Tag: Friar Sports
Sports Shorts
by Dorothée Durivage ’28 on September 25, 2025
Sports
Women’s Soccer
The Providence College women’s soccer team took on the Brown University Bears on Wednesday, Sept. 17. This match, which was played at home, resulted in a 4–0 loss for the Friars, bringing their record for the season to 3–2–1. Midfielder Colleen Casey ’26 led the Friars on the attack with two shots on goal, bringing her season total to eight. While four goals were let in, Ellie Thallman ’G26 also made four saves. The Friars will kick off their Big East season on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at St. John’s University.
Volleyball
The Providence College volleyball team played three games this weekend at the Pelican Invitational. The Friars started their weekend off strong with a 3–0 win against Alabama State on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 19 at Tulane University. That night, they played another game against Tulane, which the Friars lost 3–1. The Pelican Invitational wrapped up for the Friars on Saturday at New Orleans University where they won 3–1. After the past three games, Providence College volleyball’s record stands at 9–4. Big East play starts next weekend against Marquette and DePaul on the road.
Men’s Soccer
The Providence College men’s soccer team traveled to Seton Hall University for their Big East conference opener on Friday, Sept. 19. The Friars lost the match 2–0 which brings their record to 2–5–0 for the season and to 0–1–0 for the Big East. With five shots on goal, Bruno Rosa ’26 led the Friars on Friday, contributing to all but one of the scoring attempts for the team. Ryan Carney ’29, Providence’s goalkeeper, recorded three saves. The Friars are set to be on the road to head off against Brown University on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Field Hockey
The Providence College field hockey team took on Old Dominion University on Friday, Sept. 19 for their Big East opener. The Friars lost the game 2–0 which brought their record to 4–2 so far this season and 0–1 in the Big East. Providence outshot the Old Dominion Monarchs in the first quarter with two shots on goal, but the Monarchs had leveled the playing field by halftime, bringing the shots to 3–3. Ari Ftorek ’29 had two shots on goal for the games, leading Providence College for the match. The Friars’ next match is at home on Sept. 21 against American University.
Meet the Friars’ New Electrifying Backcourt Duo
by Connor Whalen ‘28 on September 18, 2025
Sports
After losing last season’s starting guards Bensley Joseph ’25 and Jayden Pierre to graduation and the transfer portal, head coach Kim English and his staff faced a desperate need to fill the glaring void at the guard position during the offseason. They answered that call, filling the positions with the most exciting transfer portal acquisitions coming to Friartown this season: Jason Edwards ’26G from Vanderbilt and Jaylin Sellers ’26G from the University of Central Florida. Both of these players are gifted scorers and high-intensity players, giving Friars fans good reason to be excited about watching them on the court together this season.
Edwards is a 6’1” guard that possesses a flashy handle on the ball, providing the Friars with a dynamic scoring threat. He began his collegiate career playing at a junior college before excelling in his sophomore season at the University of North Texas, earning him a huge opportunity to play SEC basketball at Vanderbilt. During his sole season with the Commodores, Edwards averaged 17.0 points per game, shot 35.3 percent from three-point range, and led his team to an NCAA Tournament appearance as a 10 seed. Friars fans can expect a fearless, skilled scorer, able to shoot off the dribble at an impressive clip and attack the rim. Edwards also thrives scoring as a pick and roll ball-handler, and center Oswin Erhunmwunse’s ’27 standout ability to catch lobs after coming off screens could make the pick and roll duo a major offensive threat. A critique of Edwards’ game at Vanderbilt was aimed at his decision-making and shot selection, sometimes electing to take contested shots, and posting more turnovers per game than assists (1.6 and 1.3, respectively). Look for Edwards to be more selfless this year: the Friars are equipped with more scorers and perimeter shooters that should be able to take some of the weight off his shoulders and give him passing outlets.
Edwards’ backcourt counterpart, Sellers, is a 6’5” guard out of University of Central Florida. Friars fans hope Sellers can return to the form he showed before he missed virtually his entire senior year due to a back injury. With great size and eye-catching athleticism, the Friars are getting a plus defender in Sellers. His striking vertical allows him to finish at the rim effectively and lay down highlight dunks, making him a defensive nightmare in transition. One glaring flaw in Sellers’ game was his inability to shoot from three efficiently, posting only a 29.7 three point percentage in his junior year at UCF. Sellers almost seemed hesitant to shoot from deep as the season progressed and struggled mightily on his attempts off the dribble. Off the catch, however, Sellers was markedly more efficient. He also shot 44.4 percent and 45 percent in his freshman and sophomore years at Ball State and UCF, respectively. Friars fans can hope Coach English’s offensive sets use Sellers in a manner more suitable to his skillset, giving him open catch-and-shoot looks from behind the arc and forcing him to attack the rim more.
