Duluth

Preview of the 2024 women’s football season

Eira Gwyneth August 16, 2024

SMITHFIELD, RI – The Bryant University women’s soccer team opens its 2024 season at home against Siena College on Sunday, August 18.

Bryant is coming off a season in which the team finished 7-5-4 overall and 2-3-3 in America East play. The Bulldogs shined defensively in 2023, finishing in the top 70 nationally in goals-against average.

Forward

Catherine Bean returns for her final season after being named to the America East second team at the end of last season. She started all 16 games last season and led the team in points (8), shots (33) and assists (4). Bean has played in 47 games in her career and enters her final season with 30 points (9 goals, 12 assists).

Senior Jordyn Collins also started all 16 games last season and was one of the leading scorers (3). Collins finished the 2023 season just behind Bean with 31 shots.

After scoring two goals last year, sophomore Samantha Zaslaw will look to build on her solid freshman season.

Hailey Koons will play offense in her final season. Koons scored one goal last year, the game-winning goal against Albany.

Zoe Wood completes the returning attackers for the Black and Gold.

Midfielder

A strong midfield core returns for Bryant, consisting of Makayla Griffin, Emily Supple and Emily McGee.

Griffin started all 16 games last season and had her best offensive year, tying for the team lead with three goals.

Junior Jennah Quill will move to midfield this season after previously helping on defense. Quill finished her sophomore year having started five of her 10 games for Bryant and recording one assist.

defense

Samantha Breton leads the Black and Gold defense this season as one of only two senior defenders. As a junior, Breton scored two goals and had one assist for the Bulldogs. Both goals came on penalty kicks.

Carly Warn, who scored a goal for the Bulldogs last season, joins the list of strong experienced starters and will help strengthen the defense.

Sophomore Ashley Cunningham leads the younger students after appearing in all 16 games last season and scoring the game-winning goal against Marist.

After moving from Fairfield, Kelsie Wandyes had an impressive first season as a Bulldog. Wandyes took on a starting position and played a full 90 minutes in 10 games.

After earning a spot on the America East All-Rookie Team her freshman year, junior Madison Luke finished her sophomore season with two goals and two assists.

Naomi Sadler, Ava Melia, Colleen Ardolino, Alison Mokriski and Tatum Cordon will try to do their part as returnees for the Bulldogs.

goalkeeper

Bryant is looking to replace Kathryn McNeil, who ranked fifth nationally in save percentage and 37th in goals-against average.

The Black and Gold will rely on junior Selena Negron, who appeared in eight games last season and finished with a 3-1-1 record and a .806 save percentage.

Sophomores Lilian Gosselin and Shannon Mejia did not play for Bryant in their freshman season but could make their debuts this fall.

New arrivals

Quote from an experienced defense attorney Samantha Breton for the coming season

“I think we’re going to do really well this year. We missed the playoffs last year, but I thought we had a really good season, especially defensively, where we only conceded 14 goals. I think we have a really strong group again this year that will take our program to the next level.”