STONY BROOK, N.Y. — If you want to know how much senior midfielder Ally Kennedy means to Stony Brook women's lacrosse, simply scroll through the contacts in head coach Joe Spallina's cell phone.

Kennedy is listed there as "THE FRANCHISE" — yes, in all capital letters, as if the moniker incorporating lowercase lettering would be insufficient adulation.

"I feel very strongly in saying that she is the best player in college women's lacrosse," said Spallina, whose seven-time-defending America East champion squad opens the 2020 season on Feb. 12 at second-ranked Syracuse. "What we ask her to do for our team is unparalleled — from being a captain, to running the offense and defense, to leading our draw team. She checks every box for us and leads us with goals, assists, draw controls, ground balls and, most importantly, in hustle. All of her success is due to her work ethic and love for the game."

For her part, Kennedy prefers to focus on team goals — albeit lofty team goals for the Seawolves, who are ranked 12th nationally in a pair of preseason polls.

"Team-wise, I will not settle for anything less than a national championship," Kennedy said. "That's always going to be the goal."

Still, Kennedy allowed that one personal aim is to contend for the Tewaraaton Award as the nation's top collegian.

"I have personal goals. I really don't like talking about them," she said. "But first-team All-American again and to be in the running for the Tewaraaton Award would be a really amazing accomplishment."

Last season, the 5-foot-3 Kennedy — a North Babylon native — earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association first-team All-America honors.

She enters her senior season ranked fourth in program history in career goals (171), seventh in points (221), eighth in ground balls (125) and third in draw controls (195).

In November, Kennedy competed with the U.S. national team against professional players at the IWLCA Presidents Cup in West Palm Beach, Fla., alongside Stony Brook alums Kylie Ohlmiller and Mackenzie Burns. It marked a full year of Kennedy being affiliated with Team USA, for which Spallina is an offensive coach.

"It means so much to me. It's been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid," Kennedy said about donning the Team USA uniform. "I knew there was a national team growing up, and it wasn't that popular back then. Being able to compete with the best in the country and being able to represent our country is really an honor."

Said Spallina: "Ally is an incredible player, person and teammate. Yet the thing that sticks out most to me about her own game is how much she cares, and how important Stony Brook women's lacrosse success is to her. She fully understands the power and position she is in with our program and wants this team to leave its mark."

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