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Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Stony Brook

The NCAA D1 season is now underway! During the first couple of weeks of lacrosse season we’ll be finishing up the Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Previews! Like last year, we are going through all of the D1 men’s teams for 2014 (there are 67 this year!) and we are now moving on to the Stony Brook Sea Wolves, located in Stony Brook, NY (that’s Long Island!).

Photo Credit: Larry Palumbo

Stony Brook had a string of seasons where they went over .500, but in 2012 they dipped below that mark with a 7-10 season. 2013 saw more of the same with a 7-9 mark. Jim Nagle is now in his third season as Head Coach, and it’s time for SBU to get back to their winning ways.

Stony Brook plays in the America East, and that means they have to take down Albany (and other AE foes) if they want the AQ. That is looking like a tall order right now, but if Stony Brook can win a couple OOC games, they could make a run at an at-large bid. They’d need wins over Duke, Maryland, and probably St. John’s to get that done. Also a tall order. Can the Sea Wolves get back to form this season?

Other than Jeff Tundo, SBU brings back 6 of their top 7 scorers and all three starters at attack. Brody Eastwood leads the team in returning scorers and he will be joined at attack by Mike Rooney and Matt Schultz. The three combined for 104 points last season. Eastwood scored 44 of his 45 points last year on goals, while the other two were more balanced with their production.

Challen Rogers, Mike Andreassi, and Chris Hughes should lead the midfield units this season as each scored at least 12 points and the trio totaled 77 points on the year. Rogers accounted for 44 of those points and was a balanced creator with 18 goals and 26 assists. Frank Lucatuorto took the majority of the team’s draws last year as LSM, and he returns as a sophomore. Laforet took a number of draws with a pole as well, but has since graduated. Dominic Cerasi and Alex Harris should also see more time at pole as well, and one of these three could bump down to close D.

Dan Shaughnessy returns in net for Stony Brook as a sophomore. He will be surrounded by a defense led by returning starters George Benitez and Bryan Judge. Dylan Curry is a talented pole who could see even more time this year. He pumped in three goals and won a face off. Devin Feeney has size and some potential. Stony Brook also has two solid freshman defenders on the roster.

Stony Brook returns a good deal of talent, and their defense should be solid if they can avoid injury. Face offs could see some changes made, but a decent foundation is there already. If Stony Brook gets back above .500 I wouldn’t be shocked. They have the talent and schedule to do just that.

For more NCAA D1 Lacrosse coverage, check out Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview: Air ForceAlbanyArmyBellarmineBinghamtonBostonBrownBryantBucknellCanisius,
ColgateCornellDartmouthDelawareDetroitDrexelDukeFairfieldFurman,
GeorgetownHartfordHarvardHigh PointHobartHofstraHoly CrossJacksonvilleJohns_HopkinsLafayetteLehighLoyolaManhattanMaristMarquette,
MarylandMassachusettsMercerMichiganMonmouthNavyNorth_Carolina,
Notre_DameOhio_StatePennPenn_StatePrincetonProvidenceQuinnipiacRichmondRobert_MorrisRutgersSacred_HeartSaint_Joseph’s, Siena, and St. John’s.