Edwards’ and Sellers’ potential as a backcourt duo is cause for genuine excitement in Providence. Last year’s team lacked a true number one scoring threat—there was no go-to, aggressive, creative scorer to count on in clutch situations. Edwards has every capability to fill that role for the Friars this season. Sellers could even rival Edwards as that number one option should he reach his ceiling and improve his shooting efficiency, but at a minimum should give this team a legitimate secondary option. Friartown: can these two lead this team back to the Big Dance?
Sport Shorts 9/18
by Sarah Wolff ’28 on September 18, 2025
Sports
Women’s Cross Country:
The Providence College women’s cross country team kicked off its 2025 season with a strong performance at the Friar Invitational on Sept. 5, placing first overall with a total of 20 points. Boston University followed the Friars with 46 points, and Dartmouth College rounded off the top three with 81 points. The team is currently ranked No. 7 nationally in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll, which is important to establish their competitiveness and excellence in the sport. Coming up next for the Friars are several upcoming meets, including the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Oct. 3 and the New England Championship on Oct. 10.
Men’s Cross Country:
The Providence College men’s cross country team also opened its 2025 season at the Friar Invitational on Sept. 5. The team finished No. 5 overall with 80 points, trailing Boston University, University of Rhode Island, Dartmouth College, and Brown University. Cormac Dixon ’28 led the Friars with an eighth-place finish in the 6K race, finishing with a time of 18:42.58. Additional top-15 finishes came from Ryan LoCicero ’28 (12th, 18:47.97) and Daniel Prescott ’28 (13th, 18:49.94). The team is ranked No. 8 in the Northeast Region in the USTFCCCA preseason poll. The men’s team will also be competing in Chicago on Oct. 3 and in New Hampshire on Oct. 10.
Volleyball:
The Providence College women’s volleyball team has had a very impressive start to the 2025 season, with a 7–3 overall record as of Sept. 13. They began the season with a 3–0 win over East Texas A&M Commerce, followed by a close 3–2 loss to University of Arkansas at Little Rock and another loss to North Texas University, ending 3-1. However, the team rebounded with a 3–0 win over University of Rhode Island, a 3–0 win over Brown University, but fell again with a 3–2 loss to Bryant University. They then had three consecutive sweeps against University of New Haven, Central Connecticut State University, and Merrimack College. Hopefully, they can carry this momentum into the Big East, as they begin conference play on Sept. 26 after the Tulane Tournament this upcoming weekend.
Women’s Soccer:
The Providence College women’s soccer team has also had a notable start to the 2025 season, with a winning overall record of 3–1–1. They opened with a 1–0 win at home against Army University on Aug. 14, followed by a 2–1 win at Northeastern University on Aug. 24. After a 0–2 loss at the University of Rhode Island on Aug. 30, the Friars bounced back with a 1–0 home win over Sacred Heart University on Sept. 3. Their most recent match on the 11th was a 0–0 draw against Cornell University. Next up for the Friars is on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. as they are set to host Brown University at Chapey Field.
Friars Basketball: A Fan’s Perspective
by Brendan Maguire ’25 on November 18, 2024
Sports
Providence College men’s basketball has returned to the AMP, formerly known as “The Dunk,” giving its undyingly loyal fan base much to consider regarding the success of the Friars this season. Kim English is entering his second year as head coach and has strung together a pretty good resume—21–14 in the 2023–24 season as part of a competitive Big East conference. The Friars had a successful yet tumultuous time last season. Although a star was born in Devin Carter, formerly a class of 2025 student, drafted 13th overall by the Sacramento Kings, Bryce Hopkins ’25 suffered a season-ending injury and was the team’s centerpiece on and off the floor. Through two games, with virtually a new roster, English has much work to do gluing the team together and getting the players to understand their roles on the offensive and defensive of the ball.
