The Stony Brook women’s basketball team fell in overtime to Hofstra, 73-70, on March 6 at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead. Breauna Ware paced the Seawolves offense with 30 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the floor with 15 free throws.
Shamarla King tacked on a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as Zaida Gonzalez helped out with 15 points. Lauren Filien grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds while adding eight points and four blocks.
Hofstra started off hot, going on a 6-0 run to begin the contest. Stony Brook responded but struggled out of the gate, falling behind 13-8 at the end of the first quarter. Ware and King each tallied four points to get the squad on the board.
Hofstra kept adding to their lead, building a 15-8 advantage before Stony Brook went on their own 6-0 run, highlighted by a big bucket from Gonzalez, to narrow its deficit to 15-14. The Pride pieced together their offense and expanded its lead, leaving the Seawolves trailing 28-26 heading into halftime. Gonzalez tallied nine points for Stony Brook to close the gap with only one half to go.
Stony Brook came out of halftime rallying and had constructed a 36-34 lead before going on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a three from King, to expand its lead further to 46-34 with 3:23 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Pride had cut into the advantage, but the Seawolves still entered the fourth quarter with a 51-43 edge. Ware did most of the heavy lifting with 13 points through the frame.
Stony Brook then surrendered their advantage as Hofstra shot a game-high 75 percent from the floor to take a 65-62 lead. The Seawolves then forced overtime on free throws from Gonzalez with four seconds remaining in regulation.
Hofstra then edged ahead in overtime, connecting on a pair of buckets and four points from the charity stripe as the Seawolves could only cap off their performance with five points from the line, leaving Stony Brook trailing 73-70 at the final buzzer.
The Stony Brook baseball team carried a 9-6 lead into the eighth inning, but Niagara stormed back to take the rubber match in extra innings, securing a 10-9 victory on March 8 at Joe Nathan Field.
Niagara jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring one run in the first and second innings and adding two more in the third.
Erik Paulsen got the Seawolves going in the bottom of the third by drawing a one-out walk. Johnny Pilla followed with a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Vincent Mariella entered the game for Stony Brook in the top of the fourth and stranded two runners in scoring position.
Matt Miceli and Evan Goforth tallied back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fourth. After the duo stole second and third, Paulsen drew a bases-loaded walk before Pilla brought home Miceli on a sacrifice fly.
Following a 1-2-3 inning by Mariella in the fifth, Cam Santerre drove in Matthew Jackson with an RBI triple, tying the game at 4-4.
Niagara retook the lead in the top of the sixth, but Stony Brook answered with a four-run outburst to reclaim an 8-5 advantage. Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk, and Luke Szepek cleared the bases with a three-run double.
The Purple Eagles scored another run in the seventh, but the Seawolves responded again as Pilla drove in Miceli with an RBI single, extending the lead to 9-6.
Niagara rallied with three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game and plated the winning run in the tenth, clinching a 10-9 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Erik Paulsen racked up four hits, and Matthew Jackson tallied three hits with five RBI to help power the Stony Brook Seawolves over the Niagara Purple Eagles, 15-7, on March 7 in their home opener.
The victory marked a milestone for head coach Matt Senk, as he became just one of 11 active coaches to reach 950 career wins.
George Adams (2-1) earned the win out of the bullpen for Stony Brook (5-6). The left-hander delivered 3.2 shutout innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out six.
Paulsen led the Seawolves’ offensive surge with four hits, including a double and two RBI. Jackson had a standout day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, and five RBI. Junior Chanz Doughtyalso contributed with two hits in three at-bats, adding a double, a walk, and three RBI.
Stony Brook jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Paulsen doubled to right field and scored on a single from Johnny Pilla. Doughty later brought home Pilla on a sacrifice fly.Niagara responded in the top of the second with a six-run inning, highlighted by a grand slam.
The Seawolves began to chip away in the bottom half of the second when Chris Carson reached on a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a sac fly, and scored on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
Right-hander Eddie Smink settled in over the next three innings, holding Niagara hitless and preventing any runners from reaching second base in the third, fourth, and fifth frames.
Paulsen sparked a rally in the fifth with a leadoff single. After Nico Azpilcueta moved him to third with a base hit, Doughty drove in Paulsen with an RBI single. Jackson followed with a towering three-run homer to right field, giving Stony Brook a 7-6 lead.
