BULLDOG FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW 2006

In one of the most competitive Division II Conferences in the country, the Bulldogs will look to find themselves at the top of the Northeast-10 once again this season. The Bryant field hockey team welcomes back a core of solid, experienced players as well as some highly touted newcomers.

The 2006 Bulldog season will start with a trip of a lifetime, as the team will spend the first 8 days of pre-season in one of the world's field hockey Mecca's, Argentina.  Playing four exhibition games on the tour, this experience is something that has been highly anticipated by Coach Fichera's squad.  "This trip is will be a tremendous learning experience for our team, the culture, the hockey, and the opportunity to travel together is something which I expect will be a long lasting memory for the women in our program". 

The trip to Argentina is not the only international experience for the Bulldogs, joining the team will be a freshman goalkeeper from Zimbabwe, Kundayi Mawema. "This is what intercollegiate athletics is all about, the co-curricular learning experience, the lessons beyond the classroom.  Just working with Kundi in the recruiting process has been a cultural learning experience for me; what a wonderful opportunity for all of us, and I can not wait to have her join our program!"

The team will look to replace two seasoned leaders, Kerry Burke and Maureen Burns both players graduated having been members of two NCAA final four teams (2002 and 2003).  The leadership torch of the two graduating seniors has been passed the four seniors, Laynie Sadler, Michaela Dwyer, Kristin Tighe and Deanne Viveiros. All four played in the 2003 NCAA Semi-Final as freshmen, and are eager to lead the team back to the championship round of the NCAA's.

Up front the Bulldogs will feature a mix of youth and seasoned play, characterized by their signature up tempo style of play.  Sadler and Dwyer will be joined by juniors Courtney O'Brien, Shana Libman and highly regarded freshmen Colleen Wilson and Kelly Frantz.  O'Brien and Libman will combine speed and power and with the right chemistry are expected to have their awaited for breakout season. 

Junior, Caroline Carr scored timely goals in the 2005 campaign, and will be counted upon to spark the team up front this season.  Sophomore Ashley Miranda and freshman Jessica Damiano will balance an attack designed to utilize speed to create transition scoring opportunities.

In the midfield the challenge will be to replace the steady play of Burke and Burns.  Senior Deanne Viveiros, the co-winner of the team's prestigious Mary Dunham Spirit Award has started in the Bulldog midfield since her freshman year and will be joined by versatile junior Krissy Levis and sophomore Jenna DeMello. 

Viveiros and Levis will be expected to guide the transition of freshmen Caitlan Johnson, Ashley Rebello, and Stephanie Harrison, each of whom are expected to play an immediate role in the Bulldogs' quest for their third NE-10 regular season championship.

The backline of the Bryant defense is their first line of attack, and senior Kristin Tighe has been patrolling the left side for three years.  Tighe will be joined by Lisa Kennen and Rebecca Lange, juniors with outstanding vision and the ability to key the Bulldogs' attack from the back philosophy. They'll be joined by freshman Marissa Martone.

The position most often responsible for securing a team's stability is in goal, and the fight for time at the goalkeeping position will be highly competitive.  Junior, Kasey Kortz will be vying for time with freshmen Kundayi Mawema and Chelsea Pettengill.  "Our team's success will count heavily on all of our goalkeepers on a daily basis.  They must challenge our forwards to become better scorers and it will be their consistent play that allows us to take some chances and get out and ‘run and gun' and challenge our opponents".

"Field hockey in the NE-10 Conference is so competitive and there is so much parity that it is no longer enough to play good hockey.  To be successful you must be a balanced team that plays GREAT hockey, and gets better each time you step on the field. It is no longer a game where 5 to 6 really good players can carry a team; the league has so much talent now that to be successful, a team needs EVERYONE clicking on all cylinders in practice everyday---it takes a total unselfish team effort to carry the load.  We are looking forward to that challenge!"