Bulldogs host two over Homecoming Weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After battling on the road for the first two weeks of the regular season, the Bryant University field hockey team returns to Smithfield for a pair of contests over Homecoming Weekend hosting UMass Lowell in its home opener Friday (7 p.m.) and Saint Louis on Sunday (12 p.m.).

The Bulldogs enter weekend action still in search of their first win of the 2014 season. On Friday at Harvard, the Black and Gold battled back to even the score, 2-2, at the 50:01 mark thanks to Rosie Bird's (Hamilton, New Zealand) first goal of the year. However, the Crimson answered right back with the eventual game-winner, dashing any hopes of a Bryant victory.

Through four games, junior Mikayla Fitzmaurice (Skowhegan, Maine) leads the team with four points on a goal and two assists, while Bird ranks second with the goal and a helper. Sophomores Victoria Danby (Lancaster, Mass.) and Erin Karcher (Kennet Square, Pa.) each recorded their first collegiate points over the past weekend, with Danby finding the back of the net and Karcher dishing out a pair of assists, vs. Harvard.

On Friday, the Black and Gold will host UMass Lowell in Bryant's first action this season in Smithfield. The River Hawks enter weekend play with a 2-2 overall, most recently coming off a 2-1 loss to Brown on Sunday. Senior midfielder Bianca Jones leads her team with 10 points on five goals, while sophomore forward Georgia Cowderoy has put up a pair of scores and three assists. Freshman Kelsey Federico has logged nearly 300 minutes in goal, allowing just 1.97 goals per contest with a .692 save percentage. Last season, the Bulldogs overcame a 3-0 deficit to top the River Hawks, 4-3, in Lowell.

On Sunday, Bryant welcomes Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis for 12 p.m. tilt at the Bryant Turf Complex. The Billikens, who will play at Sacred Heart on Friday, are also in search of their first win of the regular season, most recently coming off a 4-1 loss at Missouri State on Sunday. Faith Mackin leads her team two a pair of markers through four games, while Megan Depew-Brady has logged nearly every minute between the pipes for Saint Louis, allowing 7.82 goals per contest. Last season, Bryant escaped Missouri with a 3-2 win over the Billikens thanks to a goal from Abigail Armstrong (Mahopac, N.Y.) and two assists from Bird.

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