No. 6 Stony Brook dominated the early stages of its road game at No. 11 Florida on Saturday morning, but the Gators woke up and pushed the Seawolves to the brink before Stony Brook escaped with a 14-13 victory.

Stony Brook (2-1) never trailed in the game and led by as many as six goals, 8-2, late in the second quarter. The Seawolves still had a comfortable 11-7 lead midway through the third quarter, but Florida closed the third quarter with four goals in the final five minutes to tie things up at 11 entering the final frame.

Siobhan Rafferty scored a transition goal off a nice feed from Ellie Masera to open the fourth quarter for Stony Brook, but Florida’s Emily Heller answered with 7:41 to play to tie the game again at 12.

The Seawolves took the lead for good in appropriate fashion, a free position goal for Kailyn Hart 6:41 remaining, her fourth goal of the game.

STONY BROOK SURVIVES. @kailynhart scores the eventual winner on a free position shot and @StonyBrookWLAX downs @GatorsLAX 14-13. pic.twitter.com/TKRqJuqYBl

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) March 5, 2022

The two teams combined for 10 free position goals, five each, in a game that featured 11 yellow cards (seven for Florida) and 66 fouls.

"We came out and made some mistakes with yellow cards early in the game, we cannot have those penalties and those additional opportunities given to the other team," said Florida head coach Amanda O'Leary. "Really proud of the fight though."

Hart and Masera each scored four for Stony Brook and Charlie Campbell made eight saves. The Seawolves continue its tough early season schedule with a road trip to Northwestern on Thursday.

Danielle Pavinelli led Florida with four goals and Emma LoPinto scored three. It was the second straight week that Florida (1-3) dug itself an early hole. Last weekend, Florida fell behind Maryland 7-1 before pulling to within two goals in an eventual 18-8 loss. Florida got closer this time, but couldn't overcome the early troubles. Florida has lost three straight games to Top 10 teams — North Carolina, Maryland Stony Brook — and now hits the road against a solid Liberty team on Wednesday.