When one door closes, another one opens.

In an early example of the struggles lacrosse programs face in a 2021 spring season that will continue to be impacted by COVID-19, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 5 Stony Brook have made the most of their situations.

Yesterday, news broke that James Madison and North Carolina would not play on Saturday because of COVID-related issues at JMU.

Later in the day, a source told US Lacrosse Magazine that North Carolina would instead host Stony Brook on Sunday at noon after finding out the Seawolves’ game next Thursday against Villanova would also be postponed.

Stony Brook confirmed the Sunday game this morning.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our players to be able to play the No. 1 team in the country,” Stony Brook coach Joe Spallina said in a release from the school.

The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra.