WALTHAM, Mass. – During a 9-9 season a year ago, the Bentley University field hockey team prospered on its home field, winning eight of nine contests while outscoring its opponents 16-7.

The field has been resurfaced to a product similar to all of the other teams in Division II. "Playing on the same field as all of our opponents will help with our consistency throughout the year," said head coach Jessica Spencer. "The field is beautiful and the players have adjusted very well."

The first games on the new surface will be this weekend when Bentley opens its 2016 season by hosting Franklin Pierce Thursday (7 pm) and LIU Post Saturday (5 pm).

Bentley will have a new look this fall following the graduation of nine, including seven starters. Combined, that group amassed over 400 career starts. In comparison, the 17 returnees have totaled only 111 starts thus far as Falcons.  

Leading the veterans is senior midfielder and two-time All-Northeast-10 second-team honoree Tori Ellis (Madison, N.J./Madison HS). The former conference Rookie of the Year has 20 career defensive saves, most among active Division II players, and begins her final season with five goals and 12 assists.

Junior back Caitlin Derrickson (Wilmington/Central Catholic HS), who'll anchor the back line along with sophomore Frankie Tossona (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn HS), is the other full-time starter returning for the 2016 Falcons.

Scoring came at a premium for Bentley last season (23 total goals, including only seven in nine road games), but Spencer is optimistic her team will be better in that regard this time around. Sophomore Rachel Crowley (Leicester/Notre Dame Academy) scored four times as a rookie, sharing the team-lead, and junior Eva Michaliszyn (Media, Pa./Penncrest HS) had a four-goal season as a freshman in 2014.

The only goalie on the roster with regular season collegiate game experience is senior Evelyn Schaedel (Burlington, Vt./Burlington HS), who has a 10-6 record and four shutouts in 21 career games. She started ten times last year, registering a 1.86 goals against average. Sophomore goalie Jana Mones (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey HS) had a terrific spring season and is expected to see playing time this fall.

Players who saw limited action previously and newcomers will have to step up for the Falcons to fill the void created by the graduated nine. Freshmen likely to be seeing playing time include forwards Keally Ingersoll (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge HS) and Tess Anderson (Stow/Nashoba Reg. HS), along with midfielders Sam Pavano (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS) and Christa Knell (Watertown/Watertown HS).

Bentley split with each of its first two opponents last season, defeating both at home (back-to-back 1-0 decisions in late October) while falling to both on the road. Both missed the conference tournament last year with each finishing with 10-8 overall records.

Following the two home games to launch the weekend, Bentley will play five straight on the road, including two in South Carolina Sept. 10-11 against Newberry College and Limestone College.