Bulldogs faceoff with #13 Loyola (Md.), Friday (4 p.m.) in NCAA First Round

GAME NOTES | NCAA BRACKET

THE PARTICULARS
The Bulldogs make their second-straight NCAA tournament appearance after capturing their second-consecutive Northeast Conference Tournament Championship. On Friday, the Black and Gold will battle #13 Loyold (Md.) in the opening round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament in Newton, Mass. The winner will move on to face regional host Boston College in second round action on Sunday.

THE SERIES
This marks the first-ever meeting between Bryant and Loyola.

BRYANT vs. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Black and Gold went an even 1-1 vs. the Patriot League this season, defeating Holy Cross 9-6 in the season opener before falling to Lehigh, 9-8 on March 28.

BULLDOGS ON TOP IN NEC AGAIN
Bryant entered the 2015 NEC Tournament as the host and top seed after posting a 6-1 regular-season league mark and added a conference tournament championship to their regular-season crown by topping second-seeded Wagner, 15-10, in Sunday's title bout. 

BATCHELLER IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
While this is the second NCAA tournament for Jill Batcheller as a head coach, the third-year bench boss is no stranger to the dance. A 2007 graduate of Syracuse University, DePetris was a four-year starting midfielder for the Orange and helped guide her team to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances in 2005 and 2007.

QUICK HITS
» Comeback Kids: Bryant overcame a three-goal deficit in the second half of Sunday's NEC Championship game, going on an 8-0 run to secure the 15-10 win over Wagner. Senior midfielder Shannon Burns scored a career-high seven goals in the contest en route to earn Tournament MVP honors.

» Postseason Success: The Bulldogs are 5-2 in the Division I era in postseason play (5-1 in NEC Tournament, 0-1 in NCAA Tournament)