The Friars were victorious against the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils on Nov. 4, scoring 59–55. Bensley Joseph ’25 led the team in scoring with 21 points, and earned most of them off his impressive three-point shooting down the stretch, going 5–10 from behind the arc. Besides the success of Joseph’s shot-making abilities in the clutch, the game was a frustrating, confusing lapse of schematic basketball by the Friars. The team seemed out of touch with one another on the offensive side and struggled to contain the Blue Devils defensively. The Friars entered the second half down 26–24 and outscored CCSU 35–29 in the following half, propelling them to a mere four-point win. The outstanding issue throughout the game was the sloppy play on offense, as unnecessary turnovers crumbled the team. The Friars left the game with 16 turnovers, nine more than their opponent, and the Blue Devils capitalized, scratching 14 points on the board from those mistakes. Christ Essandoko ’26 assisted the team with seven points and seven rebounds but was inefficient in handling the ball, finishing with five turnovers. The center position for Providence has been an ever-changing role of the team, from Nate Watson ’21 GS in the 2021–22 season, Ed Croswell ’23 the following year, and Josh Oduro ’23 GS this past season. English acquired Essandoko in the transfer portal this offseason, Anton Bonke ’27 last season, and landed five-star recruit Oswin Erhunmwunse ’28. The center helps alleviate a lot of pressure off the guards in the offense English runs, which has plays that consist of constant pick and rolls affording Jayden Pierre ’26 or Joseph an open look at the rim or kick-out to an open man. This has been the bread and butter of Friars basketball for the last couple of seasons, and the centers stepping up and understanding their role of posting up their man, setting picks, and feverishly crashing the glass would enormously impact the number of victories this season. However, the Friars’ lackluster performance is not all the No. 5 position on the court, as the backcourt offense was not the best from behind the arc—8–32, 25 percent, from three. The three-ball not falling and the shots attempted had a tremendous effect on the tightness of this game. The offense was earning open looks, from clean off-ball movement and second-chance opportunities, but could not see the ball through the netting. English’s quote summed up the general emotions, and hopefulness of the Friar Faithful: “Happy we got the victory but we have a lot of work to do.” Providence hosted another game on Nov. 9 and easily triumphed over the Stonehill Skyhawks—the final score was 76–49. The Friars had a far better showing and improved in every major statistical category—better field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and rebounding. Jabri Abdur-Rahim ’24 GS led the team with 16 points, six rebounds, and shot 3–5 from three. The scoring was evenly dispersed throughout the team and was a great bounceback game from the narrow-margin win over CCSU. Providence shot 50 percent from the field as a team, a great improvement from 37.7 percent in the previous game, and overall played as a better, more cohesive unit. Coach English went into the games with an agro-coaching style with rapid rotations and trying different lineups—11 players were in the game for 10+ minutes. The matchup versus the Skyhawks was a lopsided one.This could be attributed to the rapid substitutions, but English was also making accelerated changes on the floor early. At one point in the first half after a turnover by Essandoko, English immediately looked to the bench and checked in Bonke. Although the coaching style is aggressive at points, it sets a precedent for English’s steep aspirations and dynamic approach for this team. The fast-paced subbing could hold a “pressure makes diamonds” effect on the players as the season progresses because of the high standard expected of them in such a competitive conference—there is not much room for error. The progression on and off the court matters most for English and this program: “We showed improvement tonight…I’m glad we got the victory. We’ll get back to work tomorrow to prepare for Tuesday,” English stated after the win. The culture of soaring above all expectations and becoming a better team played an enormous role in last year’s success through uncertainty, after Hopkins’ injury, and hopefully will remain prominent this season. The Friars were able to escape another non conference scare Tuesday, Nov. 12, with a nine point victory (60–51) over the Hampton Pirates.
Bob Driscoll to Retire as Athletic Director
by npatano on February 10, 2022
Sports - Friar Sports
Steve Napolillo Next in Line
Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
It is the end of an era at Providence College: longtime athletic director Bob Driscoll has announced his retirement in the coming months. Driscoll’s tenure in Friartown certainly had its ups-and-downs and was defined by change. At the end of Driscoll’s role in leadership at PC, the athletic programs are noticeably improved and better off. His work will have everlasting effects on the athletic program at Providence College.
Driscoll was hired back in 2002. At the time, Driscoll was working at the University of California-Berkeley with the dream of one day being an athletic director. He interviewed for the position at UC Berkeley and did not get it. During his retirement announcement press conference, Driscoll told the story about how he ended up as a Friar after not being offered the position at Berkeley. He had heard that the position was open at Providence College, and he begged the headhunter to get him an interview. He ultimately got the job and established a staff that shared the vision of wanting to make the PC Athletics Department one of the best in the country.
