Tag: Friar Sports
Young Talent Ready to Take Women’s Basketball Team to the Next Level
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Friar Sports
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
In the beginning of October, the Big East unveiled the coach’s poll preseason rankings for all Big East women’s basketball teams for the upcoming 2019-2020 season. While DePaul University was unanimously voted first, the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team came in fifth, tied alongside Villanova University. Both teams are coming off of trips to the 2019 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Following this news, the team looks to carry on the success from the 2018-2019 season and play to the strengths of each player.
Last season, the Friars posted a 19-16 record, which earned them sixth overall in the Big East standings. The team made it to the second round of the Big East Tournament, where they lost to St. John’s University.
The Lady Friars earned themselves a spot in the WNIT, where they made a run to the Sweet Sixteen, losing to Georgetown University. The 19 wins were the most overall wins the team has had since 2009-2010, which, coincidentally, was the last time they had made it into a postseason tournament.
The team had to say goodbye to three seniors who graduated from PC last spring, including Clara Che ’19, a 2019 Big East Weekly Honor Roll selection, Maddie Jolin ’19, the winner of the Rev. Robert A. Morris O.P. ’46 Memorial Award, and Jovana “Yoyo” Nogic ’19, a fan favorite and the Providence College Female Athlete of the Year.
Last season marked numerous career highs for Nogic. She was ranked 12th on the most points per game in the Big East at 13.8 points, and averaged 19.3 points in the WNIT.
While the Friars lost three seniors, they also gained some new faces in the locker room: Hevynne Bristow ‘23 from Brooklyn, NY, Fatima Lee ’23 from Queens, NY, and Lauren Sampson ’23 from Waltham, MA. All are ready to answer the call for the team and bring their skills and strengths to make a difference both on and off the court this upcoming season.
Four of the starters are back this season in the lineup for the Friars, including reigning Big East Freshman of the Year, Mary Baskerville ’22.
Last season Baskerville finished as one of the leaders for rebounds per game at 7.3, leaders for blocked shots at 1.5, and even field goal percentage at .580 percent. Her breakout season made her the ultimate candidate for a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Big East Team.
Herself and other Friar favorites like Kaela Webb ’22 and Chanell Williams ’21 are ready to give it their all and do great for the team.
In his fourth season with the Friars, Head Coach Jim Crowley is ready to lead his ladies into battle and give everything he has for the team to repeat the success they earned last season and once again make it into the postseason rankings.
The biggest threats the Friars face this season are rival teams DePaul University and St. John’s University. DePaul retains their title this season as the most successful Big East program for women’s basketball, posting a 91-17 record since the 2013-2014 season and has numerous returning starters this year.
The Friars hope to turn things around against the DePaul Blue Demons after losing last season’s series to the team 0-3 including a loss in the quarterfinal of the Big East Tournament.
When it comes to St. John’s, the Red Storm is expected to make a big jump from 2018-2019, with the return of a group of starters who lead in scoring, steals, and even assists.
However, this season, the Friars are ready to eliminate all who stand in their way by constantly practicing and grinding their way to the top. They are ready to show the world whose time it is and where they stand in the Big East.
Women’s Soccer Vying for Final Playoff Spot
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Friar Sports
By Marc DeMartis ’21
Sports Staff
This past Sunday, the Providence College Women’s Soccer Team took on the Villanova University Wildcats for the Friars’ Senior Day. Although the Friars were defeated 0-1, they dominated the stat sheet in almost every category.
The Friars had a total of 14 shots compared to Villanova’s six. Rhode Island native Hannah McNulty ’21 led the Friars’ attack with five attempted shots, with one shot-on-goal being a header that ended up hitting the right post. A goal that the Friars could have used to tie the game. McNulty also scored an impressive header that was waved off after being ruled offsides in the 60th minute.
The Wildcats began the game strong, scoring early in the 21st minute, but lost their momentum in the second half as the Friars outshot them 10-0.
Even though the seniors were upset after losing a hard-fought game, they were just as happy to play with their teammates for their last home game. Olivia Lucia ’20 said, “Although we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight, I was so proud of the effort and hard work that the team put forth. It was an emotional day, but I was overjoyed to be surrounded by my team and fellow seniors on our home field for our last home game.”
