After having three weeks off for the holiday season, the Seawolves entered the New Year facing off against division rivals the University of Liberty Flames. Despite the cold weather and snow on Saturday night the Seawolves looked on fire in the first period scoring four unanswered goals. Goals were scored by captain JT Hall, Chris Stemke, Devon Palmieri, and a new face for the Seawolves, Brad Riccardi. The Seawolves kept up the pressure as they poured on three more goals by forwards Stemke, Hall and Callelo. The Seawolves won 7-1 to take the first win of the second semester. The hard hat of the game went to goaltender, Payne Yoder, who stopped 27 of 28 shots.
Despite the score on Saturday night’s game the Seawolves knew the Flames were going to come out with a vengeance. Stony Brook struggled all season to find a way to sweep a weekend series but that looks like it was left in 2016. In Sunday afternoons game the Seawolves were able to capitalize on an early first period goal coming from Junior defenseman Frank Sherding who scored a top shelf beauty to make the score 1-0. However in the second period the Seawolves ran into penalty trouble spending the majority of the period shorthanded. With the help of a strong penalty kill by players like Matt Crockett, Alex Miller, Parker Bishop, Mike Cartwright and of course Payne Yoder, the Seawolves held the Flames scoreless through two periods. Late in the third period Chris Stemke made a great cross the crease pass where Brendan Calello put Stony Brook up 2-0. The Seawolves sealed up the weekend series vs. the Flames when forward Brad Ricardi iced the games with an empty net goal with just under a minute to go. The Seawolves won 3-0 giving Yoder his first career shutout since joining Stony Brook, making him the hard hat player of the game yet again.
Next weekend the Seawolves travel south to take on another division opponent, the West Chester University Rams. Stony Brook’s next home games will be Saturday January 21st and Suday January 22nd against the University of Delaware. Saturday the Seawolves will be supporting the K-9 companions and Sunday they will be supporting the League of Yes. Come down to support the Seawolves and support two great causes. All home games are played at the Rinx in Hauppauge, 660 Terry road. Go Seawolves!!!!!