Early on in his tenure as A.D., Driscoll made mistakes. He said he was inheriting a college with athletic facilities the quality of a “bad high school.” The “big time” programs of the school: basketball and ice hockey, were struggling and not winning to the extent that is now expected of them. As one of his first head coaching hires, Driscoll hired Tim Army to be the head coach of the men’s ice hockey team. Army had a long and extensive resume prior to being hired as a head coach for the Friars, which included time spent as an assistant coach with at PC in the 1980s. After leaving Friartown the first time, Army would have experience coaching at the NHL and AHL level, including a three-year stint as head coach of the Portland Pirates in the AHL. Army was hired in 2005 and only lasted six seasons with the Friars, with his highest single-season winning percentage being 0.514 his first season. After that, Army never posted a single-season winning percentage over 0.500. Another bad hire was Keno Davis, who was hired in 2008. Davis was out of town by 2011. Davis was hired after being named the College Basketball Coach of the Year by the Associated Press because of his success as head coach of the men’s basketball program at Drake University. Davis went 46-50 during his few seasons in Friartown. When asked about these hires during his retirement press conference, Driscoll said, “Those weren’t bad hires. They were good coaches; it just didn’t work out here.”
The failures of both Tim Army and Keno Davis may have been enough to get Driscoll fired at other schools, but then-president of the College, Rev. Brian Shanley O.P., kept faith in Driscoll. His next two hires, Ed Cooley and Nate Leaman, turned out to be home runs. Cooley brought the men’s basketball program back to the NCAA tournament and currently has the Friars at No. 11 in the nation. Leaman has two Frozen Four appearances under his belt, including one national championship in 2015 with the men’s ice hockey team. That championship was the first by a men’s team in the College’s history. During his press conference, Driscoll mentioned how Friartown has been turned into a destination job no one wants to leave. Driscoll affirmed: “I promise you: Ed had the University of Michigan job. I was there. We sat down and talked about it. He wanted to stay here.” He also said, “He can go anywhere in the country and chose to stay here.”
Driscoll has had several other impacts outside of his coaching hires. Driscoll was responsible for the underground parking garage with tennis courts on top, an idea he said he got from similar structures at Berkeley. He also rebuilt the soccer field and, in the process, relocated the softball field. He has upgraded the fundraising program to provide the different teams here with the amenities top Division 1 programs enjoy, such as the world-class Ruane Friar Development Center and renovations to Schneider Arena. Of course, Driscoll helped lead the Friars through the creation of the new Big East and aided in the building of the conference as it is today.
Driscoll has said he is retiring not only because it feels right but because he cannot provide the longevity that new president Rev. Kenneth Sicard O.P. will need it from him. He also wants to spend more time with his wife. “She has given so much of her energy to me and now it’s time I give all my energy to her,” said Driscoll. He also noted his competitive spirit and drive, things he picked up playing hockey at Ithaca College, and a desire to build a program and coach young men as the reasons he wanted to be an A.D. Driscoll noted how he had had “life coaches” his whole life, and all he has ever wanted to do was coach and teach other people.
In his press conference, Driscoll thanked his “teammates,” identifying them as the reasons for his success. He hinted at an internal hiring when he said, “When you have a successful organization, you want to hire the team members that have been already working to make it so successful.” A few days later, Steve Napolillo was announced as the new A.D. Napolillo was one of Driscoll’s first hires and has worked closely with him for quite some time. He is equipped to take over as he has a list of uncompleted plans of Driscoll’s, an idea of how things should be running here, and will have continued mentoring from Driscoll himself.
At Napolillo’s first press conference, President Rev. Kenneth Sicard O.P. noted that he had done his due diligence and had been discussing Driscoll’s replacement for months. He said that he feared screwing up the momentum that the program had built by bringing in an outside candidate and how he wanted to reward the talent they had internally. Driscoll said, “Nobody loves Providence College more than Steve [Napolillo]” and talked about the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the whole athletics department when they were told about his hire. Napolillo further exclaimed his gratitude and love for this school when he began to speak. From the sounds of things, Napolillo will be a great A.D. for Providence College. He will have big shoes to fill and we look forward to seeing how he will do it. To Bob Driscoll: thank you for everything and enjoy retirement.
Swim and Dive Update
by npatano on February 10, 2022
Sports - Friar Sports
Big East Championships Approaching
Leo Hainline ’22
Sports Co-Editor
The Providence College Swimming and Diving team took on the University of Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 5 in a dual meet, the final chance to clock in official times ahead of the Big East Championships occurring later this month.