When asked about how she felt about her Senior Day, Lucia said, “I honestly can’t put into words how emotional and amazing my senior season has been for me. It doesn’t feel real that I might be playing my last game this week. The little girl inside me doesn’t want to let go of the sport that became her escape and passion.”
Now the Friars look forward to their last game of the regular season against Seton Hall University on Oct. 31. After that, they have the Big East Tournament ahead of them. Lucia is looking forward to this year’s tournament, saying, “Going into the Big East Tournament, I have a lot of confidence in the team and know that if we work hard we can be very successful.” Tournament play starts for the Friars on Nov. 3.
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Friar Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
Men’s Hockey Update:
On the weekend of Oct. 18, the Providence College Men’s Hockey Team traveled to New York to take on St. Lawrence University on Friday and Clarkson University on Saturday. PC started the weekend off strong with a 6-0 win over SLU. Parker Ford ‘23 led the way for PC with two goals in the blowout win.
PC carried their momentum into its contest at CU, beating the home team with a score of 4-2. Tyce Thompson ‘22 powered the Friars with two goals. On Oct. 25, PC traveled to Chestnut Hill to face Boston College and beat the Eagles 6-2. There were six different goal-scorers for PC in the game. PC returned home to play the University of Massachusetts-Lowell the following day and would ultimately lose to the visiting team 3-2 in overtime. Thompson and Patrick Moynihan ’23 scored the goals.
Men’s Soccer Update:
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team kicked off a three-game week on Oct. 19 at DePaul University. The Friars fell to the Blue Demons 2-0, but would bounce back when they traveled to play Villanova University the following Wednesday. PC beat the home team 2-0 with goals by Danny Griffin ’20 and Paulo Lima ‘22.
Following their win on the road, PC returned home to host Creighton University. The Bluejays scored the first goal of the game early on, but PC answered with goals by Christopher Roman ’22 and Davis Smith ’21. CU equalized the game late in the second half to force overtime, but Lima scored a golden goal stunner to win the game for the Friars in overtime.
Field Hockey Update:
The Providence College Field Hockey Team recently earned the No. 25 spot in the NFHCA Division 1 Coaches’ Poll, and its recent performance proves it is deserving of this ranking. On Oct. 18, PC beat Quinnipiac University in a 3-2 shootout win. PC hosted Merrimack two days later and beat the visitors 5-1. Olivia Ward ’21 led the scoring for the team with two goals.
PC then hosted Georgetown University on Oct. 25 and beat the Hoyas 2-0. Goals were scored by Mary O’Reilly ’20 and Amanda Collins ’22. The Friars looked to carry this momentum into its Oct. 27 Senior Day game against Rider University. PC fought out a 1-0 victory in the game thanks to a goal by O’Reilly. The team now looks forward to its next game on Nov. 1 at No. 17 Liberty University.
PCI: Which Winter Sports Team Will Have The Best Season?
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
PCI
Men’s Ice Hockey
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
Another winter is approaching and luckily at Providence College that means it is finally basketball and hockey season. Although both the teams have been preparing during preseason, the PC men’s ice hockey team is looking like they will have the most successful season.
After just a few short weeks, the PC men’s team has a record of 4-2, 2-1 in conference play. The difficulty of their schedule from the start foreshadows a strong season as the Friars have already faced Hockey East rivals University of Maine, Boston College and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Their two wins against UMaine and BC were not close games, as the Friars managed to score a combined 13 goals against these two teams, proving that the team does not have trouble finding the back of the net.
A good team has a superstar, but a great team has talent spread through the second and third lines. This year, the Friars have already introduced multiple players that can pass the puck well and score when the team needs it. The underclassmen have proven to be an important asset to the Friars’ team as well. Starting with the freshmen, Cam McDonald ’23 netted the game winning goal against no. 10/9 Clarkson as well as scoring again against Boston College the following week. Michael Callahan ’22, Jack Dugan ’22, Matt Koopman ’22, and Tyce Thompson ’22 are four sophomores who have tallied multiple points since the season started. Dugan was awarded Hockey East player of the week after leading the conference in points (5) and assists (4).
