STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES (1-1) AT DUKE BLUE DEVILS (2-0)
This will be the first meeting between the teams since 1993. Duke leads the series 2-0. This is Stony Brook’s first road game of the season.
The Skinny:
SeaWolves: Stony Brook is coming off an 18-10 victory over Lafayette on Tuesday. With the game tied four apiece in the second quarter, the SeaWolves would score 10 of the next 11 goals of the game to pull away. Brody Eastwood had six goals in the game, scoring four of them in the second half. He now has 10 goals through two games this season. Sophomore Challen Rogers tallied five points (2 G, 3 A) for a second straight game, while classmate Jake Sichenzia set a career high with four points (3 G, 1 A) in a game. Just as impressive was freshman Kyle Rowe winning 18 of 21 draws and burying his first collegiate goal. The SeaWolves are also are 7-of-9 on man-up chances and have yet to give up an extra man goal.
It is no secret that Stony Brook can score, but they must improve their play on their own side. It starts in the net with goaltender Patrick Fleming. Through the first two games, he has an 11.19 goals against average and has only stopped 41 percent of the shots he has faced. He must play better. The team has also struggled on the clearing game (76 percent) and has turned the ball over 39 times already.
Blue Devils: John Danowski’s looks to carry over their strong play from last week’s victory over No. 4 Denver. Six different players had five-plus points balancing out the offense on the day. On the year, senior Jordan Wolf is the team’s top scorer (3 G, 6 A), while Josh Dionne, Deemer Class and Kyle Keenan all have six points apiece. Defensively, they have held their opponents to 28 shots a game. Longpole Casey Carroll has been great with eight groundballs and five caused turnovers. Both goaltenders, Kyle Turri and Like Aaron, have seen time on the field, though it seems Turri has the edge to start. Brendan Fowler has been solid at the draws (34-55, 62 percent) thus far.
Difference Makers: The battle at the dot will be pivotal for both teams. Can the rookie Rowe compete against the veteran Fowler?… The Stony Brook defense (11.50 GAA) will have to be ready against Duke’s offense (15.00 GPG).
