Bulldogs face Providence and Yale over holiday weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey team gears up for back-to-back games this holiday weekend, facing Providence in the capital on Sunday at 1 p.m., before hosting Yale on Monday at 2 p.m.

In the first in-state clash of the season, the Bulldogs (0-2) head to Friar Town for their first-ever Division I regular season matchup. The Bulldogs and Friars (1-1) have met once before in an exhibition game to begin the 2012 season.

Last year, the Friars finished 4-14 overall and 2-3 in the BIG EAST, missing the league's postseason under 15th-year head coach Diane Madl. In her 14 seasons, Madl has helped the squad to six BIG EAST Tournament appearances.

This season, the Friars nearly doubled their returning squad, bringing in nine freshman, while returning 12 players. Providence welcomed back two of its three top offensive performers in senior Adriennce Houle and junior Megan Hamilton, who totaled 13 and 10 points, respectively last season.

PC opened the 2016 season with a 7-1 loss at Maine, before turning around to beat Sacred Heart, 6-1, in the same weekend. Senior Kali Kilmer scored in each of the two games, joining Houle in leading the Friars this season with four points apiece. Junior Megan Guilbert returns in the cage for Providence, totaling 13 saves in the opening games of the 2016 season.

The following day, the Bryant hosts the opposing Bulldogs at the Goldberg Family Field on the Brown University campus at 2 p.m. Yale's matchup with Bryant will mark its second game of 2016, after facing Sacred Heart on Saturday.

Last season, Yale finished 3-14 overall and 1-6 in the Ivy League, earning its only conference win over Brown in the last game of the year. The Black and Gold sit 0-2 against the Bulldogs in Division I play with both outcomes resulting in one-point deficits. Last year, Bryant led Yale, 2-0, with goals from then freshman Emily Perryman (Lebanon, N.H.) and junior Victoria Danby (Lancaster, Mass.), but the hosting Bulldogs erased the lead just before the half. In the second period, Yale scored the lone goal, putting them on top, 3-2.

The 2016 Yale roster includes six freshman and 15 returners under USA Field Hockey Hall of Famer and 12th-year head coach Pam Stuper. Back for the Bulldogs includes junior Carol Middough, who totaled 19 points off nine goals and one assist last year, including the game-winning second half goal against Bryant. Returning in the cage for the visiting Bulldogs is predicted to be senior Emilie Katz, who started all 17 games last season, accumulating 182 saves. Katz earned both First Team All-Ivy League and Second Team All-Region Honors, following her 2015 performance.

The holiday weekend action is set to begin for the Black and Gold on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats and video coverage at bryantbulldogs.com.