After Niagara tied the game in the sixth, the Seawolves answered with a five-run inning. Doughty drew an RBI walk, Jackson brought home Pilla with an RBI single, and a Niagara error allowed two more runs to score. Paulsen was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, capping off the big inning and giving Stony Brook a 12-7 lead.
Adams took the mound and stranded a runner at second in his first full inning of work in the seventh.
The Seawolves kept the momentum going in the bottom of the seventh. Doughty laced a one-out double and scored on an RBI single from Jackson. Jackson then came home on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 14-7.
Adams delivered in the eighth, striking out three straight batters to escape a jam with runners on the corners.
Paulsen added the finishing touch in the bottom of the eighth, driving in Evan Goforth with an RBI single after Goforth led off with a double.
Adams sealed the win by retiring the final three batters in order in the ninth, securing the 15-7 victory at Joe Nathan Field.
Suffolk County Police have arrested a Brentwood man for allegedly driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a woman in Hauppauge on March 9.
Eybee Guevara was driving a 2021 Subaru southbound on Route 111 when his vehicle struck an eastbound 2011 Honda at the intersection with Route 347 at approximately 4:35 a.m.
A passenger in the Honda, Ashley Flores-Reyes, 29, of Coram, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The Honda driver, Rafael Gonzalez-Duran, 46, of Brentwood, and passenger Allison Vasquez-Guevera, 23, of Smithtown, were also transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Guevara, 27, was charged with Driving While Intoxicated: Previous Conviction Within 10 years. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 10 at First District Court in Central Islip.
If St. Patrick’s Day inspires feelings of hearth and home rather than leprechauns and green beer, you can celebrate tradition with warm, filling meals that harken back to Irish heritage. Irish stews are certain to conjure up some nostalgia while a delicious cheesecake is a perfect way to honor tradition regardless of your ancestry.
Irish Sláinte Stew
Recipe courtesy of Family Features
This Irish Sláinte Stew offers a warm welcome to guests with your own way of toasting to the holiday – Sláinte is “cheers” in Gaelic. This hearty meal is perfect for a crowd with traditional stew meat slow-cooked in a Dutch oven with beef broth, spices, carrots, potatoes, herbs and an Irish draught beer. Serve alongside crusty bread that’s ideal for soaking up each delicious drop.
INGREDIENTS:
Irish Sláinte Stew
Oilfor drizzling
1poundstew meat
1-2pinchessaltplus additional to taste, divided
1-2pinchespepper
3tablespoonsflour
48ouncesbeef broth
1cupcarrotsdiced
1cupcelerydiced
3cupspotatoesdiced
1/2oniondiced
2tablespoonsgarlic pepper
1tablespoondried thyme
1/2tablespoondried rosemary
1tablespoondried chives
1bottle Irish draught beer of choice
crusty breadfor serving
DIRECTIONS
In Dutch oven over medium heat, drizzle oil and brown stew meat with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour over meat. Add beef broth, carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, garlic pepper, thyme, rosemary and chives. Add Irish draught beer. Bring to boil, stirring, 5 minutes. Simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve with crusty bread.
Irish Coffee Cheesecake
Recipe courtesy of National Honey Board
Share a sweet way to complete the meal in style with a delicious Irish Coffee Cheesecake. For a fun St. Patrick’s Day twist, drizzle green crème de menthe over whipped cream just before serving.
1/4 cup – powdered French Vanilla coffee drink mix
2 T – flour
4 – eggs
For Topping:
1 cup – heavy whipping cream
2 T – honey
1 T – Irish whiskey, optional
1 T – powdered French Vanilla coffee drink mix
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Combine crust ingredients (crushed cookies, oatmeal, honey, butter) in a large bowl, mix well and pat into bottom, and halfway up sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup honey, whiskey, 1/4 cup coffee powder, and flour; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time and beat just until blended. Pour mixture into crust.
Place cheesecake on a cookie sheet, and bake 40 to 45 minutes until cheesecake is puffed and center is set. Turn oven off, and allow cheesecake to cool for 15 minutes with door ajar.
Remove cheesecake to a cooling rack and cool 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around sides and remove the pan. Allow cheesecake to cool 30 minutes more; then place in refrigerator to chill.
Meanwhile, make topping by whipping cream until thickened. Add 2 T honey, 1 T whiskey, and 1 T powdered coffee, and whip until peaks form. Pipe or spread on chilled cheesecake and serve.
