Tag: Friar Sports
Men’s and Women’s Soccer Preview
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
Soccer Teams Look to Break through to Finals
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
Last fall, the Providence College Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams both made it to their respective Big East Tournaments. The men cruised in as the third seed while the women snuck in as the sixth seed. Unfortunately, both teams lost in the semifinals: men to second-seed Georgetown University and the women to Butler University, who was also the second-seed.
This year, both squads were predicted to finish third based on the Big East Coaches’ Poll. There will be a new face in net for the men as Colin Miller ’18RS, former Goalkeeper of the Year, graduated while Shelby Hogan ’20RS will once again return for the women.
Last season, the men started their season with a huge upset over No. 8 Southern Methodist University. The Friars pulled out the 2-1 win after playing two overtimes that ended in the 104th minute thanks to a game-winning goal by Alex DaCosta ’19. The Friars would go on to dominate their Big East schedule with a record of 6-2-1 that would be good enough for a tie for the second best record in the league.
Fast forward to this year, Austin Aviza ’20RS will be tasked with holding down the net for the Friars who return most of their core from the previous season. This will be Aviza’s first season at PC after transferring from the University of Connecticut in the spring. He began his college career at Syracuse University for two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2017. In 2018, he recorded a 1.03 Goals Against Average (GAA) while also achieving five shutouts.
With a strong defensive core returning, Head Coach Craig Stewart will switch the team’s formation from four guys on the back line to three, with the hope this will create more scoring opportunities for a team that has struggled to score. Ramzi Qawasmy ’22 will anchor the line after being named to the Big East All-Freshman Team last season.
With no true striker on the team, the Friars will have to take on a scoring by committee approach to find the back of the net. Last year, no Friars scored more than five goals and only three players scored three or more goals.
“The big key for us this year is finishing our opportunities in the offensive third of the field,” said student manager Graham Collopy ’21. “In our two scrimmages we have created multiple scoring chances, but haven’t always cashed in.”
Luckily, the team does return Tiago Mendonca ’19RS, last season’s top scorer, who was the only Friar named to the Preseason All-Big East Team this year. He will be tasked with leading the team on offense and improve on his five goals last season.
Georgetown and Creighton University are also expected to compete for the Big East title. The Hoyas and Blue Jays were predicted to finish first and second in the league respectively. Any win against Georgetown would be a boost for the Friars trying to make a bid for the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas are currently ranked 13th in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll.
The Friars will begin their season at home on Friday, August 30 against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
The women last year played a tough nonconference schedule that featured three Power-Five Conference schools. The Friars were nearly unbeatable at home, going 8-1-0.
This year, Head Coach Sam Lopes returns for his sixth season with the Friars. He has found incredible success at the College as he has gotten the team into the Big East Playoffs every year.
Hogan returns to Chapey Field for her third season with the Friars. Last season, she was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll five times. Her 0.77 GAA ranked third in the entire conference.
The team has already played two games in 2019, finding their record at 1-1-0 with a win over Connecticut in their season opener. Hogan has made a total of nine saves and allowed a goal in each game.
The offense will once again be strong as Hannah McNulty ’21 and Amber Birchwell ’21, the team’s top two goal scorers in 2018, return to the pitch hoping to bring the Friars to the championship. McNulty was named to the All-Big East Second Team after leading the Friars in goals and points.
There will also be a familiar face on the coaching staff this season. Former Friar Katie Day ’19 will join the staff as a graduate assistant. Day was named to the All-Big East Team twice during her career at PC.
Looking around the league, Georgetown and Butler will once again be poised to compete for the top of the standings.
The women are slated two teams ranked in the top 25 in the United Coaches Poll. Georgtown is once again ranked 13th and the University of Texas at Austin is placed at 24th.
With two solid cores set in place this fall, both soccer teams have the experience and talent to compete for the Big East Championship and bring a title back to Chapey Field.
Former Friars Ready to Go Pro
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
Six Players Sign Entry-Level Contracts
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Assistant Editor
The success of the Providence College hockey programs continued over the offseason as six former Friars signed professional hockey deals. Four of these came from former men’s squad members, as Josh Wilkins, Brandon Duhaime, Kasper Björkqvist, and Jacob Bryson who secured entry-level deals with National Hockey League clubs.
