Bulldogs Kick Off 2023 Season on Wednesday Against Holy Cross
SMITHFIELD, R.I.- The Bryant women's lacrosse team kicks off their first season in the America East on Wednesday when they host non-conference rival Holy Cross at Beirne Stadium. The Bulldogs are in their fifth year under head coach Brianna Roche, who has compiled a 31-22 record and three Northeast Conference tournament appearances in three full seasons at the helm.
Bryant is coming off one of the most successful years in program history, as the Bulldogs dominated the NEC to the tune of a 7-1 record and regular season title. They hosted the NEC tournament for the fourth time in program history, advancing to the finals before falling to Mount St. Mary's. The Bulldogs have a lot of familiar and new faces in the fold this year as they prepare to chase an America East championship.
Attack
Junior Kenna Kaut returns to lead the Bryant offensive. Last year's NEC Offensive Player of the Year, she set a new single-season program record with 3.41 goals per game, the most in the NEC and 20th most in Division I. Fellow junior Chamberlaine Bell is also back to lead the passing game. She ranked second in the NEC to Bulldog record holder Cassidy Burns in assists, dishing 32, and was the only Bryant player to score 20 goals and assist on 20 more last year. Junior Peyton Woodward (19 goals) and senior Emily Oliver (18 goals) also return. They will be joined by junior captain Brooke Blanche, senior Alleigh Kempf, and sophomore Brooke Chandler.
Midfield
Senior Skylar Simmonds leads the offensive midfielders after netting 37 goals and earning All-NEC second-team honors in 2022. Fellow senior Madison Henry leads the defensive mids after scooping a team-high 25 ground balls and causing ten turnovers last season. The Bryant midfield will also feature a pair of sophomores who are coming off strong rookie years. Jessica Colalillo was last season's NEC Rookie of the Year after scoring three goals and causing nine turnovers, while Amelia Piercy was a conference all-rookie selection.
They will be joined by senior Margaret Adams, who set career highs with 15 goals and 20 ground balls last season, and junior Lily Auger, who had 15 goals and ten assists. Also suiting up in the midfield will be senior Sophie Glassman, junior Madison Scherner, sophomores Claudia Bonaventura, Phoebe Fox, Isabelle Katter, and Ariana McLean, and freshmen Emily Degeorge, Kelly Morrison, Riley O'Mara, and Emma Wymes.
Defense
The Bulldog defense will be led by a pair of grad transfers in Abigail Bellport and Rachel Morris. Bellport comes to Smithfield from Molloy, where she was a two-time All-East Coast Conference selection. Morris was also a two-time all-conference player during her four years at SUNY Oneonta. They will be joined by junior Emma Sears, sophomores Molly Anderson and Rosemary McIlroy, and freshmen Kelly Ford and Jessica Tosone.
Goalkeepers
Junior Sam Centofante was Bryant's anchor in goal last season, starting all 17 games for the Bulldogs. She recorded 140 saves and a .454 save percentage in her first full season in goal, garnering a pair of NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Freshman Ashlyn Watkins will complete the goalkeeping duo for 2023.