A banner in Centereach that reads Ramadan Kareem, an Arabic phrase that directly translates to “Generous Ramadan” in English. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
By Sabrina Artusa
The crescent moon lit up the night sky Feb. 28, signifying the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. This holy month honors the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, and Muslims celebrate by strengthening their faith through restraint.
For Sabri, a Setauket mechanic, the day begins at 4 a.m. He eats with his wife and children before his fast starts at 5 a.m. In the evening, he will put on a Muslim talk show and listen to the “Azan” (or “Adhan”), a song that precedes prayer, before breaking his fast in a meal called the “Iftar.” In Istanbul, Sabri loved to listen to the “Azan” as the sun rose, right before the first prayer of the day.
For the Iftar, Sabri’s meals don’t deviate much from what he typically eats, but his meal will likely contain meat, which his wife ensures is “halal” by shopping at a Turkish grocer.
“This is for control of your system,” Sabri said. “It is for yourself.” Water, also, is not allowed during the fasting period. Of course, there are exceptions for those whom it would be harmful or dangerous to fast, and children are also not expected to observe.
Muslims not only fast from food but also restrain from doing any other action that is against Islamic principles, such as lying. Stony Brook University professor Ismail Zahed emphasized that Ramadan is meant to remove the reliance on nonnecessities in order to “factor in Islam in the right way.”
“The most basic thing — to feed yourself — is taken for granted,” Zahed said. “[Ramadan] is a reminder of those who do not have. It brings you closer to those who do not have… It is not waiting for the 5:40 time card [sunset] to hit the table. It is making all the effort to think about that and to think of all the ways you can reach out and help.”
Removing superfluous luxuries helps Muslims connect more not only with their religion but also with their friends, family and community.
Charitable acts are another signature part of Ramadan and part of the reason some mosques provide the Iftar for free. This tenet of Islam, giving to charity, is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside fasting, pilgrimage, profession of faith and prayer.
Ramadan serves to help Muslims get closer to Allah by looking inward at their own relationship with their faith, but it is also observed communally, with Muslims gathering to recite a portion of the Quran at mosques each night and breaking the fast together. Beginning on the first day of Ramadan, an Imam will recite one-thirtieth of the Quran so that, by the end of the month, it will have been read in its entirety.
“It is also a month where families come together in observance of this particular event [the revelation of the Quaran] where we remind each other why this is so important. Getting people to sit together at the same time is difficult,” Zahed said.
“My favorite part is to open the Iftar with my family,” Sabri said. Sabri doesn’t often go to the mosque for Iftar, preferring to break the fast at home with his family. He does visit the mosque for a prayer at least once a week.
For Zahed, Ramadan is a chance to focus more on Islam, although the changes don’t end once the month is over.
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims will celebrate with “Eid al-Fitr,” which will occur March 29, the day of the new crescent moon.
“People have a really good heart,” Sabri said. “And God makes them see it.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine with Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Executive Romaine's office
By Daniel Dunaief
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina is constantly looking for ways to ensure the safety of residents and improve upon a force he believes is the best in the nation.
After a recent visit to an intelligence center in Nassau County that tracks potential school threats, Catalina created a similar threat matrix in Suffolk.
Earlier this week, he described an incident at Brentwood High School Ross Center in which officials found bullets.
During an active investigation, the SCPD plans to determine who brought those bullets to school. Once they do, they will follow up with an ongoing assessment of the risk anyone might pose to students.
“Based on that matrix, we determine how often we’re going to visit that individual to determine whether that threat level has changed,” Catalina said. “If somebody was willing to bring bullets” to school, that person is “probably somebody that’s going to be high on the threat matrix,” said Catalina.
As he continues in a role he took last month and that he has described as his “dream job,” Catalina plans to take several measures to improve the safety of county residents.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview, Catalina shared his thoughts on reducing traffic accidents and injuries, enhancing school safety, recruiting officers from a range of communities and developing and promoting his senior staff.
‘Too many’ car accidents
“Road safety is first and foremost,” said Catalina. “There are way too many accidents with injuries and fatalities on our roadways.”
Catalina, who is a native of Sayville and has 33 years of experience in various New York police forces, plans to bolster the highway enforcement division.
In addition to building on a street takeover task force, he’s starting a program where he’s bringing in precinct commanders on a biweekly basis to discuss accidents and accidents with injuries.
He’s looking for ways to improve on the deployment of personnel to use enforcements actions that make the roadways safer.
The Suffolk County Police Department is partnering with Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. and with the state police in this effort.