The upperclassmen bring the experience aspect to this year’s squad. Last year, the Friars made it to the Frozen Four in the NCAA tournament. The team fell short to Minnesota Duluth, the No. 1 seed after a long, impressive season. This was the Friars sixth season appearing in the NCAA Tournament and this year should be no exception.
The Northeastern University Huskies came up on top in the Hockey East Tournament in 2019, this year the Friars will want to beat the reigning champions. Boston College was the team that knocked PC out of the Hockey East running last year. The Eagles won the series 2-1. This past week the Friars beat Boston College 6-2, showing a glimpse of a promising season from PC.
There is no doubt the Friars will be tested this season, but their revenge tour might just give them the push they need to make it even further this year. Nate Leaman enters his ninth season as head coach for the Friars, and since it has been several years since his 2015 National Championship title, he is ready for another one.
Men’s Basketball
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
As October draws to a close, we are reminded just how close winter is. Winter is an especially exciting time in Friartown as some of Providence College’s best sports open their seasons and begin their quest for NCAA glory. However, of all of the winter sports, men’s basketball will have the best season this year.
Arguments can be made for a couple of different teams here as several are coming off successful seasons. In reality however, all eyes are on two squads, the men’s hockey and basketball teams.
Men’s ice hockey, lead by Nate Leaman for the ninth season, is five years removed from a national championship and one year removed from a Frozen Four appearance. The squad was ranked No. 7 in the nation before Saturday’s loss to University of Massachusetts-Lowell and boasts a young roster with six players currently having their draft rights owned by NHL teams. All this being said, men’s ice hockey will not be the most successful team on campus this winter.
Something is brewing in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and will be the big NCAA tournament run the Friars men’s basketball team has been expecting for some time now. The Friars will be led by ninth-year Head Coach Ed Cooley. Cooley returns after several rumors this offseason of him being considered a favorite for the Michigan coaching position, but ultimately withdrawing his name and signing an extension with PC. That was followed up with some big offseason acquisitions including University of Massachusetts-Amherst star graduate transfer Luwane Pipkins ’19G, transfers Noah Horchler ’20 and Jared Bynum ’22, and Greg Gantt ’23.
The Friars also expect a jump and improvement from David Duke ’22, Kris Monroe ’22 and AJ Reeves ’22. The Friars are also returning star center Nate Watson ’21 and seniors Maliek White ’20, Kalif Young ’20, and Alpha Diallo ’20, who even tested NBA waters this offseason.
This new Friars roster is filled with experience and new talent and has potential to far surpass last year’s team. Gantt was a four-star recruit and ranked no. 67 in the nation before joining the Friars. Diallo was considered an NBA prospect but has decided to keep his talent in Rhode Island. Pipkins is a very experienced and talented guard who scores with ease and is expected to start for PC this year. It would be wrong to assume this is not the best team on campus this winter.
PC Athletics: A Golden Age
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
A Sit-Down with Athletic Director Bob Driscoll
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Assistant Editor
As Vice President and Director of Athletics at Providence College, Bob Driscoll has overseen some of the brightest moments in Providence College history in his now 19-year tenure. So, when he says that things have never been better in Friartown, it is a good idea to believe him.
The Cowl got a chance to sit down with the affable athletic director following Homecoming Weekend to get his thoughts on the state of Friar athletics. The result: a fascinating conversation which delved into not only the present condition of the department, but its promising future as well.
It is hard to imagine how things can get much better for Driscoll and the Friars. Since 2013, PC has achieved an absurd amount of success under the AD’s watch, highlighted by national championships from both the women’s cross country team and the men’s ice hockey team.
Coupled with a string of seven consecutive postseason appearances by Ed Cooley and the men’s basketball team, in addition to the stunning facility upgrades on campus, it is safe to say that life is good as a Friar. Driscoll would have to agree.
“I am really proud of the entire campus,” said Driscoll. “When we bring people on it, they’re just blown away… It did not look like this 15, 18 years ago, but now when I bring my friends who worked at the University of California and a lot of the Big East schools they go, ‘Wow, I did not realize what a beautiful place this is.’”
