Field Hockey Picked Fourth in Little East Preseason Poll

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Bears have been picked to finish in fourth place in the Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey standings for the 2017 season. The Little East Field Hockey Preseason Poll was released this week by LEC Assistant Commissioner, Taylor Alward.

In a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, Bridgewater State tallied 81 points as the Bears finished behind Plymouth State University (101 pts.), Worcester State University (108 pts.) and defending Little East champion and preseason favorite Keene State College (110 pts.) in the poll. Worcester State tallied the most first place votes with six while Keene State received five and Plymouth State one.

Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Tia Pydynkowski, the BSU field hockey team will open the 2017 campaign at home against LEC foe Salem State University on Wednesday, September 6th at 7:00 PM.

Last season, Coach Pydynkowski's squad posted an overall record of 11-7 and finished tied for sixth in the Little East standings with a 6-5 conference mark. Seeded seventh in the Little East Tournament, the Bears stunned #2 seed Worcester State, 3-1, in the quarterfinals before dropping a 3-0 decision to sixth-seeded University of Southern Maine in the semifinals.

Coach Pydynkowski returns six starters from the 2016 team including All-Little East selections, senior defender Katherine McKenna (Wilmington, Mass.) and junior midfielder Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.), as well as senior defender Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.), senior forward Tori O'Dea (South Dennis, Mass.), junior goalkeeper Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) and junior midfielder Julianne Kilduff (Bellingham, Mass.).