Experienced core ready to lead Bryant Field Hockey in 2022
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Friday's Bryant University field hockey opener against La Salle brings with it the promise of a new season and the first glimpse at a hungry and talented roster.
Jillian Coppola, entering her second year as head coach, has built a roster that is ready to compete in both the non-conference season but also in the Black and Gold's first year as a member of the America East.
Offensively, Bryant is trending in the right direction under Coppola. The Bulldogs averaged their highest goals per game in a full season since 2017 last fall and return 68 percent of that scoring this fall. Leading the way will be talented senior Taryn Rauff, an All-NEC First Team selection last fall after leading the team with 17 points (8 goals, 1 assist). Rauff enters her senior season with 12 goals in 40 career games. Joining her will be classmate Grayson Green and junior Ashley Barron. Each found the back of the cage last season, with Barron entering the year with three goals for her career.
Bryant's forward group will also be bolstered by graduate student Olivia Clarke, senior Phoebe Johnson, sophomores Abby Crowley, Kayley Tivnan and Katie Goyda, and freshmen Zoe Bates and Valerie van Dommelen. Clarke joins the Bulldogs after spending four years at UConn, appearing in 24 games for the Huskies.
Bryant also returns All-NEC Second Team selection Brittany Gouws in the midfield. Gouws, who had two goals and four defensive saves a season ago, will join Rauff and Green in the midfield. The Black and Gold also welcome back Sarah Van Scoten and Sydney Swain. Van Scoten appeared in 18 games and made 12 starts last year, while Swain has appeared in 39 games over the course of her career. Gabby Cavenas is also back after appearing in 12 games and making three starts as a freshman. Joining the midfield will be freshman Lauren Rothwell.
The Black and Gold's backs could prove to be one its best positions with the return of Lotte Guitink, Ella Davison, Ellie Morrison and Caitlin Gallagher. Guitink has started all 26 games in her two seasons and finished with a goal and three assists last fall. Davison has played in all 26 games since stepping on campus as a freshman, while Gallagher started all 18 games as a true freshman. Morrison is the veteran of the group, having appeared in all 45 games during her career, making 42 starts. Bryant will welcome a trio of freshmen to the group in Natalie Griffin, Maria Bonwell and Bella Thoms.
Bryant will have to fill a big void in the cage, however, with the graduation of Marijn Jaarsma. The NEC 2021 NEC Goalkeeper and Defensive Player of the Year played every minute last fall. The Bulldogs have three underclassmen vying for the starting role in sophomore Karli Reed and freshmen Megan Hart and Dieneke Hes.
The Bulldogs open their 2022 season on Friday, August 26 when they host La Salle at the Bryant Track & Turf Complex. It will be the first of six home games in Smithfield, with four others being played at either Brown University or Providence College.