There’s a lot of “wait-and-see” when it comes to the Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team this spring. But it’s not in the traditional sense of the phrase.
Instead of head coach Joe Spallina waiting to see which players step up over the course of the season, “wait-and-see” is actually more of a warning to other teams. Consider it something to the effect of, “Just wait. You’ll see.”
Down two program staples in Ally Kennedy and Taryn Ohlmiller, the Seawolves enter a new era. A program often identified by the strength of its top players, this Stony Brook team gives off a different vibe. Instead of beating you with two players, the Seawolves might beat you with five or six.
“It will be more of a sum of its parts than it’s been, but we’ve got some pieces in there that are super dynamic,” Spallina said. “They aren’t household names yet.”
Spallina’s confident that 2022 will prove to be Ellie Masera’s breakout. The sophomore midfielder was the youngest player invited to try out for the U.S. women’s national team in July. As a freshman, she scored 17 goals and won 25 draws.
“She’s completely unguardable,” Spallina said. “She’s probably the most unguardable kid we’ve got. She’s got the tenacity. She’s got the great first step. Her first step is pristine.
“I think she’s special. You’ll see. Soon.”
Top to bottom, Stony Brook is fast and athletic. Masera and Jaden Hampel are blossoming contributors in the midfield, joining veterans Sarah Pulis, Rayna Sabella and Siobhan Rafferty. Rafferty scored 33 goals in 2021 and converted on 83.6 percent of her shots on goal. Albany transfer Kyla Zapolski will also be a factor.
A team driven by its midfield and a defense anchored by Clare Levy will also feature junior attacker Kailyn Hart, a player the lacrosse world got to know as a freshman with several goals featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10.
In the cage, Virginia transfer Charlie Campbell can be a gamechanger when locked in.
“This is a good group,” Spallina said. “I told them, ‘You guys are going to be a little bit of a secret for maybe one game.’”
It’s certainly a changing of the guard for Stony Brook, a perennial NCAA tournament team that nearly took down a loaded North Carolina team in the NCAA quarterfinals in May. Kennedy and Ohlmiller combined for 125 goals and 64 assists a season ago, meaning there will be opportunities available for players to step up.
Longtime assistant coach Kim Hillier is now the head coach at Drexel, and Sydney Pirreca was brought in as a new member of Spallina’s staff. Volunteer assistant Kylie Ohlmiller is also no longer with the program, though she’ll be replaced by Kennedy — perhaps a move that will help with the program’s transition into its next chapter.
“Our kids grew up a lot at the end of last year,” Spallina said. “Maybe we don’t have, on paper, right now, 1-2. But 3-15, we’re special.”
STONY BROOK AT A GLANCE
Hart (27 goals, 14 assists) is the team’s returning leader in points … Charlotte Verhulst (47 draw controls) will be challenged in the center circle by Zapolski and Hampel … Stony Brook holds the longest active in-conference winning streak (54 games) of any NCAA sport in the country. The Seawolves have won eight straight America East titles, a streak that doesn’t appear to be in danger of being snapped this spring … Spallina called Levy “the best defender we’ve ever had.” Levy, a lockdown 1-v-1 defender who can complement Stony Brook’s zone, never played club lacrosse … Haley Dillon is back after missing much of 2021 with an injury … Dillon’s return means Sabella, who moved from midfield to defense and thrived last spring, will be a versatile option at either position … Spallina agreed to a contract extension through the end of the 2026 season on September 22.