• Fri, 11/04 | Women's Soccer at Quinnipiac L, 2-0 (Final) BX
  • Fri, 10/28 | Women's Soccer vs. Mount St. Mary's W, 2-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/23 | Women's Soccer at Robert Morris W, 2-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Fri, 10/21 | Women's Soccer at Saint Francis (PA) L, 3-0 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/16 | Women's Soccer at Fairleigh Dickinson W, 3-0 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/09 | Women's Soccer vs. Sacred Heart L, 2-0 (Final) BX | RC
  • Fri, 10/07 | Women's Soccer at Long Island L, 4-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/02 | Women's Soccer at Albany W, 2-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Fri, 09/30 | Women's Soccer vs. Central Connecticut T, 1-1 (Final - 2OT) PR | BX | RC
  • Sun, 09/25 | Women's Soccer vs. Monmouth L, 2-0 (Final) BX | RC
 

September 4, 2009

THE BULLDOGS LOOK TO CONTEND IN 2009 WITH A FULL CONFERENCE SLATE AND 10 HOME GAMES

THE BULLDOGS LOOK TO CONTEND IN 2009 WITH A FULL CONFERENCE SLATE AND 10 HOME GAMES

After becoming the first team at Bryant University to record a Division I victory, a 3-2 overtime win over Northern Colorado on Aug. 22, 2008, the Bryant women's soccer team finished off its inaugural DI season by winning three of its final four contests, going 4-2-1 over its final seven. In 2009, the Bulldogs will look to utilize the experience they gained in 2008 to pick up right where they left off.

After a long and difficult travel schedule, the Bulldogs finished 2008 with a 5-9-3 record, including a perfect 2-0-1 versus Northeast Conference opponents. This season, the team will play a 19-game schedule that includes 10 home games and a full NEC slate. The Bulldogs will also face three NCAA tournament participants in Central Connecticut, Fairfield and Boston University.

Taking it to the next level will be the theme of the year for the Bulldogs this season, as they look to replace a strong graduating class, including All-American and 2007 NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year Danielle Malta, midfield captain Amy Orzechowski, and goalkeepers Jessica Clark and Jessica Neales. In 2009, the Bulldogs will look to not just compete in the NEC, but to play at a high level and contend at the next level of play.

Forwards
Head coach Chris Flint should have the experience he needs at the forward position this year and hopes to get plenty of contributions from three-year starter and former all-region selection Holly Tyser (Somers, Conn.). Tyser has scored 24 points in her 63-game career (9 goals, 6 assists) and hopes to add to those numbers in her final campaign. The Bulldogs also return sophomore Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) to their arsenal of forwards. Last season, Hinck led the team in points (13), goals (6) and game-winning goals (3). The battle for the third forward spot will be between sophomore Amanda Worrall (Hamilton Square, N.J.) and freshmen Morgan Derick (Ashland, Mass.), Bianca Gallo (Peabody, Mass.), Jennifer Harding (Lancaster, Mass.) and Krista Johnstone (Dover, N.H.).

Midfield
Senior captain and three-year starter Alex DiPippo (Shelton, Conn.) returns to the Bulldogs this year to anchor the midfield. DiPippo will look to control the game's tempo and be a team leader from the midfield position. DiPippo has played in 65 games in her career and tallied 21 points (10 goals, 1 assist). She has become one of the major playmakers for the Bulldogs and will be looked upon to take on the same role in 2009.

Along with DiPippo, the Bulldogs return junior starter Sarah Donovan (Storrs, Conn.). Donovan was second on the team in points last season with 11 coming off three goals and a team-high five assists. She started in 16-of-17 games last season and appeared in all 24 games as a freshman. Sophomore Natalie Wooster (Monument, Colo.) and freshmen Alex Bengston (Andover, Mass.), Elizabeth Gaines (East Longmeadow, Mass.), Regan Marin (Bedford, N.Y.) and Alison Melley (Centerville, Mass.) will battle it out for the two remaining midfield slots.

Defense
The backline for the Bulldogs has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Malta. In 2009, senior captain Molly Wallace (Sandwich, Mass.) will look to fill that spot after spending three years at Malta's side. Wallace has played in 64 games throughout her career and recorded four points on four assists as a defender. Wallace and the Bulldog defense will play a vital role in the Bulldogs' success this season. Alongside Wallace will be junior Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, N.Y.). Del Mistro looks to follow up a breakout sophomore season where she finished third on the team in points with seven, scoring two goals and dishing out three assists. She also tallied the game winner in the Bulldogs' lone home game last season, a 1-0 win over Cornell. Del Mistro has appeared in 30 games in her career and looks to continue her success at the Division I level. Sophomore Mary Green (Merrick, N.Y.) also looks to be a favorite for the backline, starting 16-of-17 games last season.

Seniors Brianne Lustenring (Massapequa, N.Y.) and Ashley Montgomery (Hollis, Maine) will both look for valuable minutes on the backline in 2009. Sophomore Kalie Whitehouse (Braintree, Mass.) as well as freshmen Kaitlyn Fare (Milstone Township, N.J.), Carolyn Giuliano (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Marissa Slayton (Auburn, N.Y.) will all compete for playing time of their own.

Goalkeepers
Senior Katie Mitchell (Deer Park, N.Y.) will see the majority of action between the pipes after splitting time with 2009 graduates Clark and Neales the last two seasons. Mitchell has posted good numbers over her career and looks to do the same in 2009. She has recorded 66 saves and seven wins, five of which were shutouts, in her 24-game career. Mitchell recorded the school's first Division I win in net for the Bulldogs in a 3-2 overtime victory over Northern Colorado in 2008. Freshman Kelsi Jacob (Mahwah, N.J.) will be looking to share time and compete with Mitchell for the starting goalkeeper spot.

View: Mobile | Desktop