Field hockey wraps up regular season over weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I – After clinching a spot in the MAAC Tournament with its overtime victory over Robert Morris on Friday, the Bryant University field hockey team will wrap-up the 2013 regular season with contests at Quinnipiac on Friday (3 p.m.) and vs. Sacred Heart Sunday (12 p.m.)

One of the three teams to already clinch a MAAC Tournament bid (Rider, Quinnipiac), the Bulldogs still have an opportunity to clinch the number one overall seed with a pair of wins over the weekend. After a perfect month of September, Bryant hit a speed bump to open October, with five of their seven games requiring extra time to decide a victor.

On Friday, the Bulldogs will head to Hamden, Conn., for a showdown with Quinnipiac. The Bobcats enter Friday's contest with a 10-6 overall mark, 3-1 in the MAAC, currently tied with the Bulldogs. Seniors Jess Rusin and Jennalise Taylor lead their team with 31 and 20 points, respectively, while junior keeper Megan Conaboy has logged more than 1,100 minutes in net. Last season, Quinnipiac thwarted the Bulldogs' postseason hopes with a 3-0 win on Senior Day.

Sunday will mark the close of the regular season and Bryant Senior Day, as the Black and Gold welcome Sacred Heart to Smithfield for a 12 p.m. start. Entering the weekend with a 4-11 overall mark (0-4 in the MAAC), the Pioneers are led by Liz Bergman's five goals. Last season, a three-point day from senior Kayleigh Ballantyne (Gorham, Maine) lifted the Bulldogs to a 4-2 win in Fairfield, Conn.

Winners of three of their last four, the Black and Gold look to close out the final weekend of their regular season slate with a pair of huge wins.

For links to live stats and streaming video of Sunday's action and all the latest news on the Bryant University field hockey team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.