Two contracts went to former women’s team players Christina Putigna and Cassidy MacPherson; both reached terms to join teams in the National Women’s Hockey League.
Wilkins will make his way down to Tennessee, joining the Nashville Predators’ program on a two-year, entry-level contract. The silky-smooth forward is coming off an absolutely dominant year for the Friars, posting the best offensive season by a PC skater in over 15 seasons. Wilkins put up 46 points last season, good enough for ninth in the entire country, on 20 goals and 26 assists. He also owned the nation’s longest point streak last season, putting together a stretch of 13 straight games.
Duhaime agreed to his two-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild. The crafty forward joins a Minnesota program that selected him with the 106th pick of the 2016 NHL Draft. Duhaime had a strong final season in Friartown, tallying a career-high 34 points with 11 goals and 23 assists. As a result, he was named to the Team Hockey East All-Star Third team. He then proceeded to play a pivotal role in the Friars’ postseason run, tallying five points in PC’s three tournament games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will see Björkqvist join the organization, as he too agreed to a two-year, entry level deal. The forward finished his illustrious PC career with 36 total goals and 26 assists. Pittsburgh assistant general manager Bill Guerin had high praise when asked about the signee, saying, “Kasper was able to produce in big games throughout his college career… playing for an outstanding program in Providence allowed him to go far in the NCAA Tournament each season, so he received a lot of great experience.”
The 99th pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, Bryson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The sure-footed defenseman amassed an astonishing 73 points over his career at PC, recording 11 goals and 62 assists. In his final year with the Friars, Bryson dished out 24 assists on his way to Second Team Hockey East All-Star honors.
His dominance on the ice also translated over to the classroom, as the defenseman was a Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, an honor given to student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.40 grade point average though their first five semesters.
Putigna will be staying in New England, as she agreed to a contract with the Boston Pride. The Pride will be picking up a prolific scorer in Putigna, the star forward accumulated a whopping 110 points in her collegiate career. As a senior assistant captain last season, Putigna registered 15 goals and 15 assists while leading the Friars to the Hockey East semi-finals.
“It’s exciting and humbling to have this opportunity to sign with the Pride,” said Putigna. “It means a lot to me to get the chance to remain in New England and pursue my hockey career.”
The final Friar to sign, MacPherson, signed her deal with the Buffalo Beauts. The forward recorded 78 points in her college career, netting 25 goals and 53 assists.
Beauts head coach Pete Perram lauded MacPherson’s skill with the puck, saying “[MacPherson] is a smooth and speedy skater with exceptional hands.”
MacPherson expressed her excitement with her signing, saying, “It has been a dream of mine to play in the NWHL, and I’m looking forward to a great season ahead in Buffalo.”
New Faces Show Promise for Volleyball Team
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
After finishing the 2018 season with an overall record of 8-21 and a 2-16 record in Big East Conference play, the Providence College Women’s Volleyball Team will be looking to make improvements leading up to the 2019 season.
The team’s 2018 campaign ended on a particularly sour note when the Friars lost their last seven matches of the season. In addition to the team ending the season on a cold stretch, it also graduated four seniors: Megan Onyundo ’19, Allison Impellizeri ‘19, Kara Mason ’19, and Catherine Harding ’19. Being without these four key players certainly brings about numerous challenges for the Friars; however, changes to the coaching staff as well as numerous additions to the roster give reason to believe that this year’s team has a real chance to improve upon last season’s shortcomings.
On Mar. 18, women’s volleyball head coach Margot Royer-Johnson announced that Richard Gomes Jr. would join the staff as an assistant coach. Royer-Johnson had kind words to say about Gomes Jr. as well as how she expected him to contribute to the team.
Royer-Johnson stated, “Richie is a great new addition to the staff. He is a highly skilled and knowledgeable coach. His enthusiasm and passion for the sport is what drew our staff and team to him. We are excited to move forward with him, as we know his passion will not only make us better but also enrich our experience both on and off the court.”
Gomes’ previous head coaching experience provides even more reason to believe that he will be a valuable asset to the staff and the team. Prior to PC, Gomes served as the head coach for the Bridgewater State University Women’s Volleyball Team.
