WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley women's soccer team will take the field for the first time in 2016 when they play Dominican on Friday at 4:00 pm in the first game of the Kickoff Classic in North Andover. The opening weekend tournament concludes Sunday when the Falcons play Molloy on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

The 2016 Falcons will feature eight players returning who started at least 15 matches last season, plus three others who played in least 15 of the team's 17 matches overall. That experience gained should serve the team well as they push for a postseason spot in the competitive Northeast-10 Conference. Below is a preview of the team's position groups.

Forwards: Senior Ana Tantum (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) should lead the attack again after a dynamite junior season that saw her named 2^nd team All-Northeast 10. She fired in a team leading 8 goals, which led the team and was T-9^th in the NE-10. Added to four assists for 20 points, and she also ranked T-8^th in the conference in points. Entering the season, she is T-9^th in the program's history in career points (43).

The team's forward line was further boosted last season by All-Rookie team performer Alyssa Valente (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan), who was 2^nd on the team in each of goals (5), assists (3) and points (13). Senior Jamie Grinavic (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro), who had a career-high goal tally last season, and  junior Peyton Kent (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) add to the attacking options with speed and creativity. Senior captain Paige Laliberte (Gilford, N.H./Gilford), who has primarily played goalie during her career, with see action up front as well to further add to the team's attacking depth.

Midfield: The Falcons should have a well-stocked and versatile midfield. Starters from last season Jenny Lewis (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill), who is one of the team's captains and netted a career-high in goals in 2015 returns, as does sophomore Christine Hoynack (Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes), who started 15 times last year and chipped in two goals.

Also back is senior Anna Siefring (Hopedale, Mass./Hopedale), who notched a career-high tally in goals in 2015 and ranked 3^rd on the team in total points. Freshmen McKenna Hiller (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) and Stephanie Helin (Manchester, Conn./East Catholic) will add options and depth to the unit as possible early contributors.

Backs: Captain Haley Story (Bainbridge, Wash./Bainbridge) highlights the returnees at the back, which should be experienced and familiar with each other as all four starters from 2015 return. Story started all 17 matches last season, and has started all but two matches Bentley has played in her three seasons.

Her primary centerback partner from last season, junior McKenzie Riccio (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker), returns as well. Riccio started 12 straight matches at that position, before having her season come to an end prematurely due to an injury.

Both starting fullbacks return in sophomores Brandi McDonald (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) and Meagan Iris (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills). McDonald started all 17 matches last season, making her one of just two freshmen to start every match, while Iris started 15 times in her freshman campaign.

Goalkeepers: Junior Deirdre Macrorie (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) has been Bentley's starter in between the posts her first two seasons. She started all 17 matches in 2015 and 14 times as a freshman. In 2015, she finished the season with 86 total saves, which was 5^th most in the NE-10. Macrorie will be joined in the goalkeeper group by freshman Renee Perkins (Nantucket, Mass./Lawrence Academy) and Laliberte, when she isn't being played in the field.

Schedule: Bentley's first two matches at the Kickoff Classic begin a run of five straight matches to open the season away from home. The stretch includes the team's first two NE-10 matches of the season, which takes them to Assumption on Sept. 14 and Pace on Sept. 17.

The Falcons finally open at home on Tuesday, Sept. 20 when Saint Anselm comes to town, but the stay will be brief as the team heads back on the road for its final two matches of September.

October features a more favorable home schedule, with six of the nine matches played on home turf. The first date is against Adelphi on Oct. 1, and is followed by visits from Stonehill on Oct. 4 and Franklin Pierce on Oct. 8. A visit from Le Moyne on Oct. 18 is sandwiched between three road games, before the Falcons close out the regular season in Waltham against AIC on Oct. 26 and Southern Connecticut on Oct. 29.

The Northeast-10 Championship gets underway Tuesday, Nov. 1 with the top-eight teams to qualify.