PC’s men’s and women’s teams raced under different circumstances, given that UConn has recently cut their men’s program. Many on the men’s team utilized this meet as an opportunity to receive more practice under race-like conditions, although they were racing against the clock rather than an opponent. As for the women, this meet gave them the opportunity to swim in events needed to qualify for the Big East Championships scheduled for Feb. 23-26. For some of the seniors, this meet was their final time competing for the Friars.
The implications of the UConn meet varied for the individual swimmers across the Friars’ program, but those who needed these races to qualify for the Big East “suited up,” a swimming term referring to wearing a technical race suit to increase performance, and swam with the pressure of knowing these races could conclude their individual seasons or collegiate careers. Mike Hawkins ’22 and Elizabeth Murray ’23 both delivered big performances this past weekend and qualified for Big East due to their times.
Angela Brillantes ’22, one of the swimmers who will be competing in the coming weeks in East Meadow, NY, is confident that this past weekend has provided a good prelude to the Big East for the Friars: “After last year’s huge wins, the expectations are definitely pretty high and I think we’re in a good position to do some great things. The energy from this weekend was insane, watching the entire team support swimmers trying to qualify or finish up their careers. The energy levels and emotion were crazy, seeing everyone step up for each other this weekend, and it’s exciting to think that it’ll just be a million times crazier at Big East.”
Over the next coming weeks, the Friars will be fully focused on ensuring that they are in the best condition for their biggest meet of the season. Unlike over winter break, during which the teams trained twice a day to build up their conditioning and speed, the swimmers will lighten their schedules so their bodies are fully rested ahead for late February.
Last year, the Friars impressed at the Big East Championships, setting a total of 21 program records. Coach John O’Neill won Big East Coach of the Year: his first time receiving the honor. Justin Viotto ’22 won the 200 Fly with a school record of 1:48:23, and Kevin Hood ’23 also set a school record in his first-place finish in the 100 Breaststroke, with a time of 55:52. These student-athletes constitute two of the three Big East Champions in program history.
Both Viotto and Hood, as well as the entire Friars program, will hope to both replicate and expand on the success that they enjoyed in the 2021 Championships. With many returning swimmers who contributed to the Friars’ success during the previous season in the meet, do not be surprised if the team claims multiple accolades at the Big East Championships.
Women’s Basketball Winter Recap
by npatano on February 7, 2022
Sports - Friar Sports
Young Friar Squad Battled Tested
Leo Hainline ’22
Sports Co-Edito
The Providence College Women’s Basketball team returned to winning ways with an overtime win against Georgetown University. The Friars pulled away in the extra period, thanks to a 9-0 run during the final minute and a half to seal the victory. Kylee Sheppard ’25 led the way with 21 points, including seven of the team’s 15 in overtime. This was the Friars’ first win at McDonough Arena, snapping a 16-game losing streak at that venue.
The first half was controlled mostly by the Friars. PC held an eight-point lead at halftime, partly due to the shooting of Lauren Sampson ’23, who hit back-to-back threes in the second quarter, and Alyssa Geary ’22 who led the team with nine points at the break.
Georgetown crawled back into the game after the PC offense stagnated at the end of the third quarter, going scoreless for the final four and a half minutes. The game was closely contested throughout the fourth, but the Friars seemed to seize control following late scores from Janai Crooms ’23 and Sheppard. However, Georgetown managed to bank in a deep three-pointer with just seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
The Hoyas took the initial lead during the extra period and held a one-point advantage with a little over two minutes remaining, but the Friars, particularly Sheppard, rose to the occasion and got multiple stops defensively while also converting on the offensive end. Sheppard knocked down five of her six free throws in the final 40 seconds, putting the game out of reach.
Three Friars scored in double-digits—Sheppard, Geary, and Crooms—and they combined for 48 of the team’s 66 total points. Mary Baskerville ’22 was a force defensively, providing six steals and six blocked shots. The senior center also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
The win in Washington D.C. returns the Friars to .500, with a 9-9 overall record. PC is 4-5 in conference play and had dropped their previous two games against Seton Hall University and Villanova University. The loss against the Wildcats was the team’s first on the road this season, but the recent win against Georgetown elevates their away record to 4-1. Over winter break, PC went 2-4, with their two wins coming against Xavier University and St. John’s University.
