Seawolves successor rids memory of predecessor

Through the haze and gloom of an anemic 3-8 season in 1996, the Stony Brook men's lacrosse team had a vision of the future.

The Seawolves saw a much improved team. They saw a more experienced team. They saw another successful campaign by Chris Kollmer.

Well, the future is finally here, and hope has turned into reality.

This year's Stony Brook team is in fact better than its predecessor. After five games, the Seawolves are 4-1.

This year's Stony Brook team is also more experienced than its predecessor. The Seawolves returned all but two players from last year's frustrating campaign, and it's paying off.

"They're a very talented team," Penn State coach Glenn Thiel said. "They do wonders with what they have. They won't put their heads down and come at you, but if you make a mistake they'll pick you apart."

Finally, Kollmer is once again making a difference. Last season, as a junior, the attacker had 20 goals and 15 assists -- propelling him to fifth on the all-time Stony Brook career scoring list. Heading into yesterday's game with Lafayette, Kollmer was once again leading the Seawolves in scoring. He already has 18 goals and four assists.

The Seawolves, though, face their toughest challenge so far this season at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Jeffrey Field, when the they take on No. 19 Penn State (3-3).

The Nittany Lions are coming off last Saturday's impressive 11-5 win against University of Maryland Baltimore County.

"We needed to win," Penn State attacker Andy Germain said following the game. "They were No. 17, and we had dropped out of the top 25. You could feel it. We just came through as a team."

Coming through especially strong was Lion goalkeeper Kevin Keenan. Following consecutive games in which he and backup keeper Andy King surrendered 18 goals -- first to Georgetown and then to Princeton -- Keenan returned to form against the Retrievers.

"The defense just played a phenomenal game on Saturday," Keenan said. "It was one of the best games I've seen them play. They should take all the credit."

Along with Kollmer, midfielder Courtney Wilson will present the greatest offensive threat to Keenan and the Penn State defense. Wilson, sixth on the all-time Stony Brook career scoring list, had 17 goals and seven assists going into yesterday's game.

On the Penn State offensive end, attacker Greg Jackson still is searching for the scoring touch. Although the senior captain has seven assists, he has just five goals --well off the pace of his 23-goal effort last season.

With Jackson struggling, attackers John Chescavage has been forced to pick up the slack. He has 12 goals and five assists.

For Thiel, however, Jackson's inability to find the back of the net isn't too disheartening -- especially with his team coming off its best effort of the season.

"It was a big win for us on Saturday," Thiel said. "They were pretty confident, but we were a totally different team than we had been. If we play like that, we'll do fine against any team."