By Najib Aminy

The Stony Brook women’s soccer team scored their way past the Retrievers of the University of Maryland: Baltimore County, carrying momentum into the last stretch of their regular season play. Winning three of the last four games, the Lady Seawolves recorded two shut outs against both Hartford and Vermont, winning 1-0, and defeating UMBC 2-1 on Sunday, October 12.

The Seawolves found themselves behind very early in the game when UMBC sophomore forward Morgan Warrington (Magnolia, DE) shot a header into the goal off a parallel pass from Retrievers’ freshman Danielle Kell (Willards, MD). Determined to beat the low-tier “other” team from the University of Maryland, the Seawolves answered back in the twenty-fifth minute of the game when senior forward Trine Allenberg (Roberts, WI) fired the ball off a corner kick to the boot of fellow senior forward Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, NY) who then shot the ball past UMBC’s goalie for her third goal of the season.

D Generation X!

It appeared that the Lady Seawolves took the first half as practice, out shooting UMBC 11-5 and taking five corner kicks to UMBC’s nil. Despite the high number of shots taken by Stony Brook, the score remained at 1-1 heading into the second half.

Nearly twelve minutes into the second half, the Lady Seawolves took advantage of another corner kick as Allenberg rocketed a pass to sophomore midfielder Sarah Dwyer (Laurel, MD) that was blocked by UMBC’s senior goalkeeper Christine Bacinski (Hampstead, MD). It was off Bacinski’s block that Stony Brook red-shirted freshman midfielder Holly Razzaghi took advantage and fired a shot above Bacinski to break the tie.

From that point, the Lady Seawolves’ defense took over allowing UMBC to fire only three times in the remaining thirty-five minutes of the game. The Lady Seawolves out shot UMBC a total of 16-9, of which nine of their shots were on target. The Seawolves also had seven corner kicks to UMBC’s one.

Seawolves junior goalkeeper Amanda Hemme recorded a total of four saves indicating UMBC’s failure to acknowledge where the goalie was. With a valiant effort that proved to come up short, UMBC’s Bacinski recorded six saves.

The win improves the Seawolves record to 7-6 and 3-1 in American East conference play while UMBC dismally falls to 2-13 and 1-4 in American East play. The Lady Seawolves finish the remainder of their season against all conference teams, of which they are currently placed as third. The Lady Seawolves have their next home games on October 23 against Binghamton at 7 pm and their regular season finale against Maine on October 26.

By William Dunn

The Stony Brook Women’s volleyball team fell to 9-12 after losing two straight games to the University of Albany on October 14 and the University of Maryland: Baltimore County on October 16. The final score in the loss to Albany was 3-1. However, the game against UMBC proved to be a little different as the Lady Seawolves were shut out, 3-0.

Stony Brook played with Albany for every point, rallying in the third game to win 27-25. Leading the team with an impressive 20 kills and 13 digs was senior outside hitter, Gulce Nazli Dikecligil (Istanbul, Turkey). The Seawolves caught up in the third set to prevent a shut out. Junior transfer libero Michelle Burrola (Glendale, AZ) assisted the Seawolves effort, with a game-high of 21 digs alongside sophomore swing hitter Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, MN). The Lady Seawolves came together to make great plays, but it was not enough to defeat the Albany Danes. Stony Brook lost in four sets, 25-17, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21. Albany improved their record to 10-8, 3-0 in American East conference play.

UMBC, despite being “that other school of the University of Maryland,” proved to be unstoppable, winning in three sets, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18. The Retrievers had a game high 17 kills of which the Lady Seawolves never found their groove. Nelson led the team with 11 kills, while Burrola recorded the team high of 14 digs. The win for UMBC keeps them undefeated in American East play at 4-0 while they are 14-6 overall.

Now below the .500 mark, the Lady Seawolves close off their regular season on the road against Maine on October 17 and against New Hampshire on October 19. The Lady Seawolves are 0-3 in American East conference play.

By Daniel Offner

As the newly bleached blonde Liberty University Flames men’s ice hockey team got ready to face-off against the Stony Brook Seawolves, they began to bang there sticks against the boards in a foreboding manner of what was to come.

