Bulldogs kickoff 2018 season at UMass Lowell

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University field hockey team will kick off its 2018 season by heading to UMass Lowell for the River Hawk Classic on Friday afternoon at 1 pm.

The Particulars

Opponent: UMass Lowell

Date: Aug. 24, 2018

Location: Cushing Field (Lowell, Mass.)

Game Time: 1 p.m.

Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

Live Stream: Stretch Internet

Series History

• Friday's game will be the third time that the two teams meet as Division I institutions.
• The current record between them is tied 1-1.

 Bryant Notes and Notables

• Bryant heads into the 2018 season coming off of 3-16 season a year ago.
• The Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the Preseason MAAC Poll on Tuesday.
• Senior Victoria Newbill (Wilton, Maine) will be returning for her final year after being named to the All-MAAC Second Team last season, and most recently being selected on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
• Sophomore Lyndsay Swanston (Burlington, Ont.) is back in the net after tallying a .644 save percentage last season. 
• Five players will be returning who have scored five or more points from last season, including junior Freya Ward (Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England) who scored four goals in the 2017 season. 

A bit about the River Hawks

• The River Hawks are coming off of a 9-11 season where they fell to Stanford in the first round of the America East Championship.
• In the America East Preseason Poll Lowell was picked to finish fourth in the East Division. 
• Anook Lalande named to Division All-Conference Team and Sophie Gehrels and Katie Lynes were All-Rookie Team selections.
• Shannon Hlebichuk enters her 17^th season.

With a win, the Bulldogs will compete in the championship game of the River Hawk Classic on Sunday at 2 p.m. versus either Hofstra or VCU. The consolation game will be played prior to the championship game at 11:30 a.m.