In addition to Gomes being named assistant coach, the 2019 team will also feature a strong freshman class consisting of seven players.
Two players from this class signed their National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play at PC back in November. Emma Nelson ’23 is one such player. Listed at 6’1”, she is an outside hitter who Royer-Johnson described as a “strong all-around player.” The other player from this class who signed her NLI in 2018 is Sasha Rudich ’23, a middle blocker who captained her high school team.
Alongside Nelson and Rudich, the Friars are also welcoming Brielle Mullally ’23, a setter who was named to the 2018 Silver Medal Far Western Qualifier (17 Open) and won the CIFSS Division I Championship, Queen’s Court Championship, and Dave Mohs Championship with her high school.
On Mullally, Royer-Johnson said that she is a “super skilled setter” with defensive and hitting skills that will “make her an all-around threat.”
Mullally is joined by club teammate Jennifer Leitman ’23. According to Royer-Johnson, she has “great chemistry with Brielle” and “brings a great offensive threat…from both the front and back row out of the outside position.”
With a number of quality returning players, the addition of Richard Gomes Jr. as assistant coach, and a strong incoming freshman class, the Providence College Women’s Volleyball team looks ready to have a highly successful 2019 campaign.
Which Fall Sports Team Will Have The Best Season?
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
Field Hockey
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
A week before their season kicks off, the Providence College Field Hockey Team is already proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
In the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the team was picked to finish third overall in the Big East. On top of that, players Corinne Kenney ’19RS and Mary O’Reilly ’20 were selected to be a part of the 14-player Preseason All-Big East Team, a team put together by the eight league coaches which features standout players from each of the Big East teams.
Kenney, who started as a defender in all 19 games of the Friars’ 11-8 2018 season, finished out her senior year with a career high of five assists. She was also named to the All-Big East First Team and National Field Hockey Coaches Association Divisions I All-Northeast Region First Team and earned a spot in the Victory Sports Tours/NFHCA Senior Game.
Alongside Kenney, O’Reilly also started in all 19 games. The mid-fielder registered a career best of 10 points last season and was voted to join the roster of the Big East Field Hockey All-Tournament Team, the All-Big East, and NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region Second Teams.
On top of having Kenney and O’Reilly returning to their roster, the field hockey team will be able to rely on many of their veteran players this upcoming season, with 14 returning players on the roster. Five players were recognized as All-Big East First or Second Team members, something that Allyson Parker ’20 claims is “crucial” to the team’s predicted success this season.
However, while a veteran roster will definitely help lead the team to a strong, standout season, Parker believes that the players’ overall determination will be the one thing that will set them apart from others in the Big East.
The Friars are using last season’s Big East semifinal knockout by Liberty University to fuel their desire to have a winning season this year. The Friars have not surpassed the semifinals in Big East Tournament play the past two seasons and did not even make the tournament during their 2016 run.
“We are sick of getting to the same place every year. We want to win the ring this year,” said Parker, who led the team in goals and game-winning goals last season.
With both a highly accomplished veteran roster and the determination to make it past the semifinal round of Big East play, the Providence College Field Hockey Team is poised to complete the best fall season on campus this year.
Which Fall Sports Team Will Have The Best Season?
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Sports
Women’s Soccer
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
Under the helm of sixth year head coach Sam Lopes, the Providence College Women’s Soccer Team has enjoyed profound success, which is why they will document the best record this fall season.
The Friars finished last season with an 11-6-3 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in Big East play. They started the year with a 3-0 record for the first time since the 2015 season and did not allow a single goal the opening 310 minutes of play.
The Friars have reached Big East postseason play every single season since Lopes has taken over the program. It is this consistency that will work in the team’s favor down the road. With plenty of players with postseason experience returning to the field, the Friars will be poised to make a deep playoff run.
The Friars bring back a lot of talent, including 88 percent of their scoring from last year. This includes Hannah McNulty ’21 who was tied for third in the Big East with 10 goals last season, and Amber Birchwell ’21, who scored six goals of her own.
Shelby Hogan’21RS returns in net for the Friars looking to follow up a record season where she tied the program record with ten shutouts and was the 12th in the country. She was awarded All-Big East First Team, Big East All-Tournament Team, and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Third Team.
