Men's Lacrosse Edged, 13-12, in Conference Regular-Season Finale

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Kevin Crowley and Tom Compitello each scored twice in the fourth quarter, as Stony Brook held off UAlbany, 13-12, in the regular-season finale for both squads on Saturday, April 25 at LaValle Stadium. The Seawolves earned a share of their first-ever conference regular-season title with UMBC.

Stony Brook (8-5, AE 4-1) entertains UAlbany (7-6, AE 3-2) again in the four days when the two teams meet in the America East postseason tournament’s semifinal round on Wednesday, April 29. The programs will tangle in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

In a wild and frantic final period, Stony Brook ran off four unanswered to break a 7-7 deadlock. Compitello tallied back-to-back goals, the first by splitting two defenders and the second by converted from eight yards on a spin to his left shoulder. Timmy Trenkle connected on a shot between the goalkeeper’s legs, before Chris Scott beat a defensive double-team with pass to a wide-open Jordan McBride with 3:37 to play.

However, the visitors came back with three straight in a 56-second span. Matt Cushing won the subsequent draw and took it the distance for his second goal of the season. Long-stick midfielder Chris Schongar ran up the middle of the field to find the cage after gaining the following face-off. Corey Small finished off the run by coming up with a loose ball after the SBU defense stick-checked Brian Caufield.

Crowley, a sophomore midfielder who made the all-conference first team last year, answered with a pair of goals 14 seconds apart. He turned a pass that was too far in front of him into a goal by tipping it past goalkeeper John Carroll. After Adam Rand won the next draw, Crowley moved in from the left side for a 13-10 lead with 2:11 remaining.

The Great Danes, who have dropped four of their last five outings, fought back again. Derek Kreuzer picked his way around the left side to drill his second goal of the game. Dave Brock found the net with a behind-the-back shot after goalie Rob Camposa made one of his 14 saves on Caufield’s initial blast. Cushing controlled the last face-off with 12.3 seconds remaining, but UAlbany was unable to get off a clean attempt in the waning moments.

In the opening quarter, Stony Brook drew even at two apiece when freshman Robbie Campbell swept in a rebound from in front of the crease. Starting goalkeeper Drew DiCioccio stopped Crowley’s first attempt from the right, but the ball kicked out to Campbell. UAlbany regained the lead when freshman attack Joe Resetarits finished off a fastbreak by dodging from the left and firing a shot inside the near post with one second left on the clock.

The Great Danes pushed out to a 4-2 lead early in the second stanza as Resetarits went low from the right point. But Stony Brook pulled even by halftime. Trenkle connected on a 10-yard bounce shot with 4:11 left in the period. Campbell, who had three goals and one assist, followed one minute and seven seconds later when he drove from behind, eluded the short-stick defender, and scored from right of the crease with a sidearm delivery.

The Seawolves, who halted a five-game skid in the series, snapped a 5-5 tie in the third quarter. Campbell moved in from the right and split three defenders with 5:07 left. Compitello, who totaled three goals and one assist, followed 18 seconds later by going low on a wraparound from the left. UAlbany forced the fourth tie of the game in the final stanza. Resetarits netted his third goal of the contest when he completed a fastbreak that was ignited when Schongar carried a turnover into the offensive end. Kreuzer then drove around a screen on the left after defender Mike Banks stripped the ball to start the possession.

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#20 UAlbany (7-6, AE 3-2) 3 1 1 7 - 12
Stony Brook (8-5, AE 4-1) 2 2 3 6 - 13

UAlbany – Scoring: Joe Resetarits 3-0, Corey Small 2-1, Brian Caufield 2-0, Derek Kreuzer 2-0, Matt Cushing 1-0, Chris Schongar 1-0, Dave Brock 1-0, Luke Cometti 0-1, Rocky Bonitatibus 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Drew DiCioccio (30:00, 3 saves, 4 GA), John Carroll (30:00, 3 saves, 9 GA).

Stony Brook – Scoring: Robbie Campbell 3-1, Tom Compitello 3-1, Kevin Crowley 3-0, Timmy Trenkle 2-0, Jordan McBride 1-1, Kyle Belton 1-0, Chris Scott 0-2; Goalkeeper(s): Rob Camposa (60:00, 14 saves, 12 GA).