The department is also looking at changes in Driving While Intoxicated numbers over time.
“We’d always like to see improvement,” Catalina said.
The county has experienced an increase in drivers who are impaired from marijuana.
Detecting drivers affected by pot is challenging, Catalina said.
Under Catalina’s leadership, the department is planning to increase training that would help officers recognize the effects of people who are high while they are driving.
Current recruits will spend an additional few days in the police academy to “give them a base level training in that kind of skill,” Catalina added.
Cell phones have also become a hazard. Catalina would like to see increased enforcement of laws that prevent driving while texting.
Cars are swerving around the road as drivers stare at their phones while sending a message to someone else, who also might be driving.
The SCPD is also training officers on the use of body worn cameras, making sure the footage they collect is usable and available for prosecutions.
Chief of Detectives William Doherty. Photo from Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina is confident the academy prepares recruits for their work. He sees opportunities, however, to enhance field training.
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, was a field training officer.
“I know we don’t have any Derek Chauvins in the Suffolk County Police Department,” said Catalina. “The lesson for everyone in law enforcement is that those training officers are incredibly impactful.”
He wants to ensure that the “right people are delivering the right messages,” he said.
Opioids
Even though the numbers are down, Catalina believes the county has “way too many opioids deaths. One is too many.”
He is working closely with District Attorney Ray Tierney and is in regular contact with him, which can include several phone calls each day.
“Not only are we going to target the horrible people that sell that poison and prosecute them in connection with the DA’s office,” but the department will also work with service providers to help people in need affected by addiction, Catalina said.
School safety
The SCPD offers a service to all the schools to provide active shooter training.
The officers explain what to do, what not to do, and how to harden infrastructure to prevent the kinds of tragedies that have devastated communities around the country from happening in the county.
He recognizes the need to be judicious about deploying additional school resource officers, as the department needs to be careful about taking resources away from other programs.
Catalina provides information to schools about safety, leaving it up to each district to create their own plans.
Police recruitment
Chief of Operations Milagros Soto. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina emphasized the importance of having police officers who can relate to people who live in the communities they serve.
“When somebody calls the police, it puts them at ease to see people that look like them or people that can speak their language,” said Catalina. “It’s also a tremendous recruitment tool for people to see people who look like them.”
The SCPD doesn’t want to compromise when it comes to the quality of the officers.
“We feel we can still get quality officers and do a better job of recruiting people who will come from the communities in Suffolk County that are underserved and underrepresented,” Catalina added.
Catalina believes the department has made progress with Latino, Asian and female officers, but feels the SCPD is “still struggling with recruitment of African Americans.
Catalina has been working with the Guardians Association, an organization comprised primarily of black law enforcement professionals. He also visited El Salvador with Sheriff Toulon, where he got some “good ideas on recruitment” that he hopes to institute next time around.
Staff promotions
Apryl Hargrove, commanding officer of the hate crimes unit. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina has been reorganizing his executive staff, which he believes will enhance the department
The elevation in rank for these staff is merit based, driven by aptitude and performance.
Milagros “Millie” Soto has become Chief of Operations, a three star designation, and is the first woman in the department to hold that rank.
A 37-year veteran of the department, Soto has held a variety of roles.
“I’m thrilled” with this promotion, Catalina said.
Catalina also promoted William Doherty as Chief of Detectives.
Doherty “brings a tremendous amount of experience” and has run “quite a few places in the police department.”
Among other promotions, Apryl Hargrove has become the commanding officer of the hate crimes unit.
“Any time there’s a hate crime, it can devastate a community,” said Catalina. Hargrove is “an incredible person” who recently retired from the Army.
Hargrove, who is now a detective sergeant and is the highest ranking female African American officer in the department, is “going to do a phenomenal job,” Catalina said.
While Catalina is encouraged with the department, he believes these promotions help “build a really strong team.”
Stony Brook men’s lacrosse fell to Binghamton, 12-10, on March 8 at LaValle Stadium. Jamison MacLachlan made a season-high 18 saves in the contest and Collin Williamsonpaced the offense with four points.
Binghamton scored the first four goals of the contest and led 5-1 after the first 15 minutes of action on Long Island.
The Seawolves scored a pair of man-up goals to begin the second quarter, cutting into Binghamton’s lead.
After the two sides traded goals, Liam Ferris scored at the 7:13 mark to make it a three-goal game. Stony Brook did not score over the final nine-plus minutes of the half, heading into the break trailing 7-4.