The Big East is never easy to win in any sport, but this is especially true for women’s soccer. With the likes of the Georgetown University Hoyas, who are projected to win the Big East once again, and the Butler University Bulldogs leading the charge, the Friars are projected for a third place finish according to the Big East coaches’ poll.
The Friars have already begun their regular season schedule with a 2-1 victory over rival University of Connecticut Huskies before falling to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Minuteman 1-0. The Friars are back in action on Thursday, Aug. 29 as they take on the University of Hartford.
Saying Goodbye to Friartown
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
Hockey and Basketball Players Sign Pro-Contracts
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
There will be noticeable absences on the rosters of both the men’s basketball and hockey teams next year. Asides from the six graduating seniors on the hockey team and two seniors on the basketball team, hockey players Josh Wilkins ’20, Brandon Duhaime ’20, Jacob Bryson ’20, and Jay O’Brien ’22 alongside basketball player Alpha Diallo ’20 have all decided to pursue a professional career in their respective sports.
Bryson was the first player to announce his decision to cut ties with his college eligibility when, on April 15 he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Having completed three full seasons with the Friars, the tri-captain of the hockey team recently earned Second Team Hockey East All-Star honors after a successful junior season that consisted of four goals and 24 assists (28 points total) in 42 games.
A 2017 fourth round draft pick (99th overall), Bryson has completed 121 games total with the Friars and notched 73 points during that time. He also was a two-time recipient of Hockey East’s Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award.
In place of completing both his junior and senior years at Providence College, Bryson will compete at an amateur tryout with AHL Rochester before his contract kicks in at the start of the 2019-2020 season.
Duhaime, like Bryson, also finalized an entry-level contract that will conclude his college eligibility. The fourth round, 106th overall 2016 draft pick was selected by the Minnesota Wild and will be playing for their AHL team, the Iowa Wild, on an Amateur Tryout Agreement. He dressed in 117 games as a Friar and during the course of three years, he totaled 22 goals, 50 assists, and a plus-18 rating.
Along with the April 16 announcement that he would not be continuing his career as a Friar, Duhaime made sure to thank the entire PC community, especially his coaches and teammates, for an “incredible” three years saying, “The memories made at Providence College were some that I will never forget.”
The last Friar who has decided to pursue a professional career is Josh Wilkins ’20, who signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.
“Been a crazy few days but I’m excited to sign my first NHL contract,” he announced on social media. “Thank you Friars hockey for an incredible three years.”
Wilkins posted 46 points (20 goals and 26 assists) this past season; this is the best offensive season a Friar has had in over 15 seasons. He is not just the only 20-goal scorer since 2002-2003, but Wilkins is also the 54th hockey player to reach the 100-point milestone (he totaled 108 points over the course of three seasons).
And finally, rounding out the members of the hockey team who will not be returning next year is O’Brien. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect has decided to leave the College after what he described as a “tough” year in terms of injuries and playing style. Wanting to “play more games” and “have fun playing hockey again,” O’Brien commented that he will be looking to play in either the United States Hockey League, the Canadian major junior level, or the British Columbia Hockey League to “get back on track.”
It may be the end of their career as Friars for Bryson, Duhaime, Wilkins, and O’Brien, but for basketball player Diallo, coming back for his senior season will still be an option if things do not pan out the way that he wants in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Diallo announced on April 16 that he will submit an application to be an early entrant, which means that he will have the opportunity to withdraw his name by May 29 and come back to PC for his senior year.
In an official statement announcing his intentions, Diallo said, “I am excited to go through the workout process. I believe this process will help me grow as a player. I enjoy being at Providence College and playing for the Friars. The Friars have a strong group of players returning next season, and I believe the team could compete for a conference championship.”
Named to the Second Team All-Big East, Diallo put up 1,155 career points in 99 games with the College; he ranks 33rd all-time in scoring for the College.
Head Coach Ed Cooley commented on Diallo’s decision saying that “this process will enable him to gain knowledge and experience about the potential for his future in professional basketball.”
With the exception of O’Brien, all four players will be joining a group of very successful Friars in the big leagues. Most noticeably, for hockey, is former Friar Noel Acciari ’15, who is currently playing with the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a key part of their third line. A member of the 2015 National Championship Team, the style of play that Acciari developed at PC is what makes his NHL career so successful today.