Much of the Friars’ roster is composed of freshmen, while their leading scorer, Crooms, is a transfer from Michigan State University. While Baskerville and Geary are certainly the senior leaders, they are surrounded by a squad of players who are mostly amid their first season wearing black and white. This dynamic, although it may, in part, explain some of the team’s inconsistencies and struggles, is one that can improve and it may suggest a strong final stretch of the season. Sheppard has filled the point guard role exceptionally well and is a confident facilitator. Her recent play has been vital for PC’s success, as seen in their game against the Hoyas. Crooms has also established herself as an instrumental part of PC’s lineup through her playmaking ability. Leading the team in points and assists, but also in turnovers, her efficiency and decision-making is an x-factor. As these two players, in addition to the likes of Emily Archibald ’25, Olivia Olsen ’25, Audrey Koch ’25, Meghan Huerter ’25, and Nariah Scott ’25, continue to become accustomed to Friar basketball, the cohesion and efficiency of the team should improve.
In early December, PC fell to the Hoyas at home 55-47, and getting revenge on the road is an excellent way to propel them into a challenging week ahead. The Friars will travel to Omaha, NE to face Creighton University on Friday, Jan. 28. Creighton sits towards the top of the Big East with a 9-2 conference record. The Blue Jays however are coming off a loss to Villanova, a team the Friars split their season series with.
PC then has a short turnaround and returns home to take on legendary coach Geno Auriemma’s University of Connecticut at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sunday, Jan. 30. The Huskies are ranked tenth in the nation, but they are still without Paige Bueckers ’24, who is recovering from a November surgery to repair an anterior tibial plateau fracture and torn lateral meniscus. Bueckers won the national Player of the Year award last season and became the first freshman in women’s college basketball to ever receive that honor. UConn remains a strong squad without her presence, and the Huskies are undefeated thus far in Big East play. Last season, the Friars only matched up once against UConn, in a game away from home and in front of an empty arena. PC started out the game strong on that occasion, leading 7-1 initially and only trailing by a point after the first quarter. UConn ultimately took control and won the game handily. The matchup scheduled in Providence was canceled due to COVID-19 related issues in 2020/21, so this will be the program’s first game at home against the Huskies since they returned to their rightful home in the Big East. If the Friars pull off the upset in front of a home crowd at the Dunk, it will certainly be the highlight of the team’s season and the careers of some of the players.
Women’s Basketball
by The Cowl Editor on November 4, 2021
Sports - Friar Sports
Friars Look to Make Statement this Season
Leo Hainline
Sports Co-Editor
The Providence College Women’s Basketball team enters the season with high hopes, eager to fully showcase their potential after a turbulent 2020-21 season that was frequently interrupted by COVID-19 postponements and cancellations.
The Friars retain their two top scorers in Mary Baskerville ’22 and Alyssa Geary ’22, senior leaders who will hold down the team’s frontcourt standing at 6’3” and 6’4”, respectively. This season will also allow for other players to shine as the Friars lost four key members of the team, including point guard Chanell Williams ’21, who graduated from PC and is continuing her education and athletic career in-state at the University of Rhode Island. She shot over 41 percent from beyond the arc last season. Kyra Spiwak ’21 is another three-point threat who will need to be replaced, as she shot a serviceable 33.3 percent on a team high of 108 attempts last season.
Fortunately for PC Women’s Basketball, the team has both returning players and an influx of new talent from transfers and incoming freshmen to compensate for their departures from last season. On paper, Coach Crowley has done a fantastic job recruiting and the future of the program looks incredibly promising.
Lauren Sampson ’23 seems set to fill part of the void left by the Friars’ graduating shooters. The junior from Waltham, MA, averaged only 10 minutes a game this past season but hit the fourth-most three-pointers on the team. Expect her to play a key role in the Friars’ offense this year, especially given that defenses will need to focus on the interior presence of Baskerville and Geary. Likewise, Andreana Wrister ’22GS, a graduate transfer from Tennessee State, will also be a vital player on the perimeter. She had the third highest number of three-pointers in the Ohio Valley Conference this past season. Wrister also blossomed in her role in her final season for the Tigers, improving her scoring by nearly 10 points from her junior to senior year. The Friars will need her to accomplish much of what Williams did last year offensively in instigating scoring from the point guard position and stretching the floor with her shooting.