Over 200 people crowded into the cramped bleachers at The Rinx in Hauppauge, New York to watch the Seawolves lose 6-3 to the team from Lynchburg, Virginia; very few Stony Brook students were in the crowd. The first game of the 2008-2009 season started off well. Within 32 seconds, number 8 of the Seawolves, Angelo Serse, got a breakaway and the first goal of the game. Soon after, the Flames caught up with a goal of their own. Halfway through the period, number 40, John Langabeer, had a penalty shot brought on by a hook on a breakaway. However, goalie Derek Stevens was able to make the save. Not too long after, Seawolves’ number 23, Mauricio Torres, scored the go-ahead goal. At 3:40 left in the period, the Flames’ number 27, Zac Bauman, scored a goal by deflecting the puck into the net. This goal made the teams even at two goals a piece into the first intermission.

In the second period, the Flames scored a goal at 16:06 and got the go ahead goal. That was quickly snuffed by a bad angle shot through the five-hole by Serse again. Following this, Serse skated to center ice and did a Bobby Orr style dive. However, all this enthusiasm was snuffed at 4:33 in the period when the Flames’ player, Dave Semenya, scored on a breakaway.

The Liberty Flames prove to hot to handle, yet again.

After Semenva’s goal, two more followed. The first was shoved in by Zac Bauman, who also knocked the net off the moorings shortly after. Since the puck crossed the line in the goal crease before the net came off, this resulted in a goal along with groans from the fans. The second goal was scored in the third period from the slot, the area right in front of the net.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the game was how few students actually came out to the game. One student, Elizabeth Harmon explained, “It’s a good turnout, but there can be many more students. People should really get the word out.  There is free transportation and sometimes free tickets and it’s lots of fun.”
Unbeknownst to many, Stony Brook has five ice girls that skate in between periods and hold activities for the fans to take part in. During the first intermission they brought three kids onto the ice and let them shoot at the net from three points on the ice, the furthest blue line, the red line and the closer blue line. Throughout the game, the ice girls sold pucks for everyone to toss. The winner who got the puck in the bucket would get a prize.

At the beginning of the game, people were holding banners that read, “Go Seawolves! Extinguish the Flames!” But the Flames refused to be snuffed.

By Jason Wirchin

For those of you who read my Shea Goodbye article, you probably noticed the sentimental approach I took in describing the stadium’s historic tenure in New York.  I was more reflective than disheartened, and felt as if a proper sendoff was in place.  After all, even though Shea was closing, the Mets were in the playoff hunt and I, along with millions of other fans, was in a generally good mood.  Maybe we thought this year would be different.  Maybe after 2007’s bitter collapse, the team could muster one more miracle to keep Shea open for just a little bit longer.  We wanted October.  We wanted it badly.  Funny how we all got excited only to be disappointed…again!

As another Mets-less postseason surges ahead, the best we can do is sit back and sulk.  With a bunch of low-market clubs vying for a championship, we might as well shut off our TVs and save some electricity. That’s about the only good that can come out of these playoffs.  Seriously, were you really tempted to see nine innings of classic Red Sox – Angels baseball? How about that sleep-inducing matchup between the Rays and White Sox? Even better, who wasn’t yawning in excitement when they heard about the Cubs and Dodgers?! As if things couldn’t have gotten any worse, just thinking about that Brewers – Phillies series makes an orgo midterm sound like fun! Eye openers? More like eye closers! Try to enjoy a single pitch of these games and you’ll reach REM faster than if you were to swig a bottle of NyQuil. 

Such is the fate of modern Mets fans.  We’re left with the remnants of a wasted season and cannot help but wonder, “Why?”  See, we never know what to expect because we never have anything to expect.  Following The Collapse of last year, our hopes for a better tomorrow were in limbo.  Not surprisingly, this year’s team dragged us on a loopy roller coaster ride, only to send us crashing at the end.  They brought us sheer joy and much needed optimism, but they plagued us with utter confusion and downright anger.
Why even stick with these losers? Why bother? It’s what Mets fans…do…that’s why.  Sure it would be easy to have your team make the playoffs every year and win all the time (cough, Yankees fans, cough).  But that’s just the thing – it’s easy.  Sometimes the best decisions are the hardest decisions.  Tell this to anyone who bleeds orange and blue and they’re bound to say, “I hate it when you’re right.”

Nevertheless, we should not allow the 2008 “Dud Squad” to move into Citi Field scot-free.  Remember, they did hold a 3.5 game lead in the division with 17 games to play.  And every fool in that horrendous bullpen couldn’t hit the side of a barn even if it killed him.  These were the Mets of a babyish Reyes, an un-clutch Wright, two petty Pedros, and a general manager with the wits of a Jell-O mold.  They died the way they played – immaturely, inconsistently, and in no way a reflection of solid baseball. So, with the final words on the final season at Shea Stadium, here’s a little ditty you may recognize:

Meet the Mess, Meet the Mess,
Teams come to the park to defeat the Mets,
Bring your catcalls, bring your spite,
Guaranteed to have a miserable night,
Because these ‘08 Mets stink as you can see,
Half of the team is on AARP,
Alou is a bum, Castillo’s a joke,
I’ve seen better hands on a snake,
So to Omar, Fred and Jeff Wilpon, hiring Jerry Manuel was a mistake!
Enjoy the winter, folks! We’ll see you at spring training!

By Matt Braunstein

On Friday, September 27, the Stony Brook men’s football team charged onto their home field with intensity and determination. It was a cold and misty night, and as usual their stadium was not nearly filled to capacity, but this did not deter them. This was quite possibly the biggest game of their season; a televised clash with our rival, the Hofstra Pride.

The Seawolves received the opening kickoff and proceeded to march down the field under the leadership of freshman QB Dayne Hoffman and helped by some excellent running from junior RB Conte Cuttino. The offense shook off two penalties along the opening drive, and on a third and long Hoffman dropped back, pump faked, looked off his receivers, and threw a tight beautiful spiral to senior receiver Dwayne Eley in the end zone. The ball touched Eley’s hands, the crowd erupted in celebration, and then he dropped the touchdown pass. From that point on the game went downhill, and Seawolves went up shit creek.

Hofstra is preparing to violate Stony Brook beyond the actual 41-3 score.

Hofstra beat SBU handily by a score of 43-3. As if a pounding like that wasn’t enough, it was the 12th time in row the Pride has beat SBU. Though the teams are considered rivals, the rivalry is a bit one sided as previous to this game, Hofstra had beat Stony Brook all eleven times the teams faced off. The worst loss came two years ago in a 55-0 trouncing, but this past week’s game wasn’t much better.

The Seawolves scored on only one of their eleven possessions throughout the course of the game, a field goal in the first half. The other ten times they punted, gave up possession on downs or simply turned the ball over. In total, the Seawolves offense amassed 72 rushing yards, 139 passing yards, and no touchdowns. It should be noted also that Hofstra did have male cheerleaders on the sideline, so they also beat us in gayness.

Though the offense showed it was more than capable when executed properly, they were plagued by mistakes from the start of the game. They made three penalties (all at crucial points in the game), threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, one of which was returned sixty yards for a touchdown by Hofstra DB Leslie Jackman.

Snapping the ball was also a problem, perhaps caused by the light rain that persisted throughout the game. Both on special teams and in the shotgun formation, the ball was launched over the QB or punter’s head more than once, and resulted in a loss of yards and continued frustration.

Hofstra was not nearly as stagnant on offense, gaining 155 yards on the ground and 161 yards through the air, leading to a total of five touchdowns. They also kicked a field goal, returned a fumble for a touchdown and were able to convert eight of thirteen on third downs. Stony Brook only converted three of eleven on their crucial downs.

This loss brings SBU’s record to 1-4 this season. However, all hope is not lost as the team still has not faced any of their conference opponents in the newly joined Big South division. The Seawolves also have an extra week of practice to regroup and prepare for a game at Liberty University on Oct. 11.

The team this year is not untalented by any means. Though QB Hoffman is in his first year, he seems to have a grasp on the offense and shows poise in the pocket. RB Cuttino is as fast and hard-hitting as ever, and now has a nice complement in freshman RB Edwin Gowins. Reliable senior WR Lynell Suggs was out with an injury for most of the game, but the team’s number two receiving threat, Eley, played well despite his early touchdown drop. He is a small, shifty receiver in the mold of the Panther’s Steve Smith, and has excellent hands.

The offensive line remains as the team’s biggest strength, as they gave up no sacks to Hofstra and continue to do work in the trenches. They are a bulky and powerful squad anchored on the left side by senior LT and team captain Lawrence Lovell and massive senior LG Steve Council. The run defense is solid but the pass defense is a bit shaky, but there is no doubt that head coach Jim Priore will have the team working hard during practice to improve.

So yes, Hofstra wiped up the floor with Stony Brook this past Friday, and yes it was the 12th time in a row they did it. But just remember, they have male cheerleaders and we don’t, and goddammit, that is something to be proud of.

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.