According to Head Coach Nate Leaman, “[Acciari] takes the puck to the net hard, stays on the rebound and scores. That’s Friar hockey. That’s why Noelly’s out there.”
And while Acciari may be the most notable recent PC alum in the NHL, Bryson, Duhaime, and Wilkins can also be added to a list that contains some NHL greats such as Hal Gill, Fernando Pisani, and Chris Therien.
In Diallo’s case, should he chose to keep his name entered in the draft, he will be joining a long list of former Friar players who have gone pro, as well as current pro-player Kris Dunn, who graduated in 2016 and is now playing with the Chicago Bulls after being picked fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dunn most notably scored a season-high 26 points—eight of which were in overtime—and had 13 assists in a 126-120 overtime win against the Washington Wizards on March 20.
On the former basketball player, PC Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said, “He plays both ends of the court at an elite level all the time. Usually people are good at one or two things. He can rebound, he can pass.” All of which are skills that he was able to develop and grow during his four years at PC.
In addition to former Friars making it big in both the NHL and NBA, PC can also boast that their athletes from all sports are having great success in their professional careers. Tate Boyce ’19 just signed with the Boston Cannons after they drafted him in the first ever Premier Lacrosse League Collegiate Draft. Also, former cross-country and track runner, Emily Sisson ’14 just became the sixth-fastest American in history on a record eligible course after finishing the London Marathon with a time of 2:23:08.
PC has a legacy of producing top-notch athletes who go on to have great careers in their chosen sport and while Wilkins, Duhaime, Bryson, and Diallo are only just taking the first steps to further their professional career, the College most certainly wishes them the best as they set out to make a name for themselves outside of a college setting.
PC Softball Still on the Hunt
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
Breakout Season Gives Friars Postseason Hopes
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
As we take a look back on this year, it is hard not to talk about the Providence College Softball Team. The season started off with a doubleheader in the Sunshine State, the Friars faced University of Massachusetts-Lowell and Georgia Institute of Technology in the River City Leadoff Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. While the rest of the school was in the middle of winter, the Lady Friars were warming up for an impressive season.
PC played their next tournament the following weekend and faced teams such as St. Joseph’s University, University of Kansas, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Although the team did not leave Florida with a winning record, the team was finding their rhythm and working through the kinks. The next team trip came at the beginning of March during the College’s spring break.
Allison Abbatiello ’19, one of the seven seniors on the team, says her favorite team memory was when the girls went to a Yankees Spring Training game. She said that even though “there were only about five or six of us who are diehard Yankee fans, the game was a really special experience.” The team spent their spring break bonding and with the new coaching staff, there were a lot of new relationships that needed to be built.
Jill Karwoski was named the head coach of the Friar’s softball team at the beginning of this year. With past experience as an assistant coach for the Friars in 2013, Karwoski was welcomed with open arms along with Assistant Coach Bree Nasti.
Abbatiello is just one of the many seniors on the team who have helped with the transition of leadership. “Although there was an unexpected adjustment to our program, I remained calm and became supportive of my teammates and new coaches.”
The team chemistry was evident in their performance during the week in Florida, when they won four out of the five games. The College won close match-ups against Furman University, Central Michigan University, United State Military Academy, and Saint Francis University.
The momentum was not stopped with the change in weather, back in New England the Friars were continuing to play well against top teams like Boston College. Daniela Alvarez ’22, pitched her seventh complete game of the season and her third shutout.
Competition is always amped up a level when it is time to play the Big East teams. St. John’s University won two out of the three game series, however, the 10-6 victory for Friars was promising for their future.
The team went on to sweep two strong Big East teams, Creighton University, and Butler University. Their most recent win was extra special for Abbatiello because in the midst of a close game, she reached a milestone she has been working towards her whole career at Providence College.
On senior day nonetheless, Abbatiello made perfect contact with the ball and sent it over the fence for a three-run home run. Vanessa Portillo ’19 followed fellow senior Abbatiello’s lead and expanded the lead for the Friars to 4-0 after she hit a home run as well.
