello, long-stick midfielder Steve Waldeck and attackman Jordan McBride are the other all-America East players for a team Sowell called "very unselfish."
