The Stony Brook University women’s lacrosse team continued to make history on May 6, winning its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship — and ninth in the program’s history — with a dominant, 19-4 victory over tournament host Towson.
The Seawolves also earned their 10th trip to the NCAA Division I tournament, and on the tournament selection show the following day, Stony Brook was matched up against Penn State (11-6, 3-3 Big Ten). That game will take place Friday, May 12, at 3 pm in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of Loyola Maryland, and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The victor will take on the winner of Loyola Maryland and Fairfield on Sunday, May 14.
CAA Midfielder of the Year Ellie Masera led the way with five goals, Kailyn Hart scored four goals and Morgan Mitchell recorded a hat trick, her sixth of the season. Jolie Creo and Charlotte Verhulst each added a pair of goals in the win. Hart’s second goal of the day was her 200th career point.
Stony Brook led 14-2 at halftime, and the team’s 19 goals broke the title game record of 18, set by Towson in 2005. The 15-goal margin of victory was the largest-ever in a final.
Four Seawolves were named to the CAA All-Tournament Team following Saturday’s historic win. Masera, Hart, Hailey Duchnowski, and Clare Levy all earned All-Tournament Team honors. Masera was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament after she recorded 14 points (nine goals, five assists) and 19 draw controls.
Head coach Joe Spallina earned the CAA Coach of the Year honor. For Spallina, it was his seventh conference Coach of the Year award.
Masera was also tabbed to the All-CAA First Team and was joined by Hart and Levy. Mitchell, Verhulst, Jaden Hampel and Haley Dillon all earned All-CAA Second Team honors.
Stony Brook (14-3, 7-0) has advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals four times in its past five appearances. Last season, the Seawolves earned an at-large berth and defeated Drexel and Rutgers before falling to eventual national champion North Carolina in the quarterfinals. Stony Brook is 2-0 all-time against Penn State and won 16-11 in their last meeting on April 23, 2019.