“During my last home game of my collegiate career, I hit my first home run which was shortly followed by another home run from Vanessa Portillo. It was so exciting and a great way to conclude the seniors’ final game in Friartown.”
Although there will be no more home games for the Friars, their season is all but over. Make sure to follow along as the team plays University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Georgetown University, and hopefully gets a chance to compete in the Big East championship.
Men’s Lacrosse Wins Regular Season Finale
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
Friars Earn Three-Seed for Big East
By Gavin Woods ’22
Sports Staff
Thanks to a 9-8 overtime win over Villanova University last Saturday at Chapey Field, the Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team is heading to the Big East tournament. Following two tough losses to University of Denver and Brown University, respectively, the Friars bounced back in a big way to become the third seed in the Big East standings. PC will now look forward to their first game of the Big East tournament against Georgetown University.
The name of Saturday’s game was offense. The first goal came less than five minutes into the opening quarter from Villanova. However, the Friars responded with two consecutive goals from Duncan McGinnis ‘19 and Evan McGreen ‘21 at 7:35 and 5:32, respectively. The Friars held their lead until 1:23 left in the quarter when Villanova’s Corey McManus scored an emphatic goal to tie the game at two goals apiece, assisted by Keegan Kahn. The Wildcats won the following faceoff, giving them just over a minute to attempt another goal. McManus fired Villanova’s last shot in the quarter, which was saved by PC keeper, Tate Boyce ‘19. With 14 seconds left on the clock, the Friars had one last chance to clear the ball to the Wildcats’ territory. Following the successful clear, the PC offense worked the ball around until McGreen was able to find David Procopio ‘19 for the buzzer-beater goal.
The Friars continued trading goals with the Wildcats throughout the second and third quarters, until Villanova extended their lead to two goals with 12:51 left in the fourth quarter. This began an eight-minute stalemate between the two teams.
With only 4:46 left in the game, it began to look bleak for the Friars until Dan Axelson ‘20 delivered a much needed, unassisted goal to reduce the deficit to one goal. Despite losing the following faceoff, PC was playing with all the momentum. Boyce produced a game-saving stop to give the Friars another chance. After successfully clearing the ball to the opposing side, PC’s Tim Hinrichs ‘21 hoped to tie the game with a side-arm shot that narrowly missed, hitting the crossbar.
Following this possession, Villanova recovered the ball and began an attempt to run out the clock. Yet another save from Boyce gave the Friars another chance at redemption.
After turning the ball over once again, a Villanova defender launched the ball to the opposing side with ten seconds remaining in the game. Miraculously, Boyce recovered the ball and sent it to the Villanova side, where the Friars recovered. In the dying seconds of the game, McGreen was able to feed Nick Hatzipetrakos ’19 for a diving goal to force overtime. This goal added tremendously to the Friars’ confidence which enabled Colin Keating ‘19 to score the game-winning unassisted goal just five seconds into OT.
This pivotal conference win gave PC a regular season record of 7-8, 3-2 within the Big East. This win was essential, as it secured their position to play Georgetown instead of the number one seed, Denver. Nonetheless, Georgetown will prove to be a true test for the Friars as the Bulldogs won the previous regular season matchup in a 15-17 shootout. Georgetown boasts an impressive regular season record of 11-4; however, they share the same conference record of 3-2 with PC.
Track and Field Head to Big East
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams produced some magnificent results last week while participating in two meets. On Thursday, the teams traveled to the University of Pennsylvania to take part in the 125th running of the Penn Relays. The Relays are touted as the world’s first and most widely recognized annual relay event, each year bringing in crowds of up to 100,000 people. Top athletes from around the country and around the world compete in the event that pre-dates even the NCAA.
The highlight of the meet for the Friars was undoubtedly the performance of Brianna Ilarda ’19RS. Competing in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase, Ilarda jumped out to an early lead and simply refused to relinquish her top spot. With five laps to go, the redshirt senior pulled away even further, leaving her competition struggling to keep pace as she cruised to a record setting victory. Indeed, Ilarda’s time of 9:55.43 was not only a personal best, but also a Penn Relays record, as she surpassed the previous time by over a second. This was Ilarda’s third win in the event in the last four years.
