In 2000, Bryant’s Field Hockey Team was in its second year as a Division II varsity squad. Coach Coni Fichera gave her all to building the team, and with an influx of new players the team nearly doubled in size.
2001 The Northeast-10 Conference announced that Bryant College women’s soccer coach Chris Flint and men’s soccer coach Seamus Purcell were named 2001 coaches of the year in their respective sports. The awards highlighted a significant presence for Bryant on the women’s and men’s all-conference teams.
2004 Bryant’s women’s field hockey team won the Northeast-10 Conference regular-season title and made it to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. At the Northeast-10 field hockey awards banquet, senior Heidi Chirigotis ’04 was named 2003 Northeast-10 Player of the Year after leading the nation with 27 goals that season. The women’s volleyball team turned in a record-breaking season with an undefeated Northeast-10 regular-season. The team won a school-record 37 matches that season and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive year. Head coach Theresa Garlacy was named the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year as the Bulldogs swept all conference postseason honors for the first time.
In 2000, Scott Paltos became the first Bulldog to join the NFL. A transfer from Georgetown, he was 5’ 11”, 250 pounds and, as a senior, became Bryant’s starting fullback. Invited to the minicamp of the New York Giants, he became the first Bryant student to ink a professional football contract. He later played with the Oakland Raiders, as well.
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