Bulldogs selected NEC preseason favorites, kick off 2015 campaign Saturday against Holy Cross (12 p.m.)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After winning its first Northeast Conference Regular-Season and Tournament Championships just a season ago, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team has been tabbed by league head coaches to defend its 2015 crown.

Reigning NEC Coach of the Year Jill Batcheller saw her Bulldogs command five first-place votes as the preseason favorites, and the Black and Gold start on the road to returning to the NCAA tournament Saturday in the 2015 opener against Holy Cross at the Bryant Turf Complex (12 p.m.).

"After our season last year, being picked at the top of the league is a huge honor for this program," said Batcheller. "The level of lacrosse has risen so much in the NEC over the last few years, so while we know we have a challenging but exciting road ahead of us, we are looking forward to defending our title."

Wagner came in second in the poll with three first-place votes, while Robert Morris placed third with the final first-place tally. Central Connecticut, Mount St. Mary's and Sacred Heart closely follow one another for fourth through sixth, with LIU Brooklyn and Saint Francis U. finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, to round out the preseason poll.

Batcheller's Bulldogs will look to repeat the success of last year's record-setting season despite the loss of last spring's strong senior class. Bryant set a school mark with 15 wins last season and went undefeated in NEC play.

The Bulldogs will be without eight starters from a season ago – five of whom earned All-NEC honors – when they take the field Saturday, and Batcheller will be looking for her underclassmen to step up into new roles to kick off 2015.

Descalzo, the 2014 NEC Tournament MVP and an All-NEC First Team selection, returns for her junior campaign after leading the league in goals scored last season (53) and finishing third on the team with 58 points (fourth in NEC). She set new single-season program marks for goals, shots (116), shots on goal (92) and goals per game (2.79) as a sophomore, also ranking second in the NEC in goals per game (2.79) and sixth in points per game (3.05).

LaBarbera joins Descalzo after appearing in 17-of-19 contests as a sophomore, scoring seven goals and totaling 10 points, while Britton returns to the Bulldog lineup after pacing the side with 53 draw controls a season ago. Britton also started all 19 contests as a sophomore, registering 25 points off 11 tallies and 14 helpers.

The trio, who has been playing together for two seasons, will be the Bulldogs' leaders at the offensive end.

"Those three know where each other will be on the field," said Batcheller. "They work together effortlessly, and that is a result of having played together within our system for so long."

Sophomore Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.) and senior Skylar Zlotnick (Essex Fells, N.J.) will also see major minutes at attack, with both showing strong noses for the goal throughout the preseason.

"This year, we have a lot of different looks in the attack, because it is more of a team effort," said Batcheller. "We are more dynamic up front then we have ever been. We have a lot of experience coming back and a lot of attacking threats who can put the ball in the back of the net."

Out of the midfield, senior captain Shannon Burns (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) will lead a group of underclassmen who are still jockeying for position when it comes to playing time. A vocal leader on both ends of the field, Burns plays a key role in helping the team's underclassmen integrate into the Bryant system offensively, defensively and in transition.

"Everyone is working hard to fight for those spots in the midfield and push each other to be the best player possible," said Batcheller.

DEFENSE
Seniors Aileen Pearman (Fair Haven, N.J.)  and Corey Mania (Wayne, N.J.) return to the Bulldog defense in 2015 and will serve as the backbone of the Bryant back line.

The duo – both strong communicators who lead by example on the field – combined for 10 caused turnovers and 18 ground balls last season, with Pearman earning 19 starts and Mania earning eight in 14 appearances.

Molly Martin (Island Park, N.Y.) returns for her sophomore season after starting in 10 games with 19 appearances as a rookie and will provide some additional experience to the defense alongside classmate Carly Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Both bring aggressiveness to the defense, and the opportunistic pair capitalize well on opponent mistakes. Martin finished her rookie campaign with 18 ground balls, 16 caused turnovers and 10 draw controls, while Cronin added 11 ground balls and seven caused turnovers in 15 contests.

Freshman Madison McNally (East Northport, N.Y.) will also see time on defense in 2015.

GOAL
A pair of freshmen will be vying for time between the pipes after the graduation of 2014 starter Brianna Watt. Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.) and Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) have competed throughout the preseason with the starting job on the line.

"Daja signed with us late in year, but she is so quick with her hands and is a very fast learner," said Batcheller. "She is a goalie who comes up with out-of-nowhere saves that can really spark the defense.

"Sam is a smart goalie who understands the game and the defense really well," Batcheller continued. "She is a vocal leader who can come up with the big save and then jumpstart the clear and our transition game."

With many new faces on the field, the Bulldogs will open their season against a regional rival that has proven to be tough over the last four years. Bryant is 1-3 all-time against the Crusaders but has the most recent victory, an 8-7 overtime win on the road in the 2014 opener.

Picked to finish fifth this spring in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches Poll after advancing to the league semifinals last season, Holy Cross returns its top two scorers from last spring in preseason all-conference selection Laura Ryan (29 goals, 13 assists, 41 ground balls) and Kate Martino (30g, 11a, 48 draw controls). Both earned All-Patriot League honors in 2014, as did returning defensive leader Sophia Agostinelli (30 ground balls, 28 caused turnovers).

"We're looking forward to getting back on the field against a great local opponent," said Batcheller. "We are all excited to get the season underway."

Saturday's season opener can be seen live and free-of-charge at NECFrontRow.com.