Speaking of shooting, Coach Crowley was able to recruit Meghan Huerter ’25 to Friartown, a player who set a record for the most three-point field goals made at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, NY. The marksmanship seems to run in the family as her older brother, Kevin, is one of the best young three-point specialists in the NBA and plays for the Atlanta Hawks. Huerter is 5’11” and has unlimited range, creating a tough matchup for any opposing defense. Similarly, shooting guard Audrey Koch ’25 from Iowa City, Iowa stands at 5’10” and knows how to get a bucket in any situation. Similar to Huerter, Koch is a threat from beyond the arc, and she was even a McDonald’s All-American Nominee during her senior year of high school.
Coach Crowley also recruited two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year Emily Archibald ’25. She was also named 2021’s Miss Maine Basketball, along with a host of other accolades. At Kennebunk High School, Archibald averaged a whopping 24.6 points and 20.7 rebounds a game. The 6’2” freshman is versatile with the ability to play both in the post and on the perimeter, and has the potential to grow into one of the program’s top players.
In the Friar frontcourt, while fans should anticipate Baskerville and Geary getting most of the run, Olivia Olsen ’25 may also see minutes off the bench and will certainly provide the Friars with depth at the position. Expect Olsen to fill the shoes of her namesake in Olivia Orlando ’21, who was a tenacious rebounder for the Friars throughout her four years on the roster. Despite being undersized at 5’10”, Orlando tallied the second most rebounds for PC last season, and her presence on the court will be missed. Olsen stands taller at 6’3” and acts as a more typical post presence, and after Baskerville and Geary graduate, many expect her to be an integral piece of the Friar frontcourt in the future. She played AAU ball with fellow newcomer Huerter, and at Niskayuna High School in Niskayuna, NY, Olsen averaged a triple-double in points, rebounds, and blocks in both her junior and senior years.
The Friars also added guard depth with freshmen Nariah Scott ’25 and Kylee Sheppard ’25, as well as with the acquisition of Cranston native Janai Crooms ’23, who transferred to PC from Michigan State University. Crooms attended St. Andrew’s High School and was the first female basketball athlete to have her jersey retired at the school. She has plenty of experience playing college hoops as she began her collegiate career with Ohio State University for her first two years before transferring to the Spartans. The floor general will be a valuable player in Coach Crowley’s arsenal, especially given Williams’ departure.
While the PC Women’s Basketball team looks ready to turn heads this season, they find themselves amid a competitive conference that has one of the greatest programs in any collegiate sport of our lifetimes: the University of Connecticut. The Huskies enter the season ranked second in the country, only behind the University of South Carolina. UConn has won 11 national championships, all coming since 1995, and rarely ever lose their conference tournaments. The Friars will square off with the Huskies at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sunday, Jan. 30, which is certainly a game to mark on your calendar.
UConn is not the only notable team in the Big East. DePaul University also poses a threat and in recent years has consistently hovered around the AP Top 25. The Blue Demons return all five starters and will be expected to be a tournament-caliber team this season. Seton Hall University, which finished as runner-up in the conference last year, is also expected to be one of the more competitive teams that the Friars will face.
The Big East Preseason Poll ranked the Friars as eighth out of 11 teams, but PC Women’s Basketball will let their play do the talking and prove that their roster is much better than others in the conference perceive it to be. There would be no better way to celebrate 50 years of female students at Providence College than to have a fantastic year out of this team. The Friars play an exhibition matchup at Alumni Hall vs. Bentley University on Nov. 4, and then they begin their regular season play again at home on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Yale University.
Women’s Soccer Recap
by The Cowl Editor on November 4, 2021
Sports - Friar Sports
Reflecting on the Friars End to the Season
Stephen Foster ’22
Sports Staff
The Providence College Women’s Soccer Team finished their season in heartbreaking fashion this Sunday, Oct. 31, suffering a disappointing 2-1 overtime loss to St. John’s University in the first round of the Big East Tournament. Amber Birchwell ’21 scored the lone goal to force OT for the Friars. Despite outshooting St. John’s 16-3 in the contest, the team let up the game-winning goal to the Red Storm within the first 25 seconds of the extended period. PC Women’s Soccer finishes the season with a 10-6-3 record, and a 5-4-2 record in the Big East competition.
For the 2022 season, the Friars will be hurt by the loss of fifth-years Amber Birchwell ’21, Hannah McNulty ’21, and Jana Braun ’21, as well as graduate student Christina Rodgers ’21.
Birchwell finished second in total points (two points per goal, one point per assist) on the season with 13 points, composed of four goals and a team-leading five assists. She has started in 82 of her 86 games played for women’s soccer over her five years in Friartown.