One of the recent additions to contribute to the revitalization of the campus is the extraordinary Ruane Friar Development Center. The 30 million-dollar, 58,218 square-foot building opened in August of 2018, and has already played a significant role in the success of all 350 plus student-athletes.
Not only has it helped out those Friars currently in uniform, but it has already assisted in attracting some of the most skilled recruits in the country. “I have said this before, you get one chance to make a first impression,” commented Driscoll. “If you look at all of our athletic facilities, they have all either been renovated or built brand new because if you are going to attract the best student-athletes you have to have big time facilities.”
It is easy to see the appeal that the Friar Development Center has to recruits when it boasts equipment such as sleep pods, cryogenic machines, and meditative tanks. However, the top-notch equipment is far from the only draw for prospective athletes, as Driscoll and the department also utilize a talented team of sports psychologists and nutritionists. The recent partnership with the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, aimed at practicing healthy lifestyles, showcases the level of attention to personal wellness that the department displays.
“It is almost like an Olympic training village if you will… it really has had an impact on recruiting and the morale of our present student-athletes because they feel like they are being taken care of,” said Driscoll.
The on-the-field product certainly speaks to the athletic director’s point, as the Friars are off to a solid start in both the fall and winter sport seasons. “We are off to a good start,” said Driscoll. “Field hockey is in the mix with a chance to compete for a championship… I think [cross country] will be competitive, they will certainly get back to the NCAA’s. I’m not sure they will have a shot to win the whole thing, but we’ll have to see.”
Driscoll spoke to the start of hockey season as well, admitting that, “Hockey has gotten off to a good start too. The men beating Maine 7-0 with a really young team and then the women splitting with Quinnipiac with a really young team as well. So, I think things are going really well so far.”
Things may get even better in the future as the resources of the Friar Development Center take further effect, and as the plans for the second phase of the Friar Development Center come to fruition. Indeed, Driscoll and his fellow college leadership members have launched an ambitious effort to take the Alumni Hall area of the campus to a whole new, previously unimaginable, level.
While phase one of the Friar Development Center may seem more athlete-oriented, phase two will create a resource geared toward every student and visitor on campus: Friartown Way.
The forthcoming phase will erect a connecting concourse between the Slavin Center and Alumni Hall, and will feature an expansion of both the Career Development Center as well as ’64 Hall. The effect will be the creation of an indoor street, one that very likely will serve as the new heart of campus.
“… It is going to be almost like a shopping mall area,” said Driscoll, as he gazed out upon the site from his office window. “This [area] is going to be expanded with a big dome over the top. We are hoping to have the designs and approvals this year and then start construction.”
The new area will be just the latest addition to a campus that has seen a remarkable number of jaw-dropping projects completed over the past few years. For Driscoll, the possibilities for this particular project are endless: “You can imagine just looking down on this great big open spot with perhaps a Dunkin Donuts in there, study areas, tables where people can hang out with the sunshine shining through. That would complete this entire project, it is going to be special.”
Driscoll has been more than a little busy lately, in addition to the announcement of phase two of the Friar Development Center, the Athletic Director also just recently completed a new, five-year strategic plan for the athletic department. The plan centers around five key goals, which aim to sustain the success of the department while enriching the experience of the student-athlete.
“We are trying to play a bigger game here,” said Driscoll. “Our new mission is to build champion citizens, scholars, and athletes who positively impact the world around them. I want our student- athletes to learn through playing sports that they have the ability to go out and hopefully change the world.”
With a new mission statement, a flourishing fall season underway, and more facilities set to arrive on campus, the condition of PC athletics has never been better. And, with Bob Driscoll and his talented staff of coaches at the helm, the continued success of the department seems guaranteed for decades to come.
Former Friar Lands Local Coaching Job
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
Rubin Garces ’97 Named as Local Head Basketball Coach
By Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
Ruben Garces ’97, originally from Colón, Panama, is 46 years old. He is the newly-named head basketball coach at St. Raphael Academy, a high school in Pawtucket, RI not too far from where he spent his college days playing for the Providence College Men’s Basketball Team. The Cowl staff had the chance to sit down with the former star and discuss his journey back to the Ocean State.
