NASHUA, N.H. - The Rivier field hockey team has secured a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) postseason berth for the first time since 2023. With a 3-7 conference record, the Raiders earned the No. 8 seed and will travel to Franklin, Mass to face No. 1 Dean on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11:00 a.m. at Grant Field.
Under third-year head coach Hayley Sutherland, the Raiders return to postseason play for the second time in her tenure. After narrowly missing out last season, the 2025 squad battled to secure the No. 8 seed.
Rivier opened the season with six straight losses, including a GNAC defeat, but rebounded with a dominant 7-0 road win over league opponent Albertus Magnus. The team followed up with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against Regis (Mass.). The Raiders capped off conference play with a decisive 10-0 win over Elms on Senior Day. That victory tied program records for most goals scored in a game and largest margin of victory, both dating back to 2009.
Four Raiders finished the regular season with double-digit point totals. Junior Brianna Spinelli led the offense with a program-record-tying 29 points, scoring 13 goals and adding three assists. Senior Reilly Swislosky contributed 23 points on eight goals, including three game-winners, and a team-high seven assists. Sophomore Kelsey Bain tallied 19 points on seven goals and five assists, while first-year Mary Kelley added 18 points with seven goals and four assists.
On the defensive end, junior Sophia Quinlan anchored the back line with all 10 of the team's defensive saves, earning GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice. Senior goalkeeper Lily Gifford was in the net for all five of Rivier's wins this season, including two shutouts, stopping 90 shots in the process.
The 2025 Raiders saw many records broken this season. Swislosky's 64 points this season earned her the top spot in the record books for most points earned in a career. The Webster, N.H. native's 26 goals throughout her career placed her first on the all-time career goals scored list. Spinelli's 29-point campaign tied a program record for the most points earned in the season. Her 13 goals in 2025 are a program record for a single season. Quinlan's 10 this season single-handedly broke the record for the most in a career in a season.
The 2025 campaign was marked by record-breaking performances. Swislosky's 64 career points set a new program record, while her 26 career goals also placed her atop the all-time scoring list. Spinelli's 29-point season tied the single-season record, and her 13 goals set a new program high for goals in a season. Quinlan's 10 defensive saves this year broke the program record for most in a single season and put her in the top spot for career leaders in the category.
The Bulldogs finished 9-1 in GNAC play, with their only loss coming against Colby-Sawyer. Their top two players, senior Sydnee Ramos and sophomore Emily Yazzetti, lead the conference in goals and assists, respectively. Dean's primary netminder, Sara Gardner, holds an 8-4 record with a .823 save percentage. They closed out conference play with a 2-1 comeback victory over Simmons to secure the No. 1 seed.
The winner of Saturday's matchup will advance to the GNAC Semifinals to play against the winner of No. 4 New England Col. and No. 5 Lasell on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
