The 2022 college lacrosse season is nearly upon us. As is our annual tradition, we’re featuring every team ranked in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20.
Check back to USALaxMagazine.com each weekday this month for new previews, scouting reports and rival analysis.
NO. 5 STONY BROOK
2021 Record: 16-3 (8-0 America East)
Final Ranking (2021): No. 5
Coach: Joe Spallina (11th season)
It’s not a secret anymore. Joe Spallina, head coach of the Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team, never backs away from an opportunity to hype up his team.
Sometimes, the hype is met with questions. Like when the program graduated all-time greats Kylie Ohlmiller and Courtney Murphy after the 2018 season, onlookers reasonably scratched their heads when Spallina insisted there wouldn’t be a drop off.
There would be no rebuilding period. Stony Brook proceeded to finish 16-5 in 2019, winning a first-round NCAA tournament game before falling in the next round to Maryland.
It wasn’t surprising for Spallina to hear similar questions this offseason on the heels of the graduations of Ally Kennedy and Taryn Ohlmiller. Still, the ever-confident Spallina remains, well, confident.
“I love this team. I think we’re, top to bottom, so fast and so athletic,” he said in the fall. “It will be more of a sum of its parts than it’s been in the past, but we’ve got some pieces in there that are super dynamic. They just aren’t household names yet.”
There are a few returning players Spallina can bank on. Rayna Sabella and Siobhan Rafferty are back as stable contributors in the midfield, as is Sarah Pulis, who enjoyed a 12-goal, eight-assist season in 2021.
Clare Levy, who Spallina credits as the type of player that allows his team to be more flexible in its defensive packages, never played club lacrosse growing up but has emerged as arguably the top defender in the America East.
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TEAM PREVIEWS
Then there are the transfers, Charlie Campbell (Virginia) and Kyla Zapolski (Albany), who will fortify the goal and midfield, respectively. But that’s about where the knowns end and the question marks begin.
Ellie Masera is the next Ally Kennedy, in Spallina’s opinion. She might even prove to be better. A speedy midfielder with an aggressive mindset, she’s an all-around offensive player who will be thrust into the largest role of her young career. Alongside her will be Jaden Hampel, who “is going to pop” this year, Spallina said.
The list goes on and on with this roster. Charlotte Verhulst and Kira Accettella are looking like possible breakouts. Kailyn Hart, who already has a nice collection of highlights on SportsCenter’s “Top 10 Plays” is an offensive force in the making.
Spallina’s new-look team also comes with new faces (well, sort of) on the coaching staff. Kim Hillier left for her first head coaching job at Drexel, and volunteer assistant Kylie Ohlmiller is no longer with the program. Kennedy was brought on to fill Ohlmiller’s role, while Sydney Pirreca is Spallina’s new assistant.
So, will there be a drop off? Stony Brook is the owner of the longest in-conference winning streak in NCAA sports, having won 54 straight against America East foes.
In what could be Stony Brook’s final season in the conference — rumors have circulated that Stony Brook could join the CAA — Spallina is steadfast in his belief that the Seawolves will again be a national power.