After spending two years at Navarro College in Texas, Garces transferred to PC in 1995 to play basketball. He said he was recruited by 29 different schools, and visited the likes of the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Connecticut, the University of Alabama, and West Virginia University. But there was something about PC that was different.
“All of those schools had class sizes with large amounts of students in each class,” Garces said. “At Providence, it was better for me to be in smaller size classrooms where I felt the teachers would be better able to help me.”
He mentioned that coming from Panama, he was a very religious Catholic and it added to his desire to come to a Catholic institution. He also mentioned the high student-athlete graduation rate at PC as a contributing factor in his decison.
Garces talked about his favorite memories at PC. For a student-athlete who went to the Elite Eight in the 1997 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament for the Friars and beat Duke University in the second round, his favorite memories were surprisingly not about basketball.
Garces elaborated, “My favorite part for sure was the size of the school. It did not matter where you were from, everyone knew each other, and you felt a sense of family.”
He wanted nothing more than to just be like everyone else and said, “I went to all of the parties and to events on campus so I could be a student. It was important for me that everyone viewed me as someone who was not just an athlete, because I was a student as well.”
During his time at PC, Garces felt that he learned a lot, saying, “It taught me how to be diverse because it was very different from being in school in Texas.” His career as a basketball player was spent playing in multiple different countries, but Garces said PC “helped me to adapt to any situation, how to go to my friends, how not to be culturally shocked, how to be cool and go with the flow, and especially how to have a conversation with everyone.”
He then talked about his time playing professionally. When asked about his favorite memory, after playing in the NBA, in Europe, and in Latin America, it was tough for him to decide. Garces played for NBA teams Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors and said being around the likes of Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd was amazing.
However, Garces made it clear that spending nine years in Spain during his career was one of the highlights of his journey.
“Being in Spain and already speaking the language made it easier for me to adapt. There was a sense of family amongst the team. We went to barbeques together, we went to family parties, out to dinner with teammates, and it felt like Providence College all over again.”
Before talking about his time after basketball, Garces did not think his playing career would end as soon as it did. “It was very tough. I didn’t want to stop, and I think I could have played three to five more years,” Garces said. “But I knew my family needed me. My son was 12 playing basketball and my daughter was 10 playing the highest level of youth soccer. I wanted to make up time for me being away and help them reach their goals every day.”
For about a year after playing overseas Garces took a few years to himself and eventually became a financial planner for a financial company for a short period of time. After this stint in finance, Garces was a head strength and conditioning coach at a gym and now has moved to St. Raphael, where he is now a youth advisor and will begin his first year as head basketball coach this upcoming season.
Garces knows being a former basketball player is going to help him a lot with his players.
“I know how it feels to be a player. Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days. I think I know how to push them and to motivate them to be the best they can be. You know all the insides of being a player. I have been fortunate enough throughout my career to be around some great coaches and it will help me. For me it is more about mentoring, not everyone is going to play professionally, so mentoring kids to make the next step to make sure they can make the step is what I am excited for,” said Garces.
Garces is passionate about his new role, saying, “A lot of guys who just played middle school basketball think they can coach and know everything to the game. They think they can coach now. It was one of the things that motivated me to get into coaching.”
However, Garces emphasized his real purpose in coaching: “I want to make sure I can get my players ready not just for basketball, but for life.”
Garces begins his first year as head basketball coach at St. Raphael this winter.
Women’s Hockey Takes On Nittany Lions
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Struggle in First Game, Manage a Tie in Second
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
Last weekend, the Providence College Women’s Hockey Team faced Pennsylvania State University in a non-conference, weekend series. Coming into the matchup, the Friars sat at a 2-1-1 record, while Penn State boasted a record of 2-2-2.
This is the second time in the last year the Friars have faced Penn State, with last years games being played on the Nittany Lions’ home ice. The teams split last year’s series to the tune of a 3-2 Friar victory in overtime, and a 3-5 loss the next day.
Before the game, the team focused on competing with full effort for all three periods. Avery Fransoo ’20 emphasized how the team was looking to take numerous shots. Fransoo stated, “More shots lead to more chances, and we need to do our best to take advantages of any given situation.”
