Some programs stand to benefit from a core group of fifth-year seniors who return thanks to the NCAA’s relaxed eligibility rules during the pandemic. Others made major pickups in the transfer portal.

A lucky few will substantially raise their ceilings using both methods. Plenty of power conference schools belong on that list. So does Stony Brook.

The Seawolves, who opened with a 20-8 victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday, have seven fifth-year seniors scattered across the field. Four started against the Pioneers (attackmen Tom Haun and Cory VanGinhoven, midfielder Chris Pickel Jr. and defenseman CJ Trenkle), while midfielder Wayne White had two assists off the bench and Tom Dugan played a significant role as a defensive midfielder.

“It was an instantaneous decision as soon as we said, ‘Hey, this is the opportunity,’” coach Anthony Gilardi said. “As soon as they came back, we knew we’d be able to take a step forward. I think Year Two, with a new coaching staff, there’s always some growth right there. I think having those guys really buy into what we’re doing and trying to maximize their senior year as much as possible. Now they know what to expect in practice and games and how to prepare.”

The veteran presence helps, but there were also encouraging returns from two transfers, both of whom are enjoying something of a homecoming at Stony Brook.

Dylan Pallonetti played at nearby Ward Melville High School and originally committed to UMass before spending last season at Maryland. In his debut with the Seawolves, he had six goals and an assist.

“Every time I watched him play, I thought, ‘Geez, we’re going to struggle guarding him,’” Gilardi said of monitoring Pallonetti during his time as an assistant at Towson. “When he came in the portal, we said, ‘We have to find a way to make this happen,’ and we used every resource. We really dialed into his high school coach a ton. It was the right fit. We thought he clicked right away.”

Midfielder Matt DeMeo’s ties to the Seawolves go back to before he was born. His father Jerry was the defensive coordinator on John Espey’s staff in the 1990s. DeMeo played the last three seasons at Maritime College, setting the Division III school’s for goals (142) and points (186). Included was a 79-goal outburst in 2019.

Gilardi was hopeful DeMeo could help but wasn’t entirely certain based on his Maritime career. But he quickly eliminated much of that uncertainty in his first practice. Sure enough, DeMeo had three goals and two assists on Saturday.

“We kind of looked at each other and said, ‘This is going to be good,’” Gilardi said. “We were doing non-contact, and he’s shooting the ball and we’re like, ‘Who’s this kid? Who recruited this guy?’ … His IQ is through the roof, and his ability to shoot the ball is fantastic and he can dodge.”