UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse buries Stony Brook 19-6, advances to America East Title game
ALBANY, N.Y. – Paced by a 8-0 surge in the latter half of the second quarter, the 1-seed UAlbany men’s lacrosse team crushed 4-seed Stony Brook 19-6 to return to the America East title game.
UAlbany (13-2), leading 4-1 in the middle of the second quarter, rolled off eight consecutive goals in 5:30 of play, all without losing possession, to build an 11-goal lead at the half vs. Stony Brook (7-7). UAlbany added another goal shortly into the third quarter to cap the 9-0 run. UAlbany did not give up back-to-back goals the rest of the way and cruised to the victory.
“We were mentally prepared for tonight’s game, and we had a balanced effort from our team,” said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. “We shared the ball and were unselfish, and I am proud of our effort, but we are only half-done here.”
UAlbany advances to the America East title game on Saturday, May 6th at noon at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. The Great Danes will take on 3-seed Binghamton, which defeated 2-seed UMBC 9-4 in the first game of the semifinals. For ticket and parking information, visit ualbanysports.com/tickets or call the UAlbany ticket office directly at 518-442-DANE.
This is UAlbany’s 12th appearance in the America East title game and fourth in the last five years. All-time, UAlbany is 7-4 in the championship game, including winning its last three appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
UAlbany dominated on the faceoff-X, setting an America East Tournament record by winning 86.2% (25-for-29). TD Ierlandominated as UAlbany’s primary faceoff man, winning 22-for-23 (95.7%) and grabbing 16 ground balls, more than Stony Brook as a team.
“Coach Russell and Coach Thomson came up with a great gameplan for me, and I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to my wing [players],” said Ierlan.
As a team, UAlbany outshot Stony Brook 46-23 and grabbed 39 ground balls compared to Stony Brook’s 15. Each Kyle McClancy and Justin Reh scored four goals, with the former adding an assist. Connor Fields had a team-high seven points off two goals and five assists, adding three ground balls, whileAdam Osika notched a hat trick on four shots. In goal, JD Colarusso notched the victory with seven saves and five goals allowed.
“It is always great to get another chance at the America East Championship,” said Fields. “Last year, we didn’t play UAlbany lacrosse, and we are really excited for Saturday.”
For Stony Brook, six different players had goals, with Tom Haun notching a goal and an assist. Michael Bollinger had the loss in goal with two saves and 11 goals allowed in the opening 27:36.
UAlbany had two quick goals in the opening 2:33, with a McClancy roll to the cage and Justin Reh shaking off a defender from behind the cage and scoring point blank. After UAlbany held on a long SBU possession by forcing a shot clock violation, Osika took a pass from a double-teamed Bennett Drake, ran to the cage and scored. A minute later, UAlbany passed around the horn man-up, leading to McClancy shooting a rocket under the crossbar to make it 4-0 after 8:30 of play.
SBU got its first goal in the closing minutes of the 1st quarter, pulling to 4-1 after one period.
The start of the second quarter saw each defense keep control, with UAlbany making saves and Stony Brook forced turnovers. Midway through the second, the score remained at 4-1 UAlbany.
With 6:50 left in the second, John Glancy hit his shot from straight away to start the UAlbany run. Ierlan kept winning faceoffs as UAlbany kept the ball, leading to a barrage of goals: Justin Reh scored from around the cage, Field hit a shot while jumping and throwing down a high to low fire, McClancy hit a laser off a dodge, Justin Reh hit a shot while falling backwards,Eli Lasda scoring off a won ground ball on the faceoff in the center of the field and scoring on his own (the last four goals occurring in a minute’s time), Justin Reh adding a catch and shoot off a shot in the corner, then McClancy hitting a frozen rope inside the post. The quarter-ending 8-0 run sent UAlbany to a 12-1 lead at the half.
Facing a new keeper, UAlbany kept up the attack as Fields spun off his defender and scores on a shot past the torso. After SBU ended the UAlbany run with 12:26 left in the 3rd, Osika got the goal back, whipping a shot from the hip close range. The sides went back and forth the rest of the quarter, with a Mitch Laffin catch and shoot goal on the doorstep and an Osika rip off the dodge making it 16-4 UAlbany after three-quarters.
Into the fourth, after a UAlbany barrage of shots ended in a turnover, the ride helped force an SBU turnover. UAlbany fired away again, leading to Lasda hitting a shot while jumping. SBU got the goal back as UAlbany’s defense held down the stretch. Ron John added his first career goal off a clear from Troy Reh, then Davis Diamond set up Jake Cullen for a catch and shoot next to the crease. SBU added a late goal, with UAlbany taking the 19-6 victory.
-Dave Vatz, UAlbany Sports Information
