Bulldogs welcome No. 11/8 Seawolves to the Bryant Track and Turf Complex Sunday at 12 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team will be faced with one of its greatest tests in program history when it battles No. 11/8 Stony Brook on Sunday at noon at the Bryant Track and Turf Complex.

The Bulldogs (2-1) are fresh off a come-from-behind 8-7 road victory over Holy Cross on a snowy Tuesday afternoon. Senior attack Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) had her best game of the young season, scoring four goals including the game winner to make it 8-6 with just over 14 minutes to play in the second half. Freshman midfielder Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) scored the first two goals of her collegiate career against the Crusaders, and Nicole Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) registered a goal for the third-straight game.

Sophomore netminders Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.) split the two halves, each making five saves, as Andrews picked up her first win of the year.

Both keepers will be challenged this Sunday, when the Seawolves kick off their 2016 season in Smithfield. Stony Brook earns its top-15 ranking following an 18-2 campaign in 2015 that saw the Seawolves reach the second round of the NCAA tournament during a year that saw the side rank as high as No. 6 by IWLCA and No. 4 by Inside Lacrosse.

The unanimous America East Conference preseason favorites return a loaded roster that features five Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America honorees, three of which led the Seawolves in points last year, as well as a Tewaaraton Award Watch List selection in sophomore Kylie Ohlmiller. The West Islip, N.Y., native was one of the top freshman in the country a season ago, ranking inside the top-10 nationally in assists per game (2.20) and points per game (4.30).   

Junior attack Courtney Murphy enters this weekend's matchup with 132 career goals following a 3.55 goals per game output in 2015 that ranked third in the country. Senior attack Dorrien Van Dyke tallied 59 points on 39 scores and 20 helpers last year, ranking in the top 10 in the America East in both categories, and also paced the Seawolves with 50 draw controls.

Defensively, Stony Brook boasts arguably the best unit in the nation, having led the Division I ranks in scoring defense in each of the three seasons. Two Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-America selections from the backline – seniors Maegan Meritz and Alyssa Fleming – headline the Seawolves' support in front of the cage. Meritz led the team while sitting 11th in the league with 1.90 ground balls per contest last season, and Fleming headed the squad while ranking ninth in the conference with 1.05 caused turnovers per effort.

The Seawolves possess one of the top goaltenders in the nation in junior Kaitlyn Leahy. The Bayport, N.Y., product led the country in goals against average in 2015, allowing 5.72 per game while starting all 20 contests.

The Black and Gold enter the contest ranked 19th nationally with a .509 saves percentage, as Santeramo sits inside the top 45 in saves (18) and goals against average (9.65) through three games. Descalzo currently leads all Northeast Conference performers with eight goals (49th nationally).

Sunday's battle marks the first time the Bulldogs and Seawolves have faced off. Stony Brook is 7-0 against the NEC over the last 10 years, and Bryant is 0-2 all-time against nationally ranked competition.

Fans can watch the action live on NECFrontRow.com and follow along via livestats on bryantbulldogs.com.