Bryant picked to three-peat, tabbed as 2016 NEC preseason favorite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After winning back-to-back Northeast Conference Regular-Season and Tournament titles, the Bryant University women's lacrosse team has been tabbed the preseason favorite in 2016, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced by league officials Wednesday.

The Bulldogs claimed five of a possible seven first-place votes, with the remaining three going to Wagner, who was predicted to finish second. Mount St. Mary's was selected third, with Robert Morris polling in fourth. Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut were voted fifth and sixth, respectively, while LIU Brooklyn and Saint Francis U. round out the eight-team field.

Under the direction of two-time reigning NEC Coach of the Year Jill Batcheller, the Bulldogs return a host of key pieces from last year's title team, including five all-conference selections. Reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Year Lauren Descalzo (Hauppauge, N.Y.) ranked second in the NEC in goals per game (3.39) and third in points per game (3.89) a season ago, netting a hat trick in all seven NEC regular-season contests and ranking fifth nationally in goal scoring.

Bryant also brings back three more All-NEC First Teamers in junior attack Emily Columbus (East Northport, N.Y.), and junior defenders Carly Cronin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and Molly Martin (Island Park, N.Y.). Columbus led the NEC with five game-winning goals last season, finishing third in the conference in goals (2.74/game) and fourth in scoring (3.74/game). Cronin and Martin anchored a defense that ranked second in the NEC with a 9.32 goals against average.

All-Rookie Team honoree Meaghan Brennan (Glen Head, N.Y.) also returns, as do the Black and Gold goalie duo of Samantha Santeramo (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Daja Andrews (Lumberton, N.J.).

The Bulldogs will get their season started Monday afternoon, when they take on the University of Vermont at noon in Burlington. Stay tuned to bryantbulldogs.com for a full 2016 season preview.