Stony Brook shortened the deficit to two goals, 9-7, late in the third quarter and opened the scoring in the fourth frame to make it a one-goal game.
Binghamton extended its lead back to three goals, 12-9, and held the Seawolves to just one goal over the final eight-plus minutes of action to close out the victory.
“We were not ready to play with the level of focus, urgency and energy. I have to do a better job of getting the message across that we have to earn every single thing in every game,” head coach Anthony Gilardi said. “We need to learn from this and get ready for a rivalry game to start CAA play next weekend.”
Up next, the team opens CAA play next Saturday, March 15 at Hofstra. The Seawolves and Pride are set for a 7 pm start in Hempstead with the contest streaming on LacrosseTV.
The 13th seeded Stony Brook men’s basketball team erased a 16-point, second-half deficit but could not overcome No. 12 Delaware in the first round of the 2025 CAA Championship in Washington, D.C. on March 7. CJ Luster II scored a game-high 31 points, while Collin O’Connor contributed 18 points and four assists.
Delaware started strong, seeing four scorers contribute to the construction of an early 16-11 lead.
A basket inside by Andre Snoddy, followed by a trifecta from Leon Nahar evened the contest at 16-all.
Stony Brook could not grab hold of the lead however. The Blue Hens continued their hot shooting from beyond the arc, opening up a double-digit lead with less than five minutes to play in the first half.
The Seawolves’ deficit grew as large as 16 points, a disadvantage they carried into the intermission.
Stony Brook came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half, making its first seven shots of the second half to trim the deficit to eight points, 59-51, with more than 15 minutes to play.
The Seawolves began outworking the Blue Hens, imposing their will inside, drawing fouls and creating second-chance opportunities. A free throw by Luster and a basket inside by O’Connor made it a one-possession game, 65-62, a little more than halfway through the second stanza.
Stony Brook continued to stay within a possession of Delaware down the stretch, trailing 69-68 coming out of the final media timeout with 3:51 to play.
Snoddy free throws made it all even for the first time since the 11:40 mark of the first half.
Five free throws by the Blue Hens made it 75-70, but Luster brought it back to a one-possession game again as the clock ticked under a minute to play.
Trailing 79-76 with 19 seconds left, Luster fouled John Camden, who sank one of two free throws. Stony Brook’s final possession came up empty, sealing the Seawolves fate despite a valiant come-from-behind effort.
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Saturday, March 8 after multiple fire departments and emergency services battled three major brush fires in the Pine Barrens. The first fire started in Center Moriches around 1 p.m. and then spread very quickly to East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton just north of Gabreski Airport. The National Guard was also involved in water drops. As of 8:30 p.m., portions of Sunrise Highway remained closed past exit 58 and the fire was 50% controlled. One firefighter was injured with burns and was flown to Stony Brook University for treatment.
Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Executive Facebook
“The fire is now two miles wide and two miles long. Part of the problem is the wind. …We stop this fire from spreading, and then we try to contain it,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a press conference Saturday evening. “It is not under control, as I speak, and probably will not be for several hours, if not probably tomorrow as well, because the winds will keep the embers alive, and we have to worry every day that this fire will start up again.”
“This is a coordinated effort to make sure that this does not turn into 1995 as well,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, referring to the August 1995 Sunrise Fire that burned 4,500 acres of pine barrens and took four days to contain. “I have authorized all of the heavy equipment from the landfill, from our highway department, our parks department — we are here to assist any fire department {in their efforts}. We are in this together …. and I pray for everyone’s safety.”
“Suffolk County continues to work with our partners in the Town of Southampton, New York State, Nassau County and the federal government to manage the active brushfires in Southampton. Thank you to Representative Nick LaLotta, Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Southampton Supervisor Maria Z. Moore, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the Southampton Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department, state Representative Tommy John Schiavoni, state Senator Anthony Palumbo, NYC Mayor Eric Adams – who has offered us assistance – and volunteers from over 80 fire departments and emergency service agencies for their work in helping to combat the fires,” added Romaine in a statement.
“I spoke with County Executive Ed Romaine [this afternoon] about the brush fire in the Pine Barrens and informed him that the State of New York is here to provide any resources and support he needs. The New York National Guard has already begun providing air support by helicopter and is coordinating with local law enforcement,” said Gov. Hochul in a press release. “I have also deployed personnel from the Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and the New York State Police to assist Suffolk County’s response to this crisis. Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe.”
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