2019 Season Preview: Attack/Midfield

This is the first of a two-part series previewing the 2019 Bryant University women's lacrosse team. Wednesday, BryantBulldogs.com will preview the Bulldog defense and goalkeepers.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's lacrosse team begins its 2019 season Friday when the Bulldogs host perennial regional power UMass at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center.

The 2019 Bulldogs are one of four teams nationally with the benefit of having its conference's two returning leading goal scorers from a year ago. That duo, combined with additional experienced returners and impact freshmen, will lead the charge for the Bryant offense under first-year head coach Brianna Roche.

Senior Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) returns for the 2019 season after earning Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore and junior. DeMeo scored 59 goals a year ago to lead the NEC.

Junior and fellow Long Islander Caitlin Breglia (Long Beach, N.Y.) led the league with 70 points last season on 48 goals and 22 assists. Joining DeMeo on the All-NEC first team, Breglia had 13 games of three or more points in 2018.

A veteran group on attack also welcomes back senior Meredith James (Essex Fells, N.J.), who started in all 18 games while making an impact offensively and at the draw circle. James' all-around effort included a team-high 92 draw controls, 21 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers.

Sophomore Natalie Langella (Northport, N.Y.), who played in 14 games a year ago including all of the NEC slate, and freshman Emily Diaz (Selden, N.Y.) will also be factors on attack for a Bulldog squad that has finished in the top two in the NEC in scoring in each of the last six seasons.

Bryant also returns two additional attackers that played in at least 10 games a year ago with juniors Leah Nocera (Westwood, Mass.) and Maggie Pressler (Smithfield, R.I.) back in Black & Gold this spring.

The Bryant midfield features the third of the Bulldogs' returning All-NEC selections, as senior Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) joined DeMeo and Breglia on the first team in 2018. Britton's standout junior campaign included 25 goals, 10 assists, 77 draw controls and a team-high 41 ground balls.

Sophomore Devon Bolen (Queensbury, N.Y.) will see an expanded role after appearing in seven games a year ago. Bolen saw the majority of her time in NEC play, contributing in five of seven conference games. Junior Katherine Clark (New Fairfield, Conn.) played in 16 games in 2018, collecting 19 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers.

Senior Emma Ahlrichs (Zionsville, Ind.) returns after appearing in all 18 games last season, while senior Jasmine Perkins (West Babylon, N.Y.) and sophomore Abbi England (Longford Mills, Ontario) both played in double-digit games in 2018.

Bryant opens the 2019 season Friday at 7 p.m. when the Bulldogs host UMass at the Conaty Indoor Athletic Center. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row.

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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