Bryant Field Hockey Opens This Weekend At Home

Bulldogs Face Mansfield on Saturday at 2 p.m., host Defending National Champion Bloomsburg Sunday at 11 a.m.

-- Bryant Field Hockey Preview ---

The names may change, but the goals remain the same. The rise of the Bryant field hockey program over the course of the last five years has been truly astonishing, especially in the last two years culminating in back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament, two regular season conference titles, and the last two national scoring leaders.

Last year, Bryant set a school record for conference wins (13) and overall wins in a season with 16 and four players earned all-conference honors. For sixth-year coach Coni Fichera, the tall task of replacing eight seniors that accounted for nearly 80 percent of scoring won?t be easy. But when you take into account the return of key veterans at all positions, plus a talented recruiting class, there?s a bit of optimism for what lies ahead.

While this year?s team takes on a new look with the addition of 13 freshman, the system remains the same as the Bulldogs look to make another run for the conference title in 2004.

?This is the most versatile group of freshman that I have had in this program,? commented Fichera. ?Their athleticism and ability gives us depth all around. They will be a big part of Bryant field hockey for this year and years to come.?

The Bulldogs, despite the loss of its senior class, were picked to finish third in the Northeast-10 preseason coaches? poll, indicating that once again, Bryant should be one to watch in 2004.

Here?s a look at how the Bulldogs shape up for 2004:

DEFENSE / GOALKEEPER

While the Bulldogs will be young, they will have the luxury of returning 13 veterans from a year ago, including its starting goalie and a returning all-American. The experience of 29 wins over the past two years plus postseason play should be beneficial, especially on the defensive side of the field.

Led by NFHCA Second Team All-American Jamie Wall (Sharon, Mass.) and goalkeeper Kristen Patat (Portsmouth, N.H.), the Bryant defense looks to be in good hands. Wall has been a key member of the defense for the past three seasons and will give the team consistency in front of Patat who led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament with stellar play in goal.

Patat started in 19 games last season and posted a 1.73 goals against average. Freshman Kasey Kortz will back up Patat this season in goal and should see game experience in her first year with the program.

?Kristin is one of the most overlooked goalies in the league and brings a lot of experience to this team,? said Fichera.

On defense, sophomore Kristin Tighe (North Easton, Mass.) and freshman Jenna Heslin (Boylston, Mass.) give the team excellent depth and should also become a regulars on defense with freshman Rebecca Lange (Whitinsville, Mass.).

MIDFIELD

Sophomore Michaela Dwyer (Buskirk, N.Y.) and junior Maureen Burns (Derry, N.H.) look to control the tempo and will trigger the Bulldog attack on offense. Dwyer tallied four goals as a freshman and looks ready to have a breakout year this fall. Joining Dwyer will be the versatile Burns who looks to help quarterback the offense. A playmaker with great vision, Burns? ability to create on offense for her teammates will be crucial, but her scoring and finishing touch will be just as valuable.

Senior Krista Gambacorta (Harrison, N.Y.) will be joined by Deanne Viveiros (Tiverton, R.I.) who are looking to contribute to the offensive attack this year and fit perfectly in the Bryant up-tempo style of offense and are also strong on defense.

All-conference defender Michelle Lewis (East Amherst, N.Y.) moves up to midfield as the Bulldogs look to control the pace this season. Lewis, a two-sport athlete at Bryant, has been one of the top defenders in the conference for the past two seasons and her experience defensively will be a big plus. Newcomers Molly Burt (Hopedale, Mass.), Lisa Kennen (Waltham, Mass.), and Krissy Levis (Andover, Mass.) are expected to battle for starting spots in their first year.

FORWARD

The area in question heading into the year will be on the offensive side of the field. The graduation of last year?s leading scorer Heidi Chirigotis may leave some pretty big shoes to fill, but the Bulldogs are confident in the abilities of junior Kerry Burke (Reading, Mass.) and sophomore Laynie Sadler (Rehoboth, Mass.) on offense while the addition of Kate Tavella (Norwalk, Conn.), Courtney O?Brien (Tewksbury, Mass.), Caroline Carr (Wrentham, Mass.) are sure to find their way into the scoring column this year. Marianne Wood (Wakefield, Mass.), and Shana Libman (Attleboro, Mass.) round out a solid offensive unit.

?Defense will be the key to our success,? added Fichera. ?They will make us better offensively because the forwards will be going against one of the best defenses in the conference day in and day out, and that will only make us better throughout the season.?

LOOKING AHEAD

One thing that has made the Bulldogs a contender year after year has been scheduling some of the toughest nonconference opponents to help prepare the team for Northeast-10 play. This year, things don?t get much tougher than a visit by Mansfield in the opener on Aug. 28 and a matchup with defending national champion Bloomsburg the following afternoon.

The goals for this year?s team is to once again challenge for the conference championship with their sights set on a third-straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

But to get there, they?ll still have to get past with the likes of the usual conference foes UMass Lowell, Bentley, Saint Michael?s, and Stonehill. However, if the pieces come together, this Bulldog team may just have the right mix of youth and experience to make those goals a reality.