de Vries excited for Bulldog attacking unit

This is the second of a two-part series previewing the Bryant Field Hockey Program

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey offensive unit will have plenty of experienced veterans returning for the 2018 season that kicks off this Friday at UMass Lowell.

The Bulldogs only lose three from last year, but they have a large group of 10 returners and four rookies. Second-year head coach Joppe de Vries is excited for the growth of his attacking unit this year.

"Right now we are in better shape and in a better place than we were last year," de Vries stated.

Leading the offense will be seniors Emily Perryman (Lebanon, N.H.) and Victoria Newbill (Wilton, Maine).

"Those are our two leaders on the field," de Vries said. "They will make the difference on the team work-rate wise, and they know how I want to play."

Perryman and Newbill are both coming off of solid seasons. Perryman finished the year with seven total points, and Newbill was an All-MAAC Second Team selection last season and a Preseason All-MAAC selection this year. She is also returning to campus this year after being a part of the USA Field Hockey Young Women's National Championship and Development Junior National Camp.

Senior, Haley Wood will be returning as well, appearing in 17 games last season for the Bulldogs. Also returning for the Black and Gold are juniors Clare Luttrell (Freehold, N.J.) and Freya Ward (Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England). Luttrell tallied three points while Ward finished with eight.  

After a successful 2017 season, Kylie Nelson (Searsmont, Maine), Ally Burdick (Cambridge, N.Y.), Madison Demand (Waretown, N.J.) and Kathryn Doorley (East Greenwich, R.I.) are returning for a second season. This young group has proved that they are the next generation of the program, with Nelson and Burdick appearing in all 19 games. Burdick tallied seven points last season while Nelson added two. de Vries states, "This is an exciting group and I'm excited for them to grow every day."

Eva Bazen (The Hague, Netherlands) is one of the four new faces on the Bulldog roster who Coach de Vries says he is thrilled about and excited to have on board. Hanna Lambert (Alburtis, Pa.), Victoria Wypych (Jackson, N.J), and Meghan Robinson (Haddon Heights, N.J.) will also be first-year players on the roster this year. Robinson is a player to watch this year as de Vries finds her to be a strong attacker and ready to play on the collegiate stage.

de Vries is looking for everyone to be on the same page this year with the right mindset and the right idea.

"We took a road last year and there was a bus on the road and now everyone is actually on the bus," de Vries said. "Now we need people to pull the bus and push the bus."

This season the Bulldogs will be focused on growing and setting a new standard for themselves.

"We are figuring out what is normal for us. We're working hard, but we have to continue to grow the work-rate," de Vries said.

Bryant will kick off their season this Friday at the River Hawk Classic hosted by UMass Lowell as they take on the River Hawks at 1:00 p.m.

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