McNulty finished fifth in total points on the season with eight points, including two goals, and tied for second on the team in assists with four. Similar to Birchwell, McNulty has been an integral part of the Friars lineup for the entirety of her five years at PC. She started 72 of her 89 games in her college career.
Braun was a significant part of PC’s midfield this season, starting 14 of 19 games with 1,111 total minutes. Her returning teammates will miss her skills in advancing the soccer ball down the field and distributing to her teammates.
Rodgers was a defensive anchor for the team this season, playing in a team high 1,808 minutes and starting every game. She did the same in the 2020 season, playing all 1,140 minutes across all 12 games. Rodgers started in 82 of 88 games for the Friars across her five years on the team. Her defensive presence on the back line will be greatly missed next season.
Although the women’s soccer team will be hurt by the loss of their graduating players, there is a silver lining in the performance of several underclassmen who stepped up this season and will continue to improve for the 2022 season.
The Friars were led in points by Meg Hughes ’24, who scored nine goals and tied for second in assists with four. This is her second season in a row leading in scoring, as she led the team in goals and assists in 2021. She looks to continue her pattern of dominating offense for her junior season, as well as stepping into a leadership role.
Continuing on the offensive side, Gillian Kenney ’25 impressed in her freshman debut. She started in 10 of 19 games and recorded the third most points, finishing tied for second in both goals and assists with four in each category. She has much room to grow in the offseason and could become the spark the Friars need in 2022. Kyla Gallagher ’24 also contributed to the bottom line, adding in four goals and two assists for 10 total points, which is good for fourth on the team.
The defensive line relied on the skills of Alexis Rothmann ’23 and Chloe Ortolano ’23 to keep the opposing offense out of the net. They will be seniors next year and likely will be called upon to lead the Friars with their experience. Sophomore midfielder Avery Snead ’24 is also a name to remember for next season as she looks to take a step forward in her responsibilities. In addition, goalkeeper Emma Bodmer ’24 thrived in her second season this year, picking up three Big East weekly awards.
Providence College Women’s Soccer may have ended their season without a Big East Tournament victory in 2021, but they have high hopes for next season with a mix of proven and promising returning players set to fill the minutes vacated by those who close the door on their admirable college soccer careers.
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on November 4, 2021
Sports Shorts
Sports Shorts
Will Murphy ’23
Sports Staff
Men’s Soccer
In their final home game of the season, the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team tied Villanova University 0-0, on Saturday, Oct. 30. The Friars were able to outshoot the Wildcats 28-7 but were unable to find a way to notch the go-ahead goal. Goalkeeper Lukas Burns ’24 had a clean sheet making two saves, helping the Friars to their fifth shutout of the season. The tie moved the Friar’s record to 9-2-4 on the season. Next up for the Friars is the regular-season finale on Wednesday, Nov. 3, in Omaha, NE against Creighton University.
Women’s Soccer
The Providence College Women’s Soccer Team closed out the regular season strong at home on Thursday, Oct. 28 with a 2-0 win against Seton Hall University on senior night. The Friars pulled ahead at 41’ thanks to Angie Suaza ’23 netting a penalty kick. After taking the lead, the Friars didn’t look back, scoring again at 58’ with a Meg Hughes ’24 goal. The win clinched a Big East Tournament spot for the Friars, for which they traveled to New York to take on St. John’s University on Sunday, Oct. 31.
Field Hockey
The Providence College Field Hockey Team had a successful week beating Quinnipiac University 5-2 Friday, Oct. 29 at home. The Friars got off to a hot start and by the time the first half was over, they led 3-0. In the third and fourth quarter, each team traded goals, but the Friars were always able to keep the Bobcats at arm’s length. Sophia Pompeo ’23 and Olivia Ward ’22 each scored two goals, and the fifth was added by Niamh Gowing ’22. The Friars close the regular season at home on Sunday, Oct. 31, taking on Dartmouth University.
Men’s Hockey
The No. 8-ranked Providence College Men’s Hockey Team had a busy weekend, taking on the unranked University of New Hampshire on back-to-back nights, Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30. They dominated Friday’s matchup at home, winning 6-1, but fell in Saturday’s matchup on the road 2-1 in a tightly contested overtime battle. The weekend’s results moved the Friar’s record to 6-3 on the season. Looking ahead, the Friars have an important two-game set with the No.12-ranked University of Massachusetts Amherst Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6.