The first game had a rough start as the first goal from Penn State was scored in the first period off of a five-on-three power play. Penn State shut out the Friars up until the third period, when Maureen Murphy ’21 scored her third goal of the year, pushing the score to 3-1. Then, a second goal was scored by Sara Hjalmarsson ’22, for her third goal of the year, assisted by Murphy and Hayley Lunny ’21, putting the game to 3-2.
In the end, the game went to Penn State with a 2-4 loss for the Friars. The Friars outshot Penn State 33-26. They took what they learned in this game into the next day.
The second game against Penn State had the Friars dominating throughout, constantly taking shots. At the end of the first period, Penn State was on top with a 2-1 lead, with the sole Friars goal coming from Chloe Gonsalves ’21. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, including the game-tying goal by Murphy for her fourth goal of the season.
Friars goalie Clare Minnerath ’20 finished the game with 15 saves, and the team once again led in shots 31-17.
The next matchup for the Friars puts them up against Hockey East rival Northeastern University for their first conference matchup of the season. Looking ahead, Fransoo stated, “We want to take each game one at a time and focus on every shift in the period, as for Northeastern we want to focus on bringing an effort into the practices and transfer all that high and aggressive energy into the game and secure a win.”
When asked about any advice she has given to the incoming freshman class, Fransoo talked about the importance of the players having an open-mind. So, too, did she speak to how it has been a great yet huge adjustment for them, as they get used to new coaches and a new collegiate system of play.
Field Hockey Breaks into National Rankings
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Voted 25th on Latest Coaches’ Poll
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
Last Monday brought some good news for the Providence College Field Hockey Team. Fresh off a big 4-1 win over the University of New Hampshire, the Friars learned one of their own, Mary O’Reilly ’20, was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.
The senior midfielder, who was also named to the All-Big East second team in 2018, is having a great season. She currently has 3 goals and 6 assists, and has been a big reason the team is having an incredibly successful 2019 campaign. However, this was not the biggest news for the Friars this past week.
The next day, it was announced that the PC field hockey team had broken into the national rankings for the first time this season, ranking 25th in the nation. This is an incredible accomplishment for the Friars, as they have put together an incredible season on the backs of Izzy Mendez ’20, Allyson Parker ’20, and Maddie Babineau ’21 just to name a few.
The team is in the midst of an incredible year in which they have demonstrated numerous times that they are capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the best programs in the country. Four of the Friar’s five losses this season were to ranked teams and the biggest margin of defeat was a three-goal deficit that came at the hands of no. 3 ranked University of Connecticut. Otherwise, PC has been winning pretty handily and even beat University of Maine, ranked no. 24 at the time.
The Friars, however, are not the only team representing the Big East in the national rankings. They are joined by Old Dominion University, Liberty University, and UConn. All three schools are currently ahead of the Friars in the Big East conference rankings as well.
While the team has struggled a bit against ranked competition this season, they have been dominant against everyone else they have played, including two recent wins against Quinnipiac University in a shootout and Merrimack College.
The Friars beat Quinnipiac in thrilling fashion at home last Friday. A goal was scored in the first quarter by Mendez and assisted by Niamh Gowing ’22, putting the Friars up early. However, Quinnipiac would rattle off two straight goals in the second and fourth quarters putting them up one. That was when Parker scored off a penalty stroke, sending the game to overtime. Parker would also score the game winning goal in the shootout.
The Friars followed that up with another home rout of Merrimack. The Friars scored goals in every quarter, including a two-goal third quarter. Merrimack only managed to score one goal in the third. Sydney Cramer ’21 opened scoring for the Friars, followed by Babineau, Lisa McNamara ’23 and two by Olivia Ward ’21.
The wins pushed the Friars record to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big East. The Friars are also now 7-3 at home.
Next up for PC is a Big East matchup against Georgetown University at home this Friday. PC will look to not only better their conference record but also continue a three game win streak and stay ranked within the top 25.
Editor’s Corner: Friar 5K
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
Back on Oct. 5, Providence College held its 10th annual Friar 5K as part of Homecoming Weekend. The race may have been a commercial success with over 900 runners registered, more than 800 who finished the race, and $15,000 raised towards the National Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. For some runners though, the race did not go as planned.
