Currently reeling from a four-match winless rut, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team can flip its fortunes with an upset this weekend.

The Seawolves (3-3-4, 1-3-2 CAA) are looking to get back on track this Sunday against the William & Mary Tribe (7-0-5, 4-0-2 CAA) at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. The Tribe will have a lot to play for, as they have a chance to grab sole possession of first place in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) with a win against Stony Brook.

The two teams opened the conference season against each other last year with a scoreless draw. However, much has changed since then.

Coming into the year, the Seawolves’ offense was considered their strong suit. Forwards Reilly Rich, Gabrielle Côté and Luciana Setteducate all headline the attack, while fellow forward Hannah Maracina plays off the bench. Rich leads the offense this year with five goals, tying her for fourth in the CAA. Côté has tallied three goals and forced an own goal this year, while Setteducate is still looking for her first. However, Setteducate has set her teammates up this year, recording two assists.

While the offense has hit its strides throughout the season, it has sputtered as of late. Stony Brook has been shut out in back-to-back matches and has scored just one goal over its last three. The team has also been outshot in its last two games, bringing its season total to four. The offense’s cold stretch has dropped it to sixth in the CAA in goals per match (1.55) and shots taken (160).

In order to return to their previous offensive form, the performances of midfielders Linn Beck and Ashley Manor will have to be solid. Beck has been an instrumental part of the team’s success this year, logging two goals and a team-leading three assists. Manor has also scored two goals.

Another player to look out for is forward Graceann Murphy, who has been the top offensive option from the Seawolves’ reserves. Murphy’s 11 shots are tied with Côté for the third most on the team, and she took a season-high three on Thursday at Towson.

William & Mary’s defense will look to keep Stony Brook’s offense down. The Tribe’s defense has been the story of their season, as they have only allowed five goals through 12 matches. William & Mary defenders Ginny Delacruz, Nicole Sellers and Nora Green-Orset anchor the suffocating defense. Midfielders Jenna O’Toole and Gabriella Kurtas also contribute on the defensive end. Off the bench, defenders Leila Greene and Molly Widderich help keep goals off the board, as well.

The Tribe’s defense has made life very easy for goalkeeper Zoe Doughty, who has been one of the top players at her position in the CAA this season. Their opponents have only landed 28 shots on target, paving the way for Doughty to post four clean sheets. Even when she gets tested, she has been superb, as she has posted the second-best save percentage (.821) in the conference.

Stony Brook’s defense has also taken a tumble through the CAA’s leaderboards during this stretch. What was once a top-four defense has fallen to seventh in goals allowed per match, surrendering 1.36.

The defensive regression has hit goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella hard, as she went from being seldomly used to heavily relied upon. Her 36 saves rank third in the CAA. Defenders Catharina von Drigalski, Kerry Pearson and Aneta Sovakova along with midfielder Gabby Daniels will have to step up to lighten Pasquarella’s load on Sunday.

Those players will be tasked with stopping a tough William & Mary attack that ranks fifth in the CAA in goals per match (1.58). The Tribe have 12 different goalscorers and are led by forward Ivey Crain, who is second in the CAA in shots taken (44) and tied for seventh in goals scored (four). Forward Mia Suchora, midfielder Lindsay Wilson and Green-Orset have each contributed two goals.

Wilson and Delacruz along with forwards Madison Moon and Leah Iglesias all co-lead William & Mary with two assists apiece.

With Stony Brook’s offense looking for a spark, William & Mary’s defense will be its toughest test of the year. A win could move the Seawolves back into the CAA’s top six, but a loss could do them in.