Ilarda was not the only PC representative to impress on Thursday, as three other Friars finished in the top 15 in their respective events. In the women’s 5,000 meters, Abbey Wheeler ’20 and Regan Rome GR each ran fantastic races, proving they belonged alongside the top competition in the country. Wheeler and Rome ran most of the race in the lead pack, and as the race went on, both were part of the top five that began to pull away from the other runners.
Eventually, with one mile left, Wheeler and two other runners again pulled away and Wheeler was able to obtain sole possession of the lead. The three would remain neck and neck in the last mile, and Wheeler would end up finishing third with a remarkable time of 16:07.01, just seconds off the pace of the first-place finisher. Rome, too, would post a tremendous time of 16:33.97, good enough for the eighth overall spot in a race that consisted of 63 top-notch participants. In the past, Wheeler’s time has qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round, producing optimism that she’ll be able to represent the Friars on the biggest stage.
Running in the top heat of the men’s 5,000 meters, Marcelo Rocha ’21 finished 13th in a race that a whopping 102 participants competed in. Rocha ran a very steady event, and his impressive time of 14:17.19 was only a mere 15 seconds behind the winner. The time was also a personal record for Rocha, who has been a pivotal part of the men’s squad all year long.
Returning home to Providence, the Friars made a quick journey over to Brown University, where they competed in the Brown Springtime Invitational against several local institutions such as the University of Rhode Island, Northeastern University, and the University of Connecticut. Some notable results on the men’s side, include Jack Carleo ’21 taking home the top prize in the 800 meters with a time of 1.53.03 and Angus White ’21 finishing just a tenth of a second behind the winner of the 1,500 meters. Over on the women’s side Emma Fink ’22 placed second in the high jump with a mark of 1.55 meters while Megan Stenberg ’21 also secured a second-place finish in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.76.
The Friars will now enjoy a well-deserved week off before turning their sights to the Big East Championships, set to take place on May 10 and 11 at Icahn Stadium in New York City.
Club Golf Competes at National Tournament
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
To say that the Providence College club golf team has had a successful year would be an understatement. The team plays tournaments in both the fall and spring, and has consistently performed well as a group year-round.
The team asserted its presence right off the bat in the very first tournament. Towards the beginning of September 2018, the Friars participated in the NCAA Division III Bowdoin Invitational. In a field of 12 teams, the Friars placed at an impressive second place. In the first round of the tournament, the team shot a collective 309, with Rio Holzwarth ’22 leading the team with a low round of 76. The Friars had even more success in the second round, shooting 297 as a team, the lowest round for any team in the entire tournament. Captain Matt Carlson ’20 led the Friars with a 71, leading him to earn the #2 overall spot in the 62-player field.
The Bowdoin Invitational was far from the only highlight of the team’s fall season. Later in September, the team traveled to Agawam, Massachusetts to participate in the NCCGA New England Regional. The Friars brought both its “A” and “B” teams to the tournament and both performed exceptionally. The A team could not have performed much better, collectively shooting 748 over the course of two rounds, and beating second place University of Connecticut by 20 shots.
The Friars’ A team was led by Holzwarth who shot a 73 and 72 for a combined 145, good enough to earn the honor of being named medalist. The Friars’ B team also played well as a whole, scoring 782 over the course of two days, earning them the third-place spot. The low scorer for the B team was Alex Whitmore ’20, who shot a 75 and an 81 for a combined score of 156. The team’s performance at the New England Regional earned them the #5 spot in the NCCGA nationwide rankings.
The team’s quality golf carried over into the 2019 spring season as well. On April 7, the Friars shot a combined 755 over two rounds to win the spring New England Regional tournament and qualify for the National Championship. Leading the team was Ian Axford ’20, who shot two impressive rounds of 76 and 75 for an overall score of 151, earning him the title of medalist for the regional.
The National Championship took place at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at Purdue University in Indiana. The tournament took place on April 27 and April 28, and the Friars placed third as a team in the entire nation. This top three finish in the tournament was a perfect finish for the team’s very successful season. When asked about how the team maintained its success throughout the year, Carlson said, “By having fun and constantly competing against each other and by holding everyone accountable.”
This mentality clearly paid off for the team as it had lots of success over the course of the year, winning multiple tournaments and consistently shooting well.