Stony Brook tabbed atop America East

Stony Brook Athletics

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook, ranked sixth nationally by the coaches and eighth by the media in the national preseason polls, has been picked to win the 2011 conference title in the America East Conference preseason coaches poll. Stony Brook collected five of the six first-place votes, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The defending America East champion, Stony Brook won the conference championship for the first time since 2002 last year and now returns its starting attack and midfield, two units that combined to tally 189 goals and 101 assists. The Seawolves’ have four preseason All-Americans in senior Kevin Crowley, senior Jordan McBride, senior Tom Compitello and senior Adam Rand, all part of an offense that ranked fourth in the country with more than 13 goals per game.

Senior Bryan Reinert and junior Kyle Moeller will be counted on at close defense for 2010 America East Coach of the Year Rick Sowell, who will as rely on senior Vonzel LeGall and junior Jared LeVerne as defensive middies. Sowell has numerous options at long stick midfielder, including junior Greg Miceli and JJ Laforet.