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Natalie Griffin Runs up field vs Fairfield

Field Hockey

BRYANT FIELD HOCKEY SEASON PREVIEW

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant field hockey team opens the 2025 season this weekend with a pair of home contests against New Haven and Stonehill.

Below is a look at the Bulldogs by position.

Forward and Midfield
  • Bryant will have to replace its top two scorers from a season ago in Eva Boogers (5g, 7a) and Filou Verhoeven (4g, 8a). Looking to fill the void will be the next two on the list, junior Callie Caito (4g, 4a) and tri-captain Natalie Griffin (4g, 3a). 
  • Caito's breakout 2024 season came after she was held without a point as a true freshman in 2023. She finished the year strong, recording points in five of the final six games of the year.
  • Griffin, on the other hand, is looking to put the final touches on a stellar career this fall. She has played in all but one game in her Bryant career (54 games, 53 starts) and has posted 24 career points (7g, 10a). Griffin has notched back-to-back seasons with 11 points. 
  • Fellow tri-captain Zoe Bates and senior Lauren Rothwell also return to aid in the Bryant attack. Bates was hampered by injuries in 2024 but still managed to appear in 16 games for the Black and Gold. She has 48 career games under her belt and produced three goals in her Bryant career.
  • Rothwell also looks to put together a resurgent year in 2025. She produced her best season in 2023, recording a goal and an assist while playing in 17 games (four starts).
  • With the departure of several veterans and transfers in the offseason, Bryant will look to its juniors and sophomores to take the next step this season
  • Julie Diderich, Carly Dimock and Alexa Sedicino make up the returning juniors. Diderich has played mainly in the back her first two seasons but could provide a new look at midfield this season. She has appeared in 21 games in two seasons, registering a pair of assists.
  • Sedicino is Bryant's third-leading returning scorer this fall after she posted five points (2g, 1a) in 2024. Dimock (four games) and Sedicino will look to take another jump in 2025.
  • The sophomore group of Kerin Birch, Megan Smith and India Hayes will also look to make big strides this fall. Birch made 14 appearances, while Smith played in five games last season. Hayes joins the Bulldogs as a transfer from Saint Louis where she recorded a goal and an assist in 14 games.
  • Bryant will also welcome five freshmen to the attack this season; Emerson Johnson, Ellie Picard, Maddy DeFilippo, Ella Murphy and Elyse Bouchard.
  • Johnson enjoyed a historic career at Wachusett Regional, graduating as the school's all-time leader in goals. Bouchard was a standout at powerhouse Uxbridge and both were four-time Worcester Telegram and Gazette Super Team selections.
  • Picard is an East Greenwich native that earned all-state honors as a senior.
  • DeFilippo starred at Pequannock in New Jersey, finishing her high school career with 143 points on 58 goals and 27 assists.
  • Murphy comes all the way from Buffalo, N.Y., where she shine in both field hockey and ice hockey at the Nichols School. Murphy was an all-state player in field hockey, leading all of New York State in assists in 2024.
Defense
  • On the backend, the Black and Gold will have to replace the tandem of Eva Boogers (returned home) and Linde van Leeuwen (transfer).
  • The group will be led by a trio of juniors; tri-captain Claire Joss, Jenny Sorrentino and Gabrielle Dwyer. 
  • Joss joins Griffin as the only returner to start all 18 games a season ago and will look to continue her strong play. She has played in 25 games in her two seasons.
  • Sorrentino made huge strides as a sophomore, anchoring the outside back positon for the Bulldogs. She appeared in 17 games and made 12 starts.
  • Dwyer made her collegiate debut last season and will look to take the next step in the backfield this fall.
  • Bryant will also feature sophomore Liv Martino and freshman Elsa Bishop. Martino appeared in two games last season, while Bishop moves to the backend after a stellar offensive career at Exeter in New Hampshire..
  • Bishop was named the state's offensive player of the year and first team all-state last fall.
Goalies
  • One of Bryant's biggest strengths this season will be the tandem of Sara DeSousa and Maud van Lierop in the cage.
  • DeSousa and van Lierop split time in 2024 and will once again backstop the Bulldogs this fall. They combined to post a .712 save percentage.
  • DeSousa started 15 games a season ago, posting a 3.08 GAA and a .704 save percentage. She posted eight games with 5+ saves, including an 11-save performance vs Dartmouth and 12 vs Brown.
  • van Lierop finished her rookie season with a 2.38 GAA and a .725 save percentage. She recorded 5+ saves in five games and picked up her first collegiate win with 43 minutes of scoreless relief in Bryant's comeback win against Maine.
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Players Mentioned

Linde van Leeuwen

#6 Linde van Leeuwen

B
5' 7"
Freshman
Linde van Leeuwen Marketplace
Eva Boogers

#10 Eva Boogers

B
5' 6"
Freshman
Eva Boogers Marketplace
Filou Verhoeven

#12 Filou Verhoeven

F
5' 6"
Freshman
Filou Verhoeven Marketplace
Zoe Bates

#5 Zoe Bates

F/M
5' 1"
Senior
Zoe Bates Marketplace
Kerin Birch

#8 Kerin Birch

M
5' 2"
Sophomore
Kerin Birch Marketplace
Callie Caito

#20 Callie Caito

F
5' 4"
Junior
Callie Caito Marketplace
Sara DeSousa

#99 Sara DeSousa

GK
5' 3"
Junior
Sara DeSousa Marketplace
Julie Diderich

#21 Julie Diderich

M/B
5' 7"
Junior
Julie Diderich Marketplace
Carly Dimock

#15 Carly Dimock

F/M
5' 2"
Junior
Carly Dimock Marketplace
Gabrielle Dwyer

#27 Gabrielle Dwyer

B
5' 2"
Junior
G Marketplace
Natalie Griffin

#4 Natalie Griffin

M
5' 7"
Senior
Natalie Griffin Marketplace
Claire Joss

#25 Claire Joss

B
5' 7"
Junior
Claire Joss Marketplace

Players Mentioned

Linde van Leeuwen

#6 Linde van Leeuwen

5' 7"
Freshman
Linde van Leeuwen Marketplace
B
Eva Boogers

#10 Eva Boogers

5' 6"
Freshman
Eva Boogers Marketplace
B
Filou Verhoeven

#12 Filou Verhoeven

5' 6"
Freshman
Filou Verhoeven Marketplace
F
Zoe Bates

#5 Zoe Bates

5' 1"
Senior
Zoe Bates Marketplace
F/M
Kerin Birch

#8 Kerin Birch

5' 2"
Sophomore
Kerin Birch Marketplace
M
Callie Caito

#20 Callie Caito

5' 4"
Junior
Callie Caito Marketplace
F
Sara DeSousa

#99 Sara DeSousa

5' 3"
Junior
Sara DeSousa Marketplace
GK
Julie Diderich

#21 Julie Diderich

5' 7"
Junior
Julie Diderich Marketplace
M/B
Carly Dimock

#15 Carly Dimock

5' 2"
Junior
Carly Dimock Marketplace
F/M
Gabrielle Dwyer

#27 Gabrielle Dwyer

5' 2"
Junior
G Marketplace
B
Natalie Griffin

#4 Natalie Griffin

5' 7"
Senior
Natalie Griffin Marketplace
M
Claire Joss

#25 Claire Joss

5' 7"
Junior
Claire Joss Marketplace
B