A group of at least 30 runners who led for most of the race unintentionally went off the course in front of the Slavin Center, shaving off anywhere between a tenth to a quarter of a mile. For those who were looking to finish in the top three of their age group, their times would be disqualified; for others looking to set new personal records, their times were no longer reflective of their performance that day. The question that floated through everyone’s mind was simple: how did so many runners manage to get off the course?
For those who were not at the event, the runners were supposed to run up the street behind Raymond Dining Hall and take a left towards Moore Hall and back to Eaton Street. The runners instead stayed straight, ran towards the Science Complex and back out the front gates where they would get back onto the course before they crossed the finish line.
While the gaffe may not be a huge deal for casual runners, the fact of the matter is the course should have been marked better for those who were competing for the top spots. Organizers should have had people at the turn directing people where to go, simple as that.
It can be argued that the runners should have taken responsibility and known how to stay on the course, but that is not the first thing that runners are thinking about in the moment. Runners are focused on trying to keep pace around those near them or catch up with the leaders of the group.
It is the responsibility of those organizing the race to make sure the race goes smoothly. Not only does that mean giving out water to make sure runners stay hydrated, but it also means marking the course clearly at any turn or spot that could potentially lead runners the wrong way. If anyone does get off course, action should be taken quickly to get people back onto the course and prevent more from getting off track.
Many people came from all around the country to celebrate Homecoming Weekend and race with their fellow Friars. Plenty trained for the race, and it is unfair to those who may not have taken a look at the map beforehand to lose the opportunity to finish the way they hoped for just because time was not taken to prevent this from happening.
The Friar 5K should be an event that is celebrated as something that brings the community together and allows runners to get a chance to do their best with their families and classmates watching. In order to make sure that controversy can be avoided going forward, the College should take the necessary steps to make sure something like this does not happen again.
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
Volleyball Update:
The volleyball team welcomed two Big East rivals, Butler University and Xavier University this past weekend. After two weekends on the road, the Friars faced Xavier on their home court. After losing the first set, the Friars fought back to win the second set 25-21. The Musketeers finished strong and took the next two sets to win the match. A similar pattern unfolded on Sunday for their next match-up against Butler. Despite battling to win the second set, the Friars fell 4-1. Addison Root ’20 fought hard against her opponents, hitting her 1000th career kill along with her seventh double-double of the season.
Men’s Soccer Update:
The Friars defeated Marquette University, 2-0, on Oct. 12. Esben Wolf ’23 scored his first career goal. His performance led him to be named Big East Freshman of the Week. The Friars traveled to DePaul University on Oct. 19. Despite outshooting the Blue Demons 15-7, the Friars fell 2-0. On Oct. 23, the Friars were victorious in Big East match-up against Villanova University with a score of 2-0. The Friars will head back home to welcome yet another Big East matchup against Creighton University.
Women’s Soccer Update:
Women’s soccer has an impressive current 8-5-2 record overall, 3-2-1 in the Big East. After drawing a tie against rival DePaul, the Friars faced Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier had possession for most of the game, testing goalkeeper Shelby Hogan ’20RS 22 times. Xavier finessed two goals to finish the game on top of the Friars 2-0. Turning it around in the next match-up, PC came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Creighton 2-1. The Friars dominated the second half, starting from the back with Hogan all the way to the top with Hannah McNulty ’21 who scored both goals for the Friars.
Men’s Hockey Update:
The Friars ventured to Upstate New York for a weekend of hockey against St. Lawrence University and No. 10/9 Clarkson University. The Friars found the back of the net six different times in the first matchup against St. Lawrence. Parker Ford ’23 scored twice, while Patrick Moynihan ’23 got his first collegiate goal. The momentum continued into their second game against Clarkson, which ended in another victory for the Friars. Tyce Thompson ’22 scored twice for the Friars to make the score 2-1 before the end of the first period. Trailing the whole game, Clarkson made the score 3-2 in the third period, only for Ford to respond with a goal for the Friars. Providence left the weekend with two more wins as their season starts to pick up over the next couple of weeks.