Roche announces 2019 captains, senior leadership group

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head women's lacrosse coach Brianna Roche has announced her captains and Senior Leadership Group for the 2019 season.

Seniors Lauren Britton (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) and Jess DeMeo (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) have been selected as the Bulldog captains for the 2019 campaign, while junior Katherine Clark (New Fairfield, Conn.) has been tabbed as Bryant's assistant captain.

Britton has started in all 54 games in her first three seasons at Bryant, amassing 54 goals, 17 assists, 118 draw controls, 77 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers. The midfielder from New Jersey was a second-team All-NEC selection in 2017 and an all-rookie team honoree in 2016.

DeMeo has appeared in all 54 games in her time in Black & Gold, earning NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018. The Long Island native has scored 151 goals in her first three seasons at Bryant while adding 23 assists, 54 ground balls, 27 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers.

Clark has played in 27 games over her first two seasons at Bryant, collecting four goals, two assists, 23 ground balls, 12 draw controls and 16 caused turnovers. The Connecticut native started six games in the midfield a year ago.

Bryant will also designate a Senior Leadership Group consisting of seniors Emma Ahlrichs (Zionsville, Ind.), Meredith James (Essex Fells, N.J.) and Jasmine Perkins (West Babylon, N.Y.). Ahlrichs will serve as Bryant's academic team leader, James will be the Bulldogs' off-field team leader and Perkins will hold the role of fitness team leader for the Black & Gold.

"We are thrilled to have Lauren, Jess, and Katie selected as captains for our Bryant Women's Lacrosse team for this upcoming season," said Roche. "They truly embody our core values of passion, pride and mental toughness. They have labored tirelessly this fall to create a competitive practice environment and culture of hard work, positive attitude, and accountability. Our team belief is in leadership as a collective process."

"Bryant Women's Lacrosse uses this shared leadership model that includes both our captains and our Senior Leadership Group," Roche added. "As such, we value the contributions of our captains and Senior Leadership Group and expect to continue to develop an environment of inclusiveness, participation, and empowerment. We are proud to have Lauren, Jess, and Katie working alongside our Academic Team Leader, Emma Ahlrichs, Fitness Team Leader, Jasmine Perkins, and Off-Field Team Leader, Meredith James. This should be the start of a new era in Bryant Women's Lacrosse."

Bryant opens the 2019 season Friday, Feb. 15, when the Bulldogs host UMass at Beirne Stadium, which will serve as the new home of the Bryant Women's Lacrosse program after the addition of lights and FieldTurf.

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