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The Bryant Bulldogs are the 32nd team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the second team from the NEC. The Bulldogs ousted Hobart in the NEC championship game and MAAC champion Monmouth in the NCAA Play-In game, before losing to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Bryant’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 1/21 | Lehigh | Bryant | Scrimmage | |
| 1/27 | Holy Cross | Bryant | Scrimmage | |
| 2/3 | Manhattan | Bryant | 17-10 W | |
| 2/10 | Bucknell | Bryant | 9-8 L | |
| 2/17 | Bryant | Providence | Ocean State Cup | 7-6 L |
| 2/24 | Bryant | Hartford | 17-11 W | |
| 2/27 | Boston University | Bryant | 12-9 L | |
| 3/3 | Yale | Bryant | 9-6 W | |
| 3/10 | Drexel | Bryant | 7-5 L | |
| 3/13 | Bryant | Siena | 18-13 W | |
| 3/17 | Mount St. Mary's | Bryant | NEC | 6-5 L |
| 3/24 | Bryant | Sacred Heart | NEC | 13-7 W |
| 3/30 | Bryant | Robert Morris | NEC | 13-5 W, 12-3 W |
| 4/7 | Wagner | Bryant | NEC | 8-1 W |
| 4/14 | Bryant | St. Joe's | NEC | 8-7 W |
| 4/21 | Hobart | Bryant | NEC | 13-6 L, 5-4 W |
| 4/24 | Bryant | Brown | Ocean State Cup | 14-12 L |
Bryant’s schedule remains unchanged from a year ago.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: @ Brown
The regular season finale for the Bulldogs is also the final game in the Ocean State Cup series, which is between the three D1 Rhode Island teams (Brown, Bryant, and Providence). The last eight meetings have been decided by two goals or less, but the Bears have gotten the better of the Bulldogs for the most part.
Best Conference Game: @ St. Joe’s
The Hawks get a big boost on offense with the return of Mike Rastivo. He would’ve been in the running for NEC Player of the Year if he wasn’t injured for the entire 2017 season. Now him, along with Virginia transfer Will McNamara as a defensive midfielder, have St. Joe’s poised to return to the NEC Tournament.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Bucknell
The Bison were a dark horse pick to win the Patriot League last year by many, including myself. We were all wrong, but they did gut out a one-goal win against Bryant in PA to go 2-0 on the season. Will Sands is an excellent offensive player, and he has Connor O’Hara and Sean O’Brien back with him for their senior seasons.
Possible Upset: vs. Boston University
The Terriers beating Bryant is not an upset. But the Bulldogs beating the Terriers would be. But would you be surprised if Bryant beat any ranked team this year? The Bulldogs are capable of doing so, and did it to a Yale did that didn’t have a fully healthy Ben Reeves last year. BU has a good amount of firepower left over from last year’s team.