GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The last time the Stony Brook women's lacrosse team visited a top-10 opponent, the Seawolves took down then-No. 4 Syracuse to open the season.

On Saturday afternoon in the Swamp, the Seawolves again battled,  but fell just shy against eighth-ranked Florida. 

The Gators defeated No. 3 Stony Brook, 12-10, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

"It's a disappointing day for us,"  coach Joe Spallina said. "I thought Florida deserved to win. They won so many of the little battles that are necessary to win when playing a top-10 team. I thought their goalie stepped up big with 10 second-half saves. And we did too many uncharacteristic things. We have a big week ahead playing Towson and another top-ranked team in Princeton."
 
The Seawolves (2-1) scored five of the game's first six goals. Sarah Pulis opened the scoring with a man-up goal less than three minutes in before Ally Kennedy made it a two-goal lead with a free-position score.
 
After Florida cut its deficit in half, the Seawolves rattled off a three-goal run during a six-minute span. Kennedy's 10th goal of the season made it 3-1 before Taryn Ohlmiller scored two of her own to make it 5-1.
 
But the Gators got going at the nine-minute mark of the first half and didn't slow down. Florida scored the half's final four goals to make it 5-5 at the break.
 
Kailyn Hart scored less than a minute into a second half that went back and forth for all 30 minutes.
 
The sides exchanged goals for much of the second period, with neither team holding a lead larger than two. After Florida made it 8-6, Kennedy and Rayna Sabella answered to equalize the score.
 
The Gators had taken an 11-9 lead. Then Kennedy scored her fourth goal of the game to cut the deficit to one.

But Florida's Brianna Harris scored with two minutes to go to seal the win for the host.

The Seawolves are back in action Thursday when they battle Towson at 5 p.m. at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.