BY RODERICK BOONE
While pulling into the parking lot right outside LaValle Stadium a little before 6 p.m., I couldn't help but notice how packed it was. People were tailgating and kids were running around with lacrosse sticks in their hands. There was no place to park.
With a such a lovely day and a nice warm spring temperature, the atmosphere had a distinct feel to it. When I walked inside, the stands were empty. Weird, I thought to myself. Guess those were mostly the cars of students who live in the nearby dorms.
But slowly, they started filing in and by the time we were underway, a record crowd of 5,723 settled in. And what a thrilling game they witnessed, as No. 20 Hofstra edged Stony Brook 14-13.
"It was great out there," Pride junior attack Tom Dooley said. "A ton of fans from both sides. You couldn't ask for a better game back-and-forth and we were just lucky enough to come out on top."
For the majority of the game, neither team could pull away. As Dooley indicated, it was it was a back-and-forth affair with the largest lead being a two-goal advantage until the Pride went ahead by three late in the fourth. Scrappy Stony Brook never went away, though, and made things interesting with a pair of fourth-quarter goals (including one with 1:35 left).
It was a tough one for Stony Brook (7-5), which has lost its five games by a combined nine goals. Hofstra coach Seth Tierney kept praising the fact the Seawolves kept coming at the Pride until there was no time left on the clock.
SBU coach Rick Sowell agreed with him.
"My guys don't know the word quit," Sowell said. "I'm very proud of them for that. I'm proud of their effort. We come to practice, we work hard, we play hard. Sometimes you do all that and you just don't win. Unfortunately, no matter how good you are there's always somebody who may be better. It's not for the lack of trying and I can sleep good at night knowing my guys are giving me all they've got."
Meanwhile Hofstra has to feel pretty good about the outcome. After losing at North Carolina Saturday, the Pride (7-5) talked about wanting some revenge against their rivals. SBU beat Hofstra in OT at the Pride's home digs last season and Hofstra didn't forget about it. Still, now the Hofstra players can talk a little trash, right?
"They got us last year so I really can't say much," said Anthony Muscarella, who led the Pride with a career-high six goals.
That's when Hofstra coach Seth Tierney chimed in.
"He's going to say, 'Good game.'"
Check out the boxscore of the game right here.