STONY BROOK, N.Y.- Second-seeded Stony Brook (6-9-4) scored a pair of second half goals to defeat the fifth-seeded UMBC (14-6-0) by a score of 2-0 in the America East Conference championship game Sunday evening at the Seawolves' LaValle Stadium.
The game was scoreless at halftime despite good chances for both teams. In the 24th minute, Stony Brook forward Raphael Abreu fired a shot from 10 yards out, but UMBC freshman goalie Phil Saunders (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) made a diving stop. Then nearly 12 minutes later, junior forward Levi Houapeu(Germantown, Md./Watkins Mill) was awarded a penalty kick, but Stony Brook goalie Anthony Rogic, the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship, came up with a big save.
Late in the 67th minute, UMBC freshman midfielder Dave Vaeth (Dundalk, Md./Patapsco) received his second yellow card, forcing the Retrievers to play a man down for the remainder of the game. Just over a minute later, Abreu came out of a scrum in front of the goal with the ball and tucked it into the left side to put the hosts on top, 1-0. Defender Damion Brown was credited with the assist.
Then in the 77th minute, America East Rookie of the Year Leonardo Fernandes was awarded a free kick, which he bent inside the left post and into the corner to give the Seawolves all the insurance they would need.
Saunders recorded three saves in the game, while Rogic stopped two shots. The Seawolves outshot the Retrievers, 23-11.
After the game, Houapeu, sophomore forward Andrew Bulls (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) and junior midfielder John Paul Waraksa (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) were named to the All-Championship Team.
