Ending with a bang - SBU beats Hofstra for first time SBU Sportsweek
By Robert Leuner
April 24, 2008 | 10:35 AM In a battle between Long Island's Division I women's lacrosse programs, the Stony Brook Seawolves fought off a second half Hofstra comeback, scored five of the final six goals and beat the visiting Pride, 14-10, for the first time ever on April 22.  For the Seawolves, who struggled early in their 2008 campaign, it was a fitting and happy finale to their season. Despite not making the playoffs on the only occasion since she took over the head coaching duties, Allison Comito was pleased with the outcome. "We struggled in the beginning of the season and I think that hurt us in getting to the conference tournament," said Comito. "But the team showed a lot of heart and passion today and I think they showed a lot of character to come out and beat Hofstra for the first time. We struggled all season with comebacks from other teams but they really wanted it today." The game was also a homecoming of sorts for two of Suffolk County's former high school standouts. Stony Brook junior Kaitlin Leggio from Bay Shore High School and Hofstra sophomore Corrine Gandolfi from Northport High School showed the crowd of nearly 800 why they were so highly regarded high school prospects. Leggio scored one goal and assisted on three others while Gandolfi notched two goals for the Pride. Also on hand was former Miller Place field hockey coach and Class of 2008 Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Judy Kopelman, who was one of the three referees officiating the game. Leggio put Stony Brook on top first with score at 24:05. But almost immediately Hofstra answered as Sandy Wasserbach tied the game 1-1. One minute later it was the Seawolves who were back on top 2-1 courtesy of Samantha Djaha. Again the Pride were quick to retaliate as K'Leigh Vanaman beat goalie Mickey Cahill (six saves) with a free position shot at 20:35. Despite sloppy play by both teams — Stony Brook committed 10 first half turnovers while Hofstra turned the ball over 11 times in the first half — the teams appeared evenly matched. Stony Brook ended a brief scoring drought with three unanswered goals over the next seven minutes as Elizabeth Montreuil and Djaha (twice) lifted the Seawolves to a 5-2 lead. Hofstra came back with two consecutive scores from Lauren Whitcomb and Stephanie Rice to pull within one at 5-4. Again Stony Brook found the resolve to answer back as Jenna Celano scored from a free position and Melissa Cook put the Seawolves up by three at 7-4. The teams traded goals in the final minute of play as Gandolfi tallied her 29th goal on the year with 59 seconds left in the half and Stony Brook's Amy Hallion scored with 21 seconds left to ease the Seawolves into the break with an 8-5 lead. The second half was played in two parts. The first 10 minutes was dominated by Hofstra as the Pride erased a four-goal Stony Brook lead to tie the score at 9-9. Following an early goal from Djaha, the Pride answered with four straight scores from Vanaman, Whitcomb (twice) and Gandolfi. But the Pride would score only once more over the final 20:38 as the Seawolves regained control of the game. After Gandolfi tied it at 9-9, Diana Caroleo put Stony Brook on top for good with an unassisted goal at 20:38. Caroleo encored with her second tally at 18:55 and Cook scored her second of the game at 17:11 to give the Seawolves a 12-9 lead. Stephanie Rice cut Stony Brook's lead to two with a goal at 13:17. But they would draw no closer. With the lead firmly in hand the Seawolves were able to stall, control the ball and be more selective with their shots. Their strategy worked to perfection as Montreuil scored her 12th goal of the season at 11:10 and Cook put the icing to the cake with her 37th goal of the year at the 1:09 mark. Afterward Leggio put the game and its meaning into perspective. "Our goal for April was to go 4-0 and we did that," she said. "Even though we didn't make the playoffs we knew that we had never beaten Hofstra before and it feels good to have done it. We all really wanted it, not only for everyone on the team but especially for the seniors who were playing their final game." With the win Stony Brook finishes the season with a 9-6 overall record while the loss drops Hofstra to 7-9.