Field hockey season preview: Midfielders
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Despite losing three midfielders to graduation at the conclusion of 2016, the Bryant University field hockey team's midfield looks to help build upon what last year's team did: a trip to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinal game.
This is part two of a three-part season preview the Bryant field hockey team's upcoming season. We previewed the defense on Tuesday and will preview the forwards on Thursday.
How important is the midfield? "[It's] our engine," Bryant head coach Joppe de Vries said. "A lot of running involved, attacking, defending. This is a game of turnovers, so this is about how do you react to losing the ball, and how do you react to getting the ball.
"There's just a different type of mentality you have to have [in the midfield]," de Vries continued. "You'll see them in the circle defending and see them attacking trying to score goals. With their communication skills, they can keep the lines linked close to each other. It's a big communication role."
The Bulldogs engine will have many parts that will help it run. Returning to the team are junior Emily Perryman (Lebanon, N.H.) and sophomore Freya Ward (West Sussex, England). Junior Leyna DiMarco (Glastonbury, Conn.) is expected to split time between defense and midfield again, while Victoria Newbill (Wilton, Maine) and Haley Wood (Brownsville, Vt.) are going to see time in the midfield, as well as forward.
"Emily Perryman is a very talented player and Freya, she's an attacking middie," de Vries said. "From England, she is a smart player and knows what she wants to do. Haley is a smart player and has good experience. Vickie [Newbill], I can't say enough about her, she's a machine. She works hard and she plays hard and she understands the game more and more, so she's getting more and more dangerous."
Four of the seven freshmen on the Bryant roster are going to help run the field for the Bulldogs. Madison Demand (Waretown, N.J.), Kathryn Doorley (East Greenwich, Conn.), Kylie Nelson (Searsmont, Maine), and Ally Burdick (Cambridge, N.Y.) are all going to make an impact for the Black and Gold this season.
"Our freshmen, they can play in the midfield line and the forward line, but for now they are starting to understand that engine mentality," de Vries said. "They have the fitness for it, so I'm happy with this group and I'm proud of this group. As I said with the other lines, it's about knowing the game and knowing what we want them to know."
The Bulldogs open their season versus nationally ranked Boston University on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the first round of the Terrier Classic. The game will be streamed on PatriotLeague.tv and live statistics will be provided here.