COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- After recording its first NCAA tournament win in its first appearance, the Stony Brook women's lacrosse team will take on No. 1 overall seed Maryland in the NCAA Championship second round on Sunday at noon in College Park, Md.
The Seawolves advanced to the second round with an, 8-6, win over Towson on Friday night in the first round of play. Amber Kupres had a hat trick in the contest while Demmianne Cook and Janine Hillier had two goals each.
Here are notes on Sunday's Match-up:
• Stony Brook became the third team in America East history to win an NCAA Championship game, defeating Towson, 8-6, on Friday night. The Seawolves join Albany (2011) and Boston U. (2008 & 2005) as conference teams who have won tournament contests. Overall, it is the fourth win for an America East team.
• Stony Brook earned its NCAA tournament berth by winning its first America East Championship title, defeating Albany, 14-3, in the championship game on Sunday, May 5 at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y.
• The Seawolves broke numerous conference championship records including fewest goals allowed in a tournament (7 over two games) and largest margin of victory in a title game (11). In addition, Demmianne Cook broke the single game tournament record with seven goals in the conference semifinal game. Also, goalkeeper Frankie Caridi recorded the lowest goals against average in a tournament, surrendering just 3.50 per game.
• Stony Brook is ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 5.37 goals per game, while also ranking second in scoring offense at 15.53 goals per game.
• Stony Brook senior midfielder Demmianne Cook, the conference Co-Player of the Year, and Boston U. senior attack Danielle Etrasco are ranked first and third in the nation in goals per game. Cook is first at 4.63 and Etrasco is third at 3.69. Cook also ranks sixth in the nation in points per game, averaging 5.11.
• Cook is in range of breaking the conference single-season goals record, entering Sunday’s game with 88 goals, just three away from tying the record. Other record’s have also fallen this year including Albany senior Rachael Burek breaking the conference assist record with 24 in six league games, and teammate Kathleen Lennon breaking the draw controls record with 101.
• America East teams are 4-14 all-time in the NCAA Championship.
• Stony Brook is the sixth-straight America East team to win the conference regular season with an unbeaten record.
• Maryland defeated Stony Brook, 8-3, in the regular-season meeting. This is the second time an America East team has played Maryland in the NCAA Championship.