Rocky Point Athlete Helping SBU Women's Lacrosse in Quest for NCAA Bid

The Stony Brook women's lacrosse team owns a 10-2 record, a No. 11 national ranking, and is poised to dominate in the America East conference.

While she says the team is deserving of the recognition, junior midfielder Emily Mercier says it hasn't gone to their heads.

"We all know that we’ve worked really hard for it and we want to keep playing up there," she said.

"No one feels entitled or comfortable. Everyone’s pushing each other to make each other better. No one’s ever complacent."

Mercier is increasingly playing a significant role in the team's success. A former Suffolk All-County honorable mention player who led the Rocky Point girls' lacrosse team to a county championship in 2010, she has started all 12 games for the Seawolves so far this season, totaling 17 goals and three assists including a season-high four goals against Central Connecticut in February.

Head coach Joe Spallina said Mercier has great speed, great athleticism, and is starting to emerge into her full potential on both ends of the field.

"She’s athletically grown up, become more of a full-time athlete. I think she was a little unsure of herself early on in her college career," Spallina said. "She’s scored a lot of big goals and has been part of our success this season."

Mercier followed head coach Joe Spallina to Stony Brook in from Adelphi, where she was part of the team that won a Division II championship in 2011. Adelphi also won Division II championships in 2010 and 2009.

She and the rest of the team have not just an America East conference title in sight – she said they are shooting for the NCAA tournament and eventually a spot in the final four. But the women's lacrosse team hasn't always enjoyed this level of success. The team finished with a 16-30 record in the three seasons directly leading up to Spallina's arrival, and is 24-7 since.

Mercier said it feels great to be part of the team's latest achievements.

"Everyone on the team works so hard and the success we have turning the program around has been really cool," she said. "It’s a great feeling to see our success actually paying off."