Richardson, van Dommelen named Preseason All-MAAC, Bulldogs picked fourth

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Senior Keighan Richardson (North Attleboro, Mass.) and sophomore Floor van Dommelen (Berg en Dal, Netherlands) were named to the Preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team and the Bryant University field hockey team was selected fourth in the MAAC, the conference announced on Tuesday.

The pair were each named to All-MAAC teams at the conclusion of the 2016 season, with Richardson being selected to the first team and van Dommelen being named Second Team All-MAAC. It is the first time either member of the Bulldogs have been named to the preseason award list.

Richardson started all 18 games for the Bulldogs last season, while van Dommelen made 16 starts and scored 11 points, tallying four goals and three assists.

A year after finishing third in the conference and advancing to the MAAC semifinals, the conference coaches selected Bryant to make the playoffs again in the preseason poll under first-year head coach Joppe de Vries. Last season, the Black and Gold went 4-2 in conference games before falling to second-ranked Fairfield in the conference tournament.

Monmouth, last season's conference champion, was selected as the team to beat in 2017, receiving six first-place votes. Fairfield and Rider were picked second and third, with the Stags receiving the final first-place vote. After Bryant, Sacred Heart, Siena and LIU Brooklyn round out the poll.

The season officially begins on Friday, when the Bulldogs travel to Boston, Mass. to take on Boston University in the first round of the Terrier Classic. The game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.