Bryant picked as NEC preseason favorite

SOMERSET, N.J. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team was picked as preseason favorites in the Northeast Conference in a poll of the league's eight head coaches, as announced Wednesday by the NEC office.

Bryant edged Wagner for first in the eight-team poll with the two teams each earning four first-place votes. Mount St. Mary's was selected to finish third with Robert Morris and Saint Francis U picked fourth and fifth, respectively. Sacred Heart, LIU Brooklyn and Central Connecticut round out the eight-team poll.

Brianna Roche begins her first year as head coach of the Black & Gold in 2019, inheriting a team that went 6-1 in the NEC a year ago to earn the conference's regular season crown. Bryant returns three first-team All-NEC selections from 2018, including NEC Offensive Player of the Year Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.), who paced the conference in scoring last season with 59 goals.

Bryant opens the 2019 season Friday, Feb. 15, when the Bulldogs host UMass at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs will play seven of eight regular-season home games in 2019 at Beirne Stadium, beginning with the March 9 contest against Niagara. Season tickets for the 2019 campaign are available by clicking HERE.

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