FIELD HOCKEY OPENS SEVEN-GAME ROAD STINT AT BROWN FRIDAY (4 P.M.), AT HARVARD SUNDAY (1 P.M.)
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a dramatic overtime victory against Colgate on Sunday, the Bryant University field hockey team begins its seven-game road trip with a pair of Ivy League opponents, starting with Brown on Friday (4 p.m.), before closing the weekend with Harvard on Sunday (1 p.m.).
The Bulldogs, who enter weekend action sporting a 1-1 overall record, kicked off their 2013 campaign last weekend with contests against Albany and Colgate. After a difficult loss to a very talented Albany squad last Friday, the Black and Gold bounced back with a dramatic, 4-3 overtime victory against Colgate. Junior Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) led the way with three scores, including the game-winner just over a minute into extra time. Bird currently leads the Bulldogs with six points (3g), while senior Mallory Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine) and junior Corinne Woods (Beverly, Mass.) are tied for second with two points apiece.
On Friday, Bryant heads up Route 7 to visit Brown, kicking off an extended seven-game road trip for the Bulldogs. For the Bears, Friday marks their season opener as they look to improve on their 6-11 overall record from a season ago. This year, Brown returns 16 players from 2012, including their starting goalkeeper and 100% of their scoring output. Led by All-Ivy selections Meghan O'Donnell, Clayton Christus and Alexis Miller, the Bears will look to get off to a good start at Bryant's expense Friday afternoon. Last September, the Black and Gold blanked Brown, 2-0, in their home opener behind a pair of second half goals and stellar play from netminder Megan Hancock (Skowhegan, Maine).
The Bulldogs will close weekend action with a trip to Cambridge, Mass., for a showdown with the Harvard Crimson on Sunday (1 p.m.). The Crimson, who open their season on Friday at UMass, also return a wealth of experience in 2013, led by juniors Noel Painter and Caitlin Rea. After finishing 3-13 a season ago, Harvard will look to its veteran leadership to turn things around this season. Last year at Harvard, sophomore Michelle Fallon (Pompton Plains, N.J.) got things started early, scoring just eight minutes into the contest, but four-straight Crimson tallies were too much for Bryant to overcome as the Bulldogs fell 4-1.
The Black and Gold will look to start their seven-game road swing off on a high note, starting with Friday afternoon at Brown.
For links to live stats and streaming video of Friday's action and all the latest news on the Bryant University field hockey team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.
