Tag: Jack Belanger ’21
Field Hockey Falls Short of Title
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
Friar Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Staff
For the fourth consecutive season, the Providence College Field Hockey Team earned a spot in the Big East Tournament to play for the league’s conference title. With a conference record of 4-3, the Friars were able to finish fourth in the conference and grab the final playoff spot.
Needing a win to get past the semifinals, PC was set to face-off against the top-seeded University of Connecticut Huskies, who were ranked No. 3 in the country according to the NFHCA Coaches Poll. The two teams met earlier this season with the Friars losing to the Huskies 0-3 down in Storrs, CT. Unfortunately for the Friars, they would suffer a similar outcome, seeing their season come to an end with a tough 0-2 loss against their Big East rival.
The Friars got off to a slow start in the first quarter, failing to register a shot on goal. Luckily the defense was able to keep the Huskies at bay and go into the second quarter tied at zero.
PC almost took the lead early in the second frame. Mary O’Reilly ’20 forced a turnover in Connecticut’s zone and manged to fire a shot that went just off the far post. Forward/Midfield Izzy Mendez ’20 got the rebound and deflected the ball back into the net. While for a moment it seemed like the Friars got the first lead of the game, the goal was soon waved off because a foul was called for the ball going off of Mendez’s foot. This would end up being the Friars best scoring opportunity, as the team manged only three shots on goal for the entire game.
After the teams went into halftime still tied 0-0, Connecticut struck with the first goal of the game on a rebound from Antonia Tiedtke. That goal was all the Huskies needed as they would tack another goal in the fourth and win 2-0.
Despite the early end to the season, it was another successful season for the Friars as they broke into the NFHCA rankings as the No. 25 team in the nation for three weeks before losing in the regular season finale. This was thanks to a tough schedule where PC played seven games against ranked opponents and played four teams that made it into the national tournament. One of the team’s biggest wins came early in the season when they upset no. 24 University of Maine 5-4 in overtime. That was the first time since August 25, 2017 that the team beat a ranked opponent.
The Friars were well represented in the end of season All-Big East Honors Teams. A total of four players from the team were selected, with two on the first team and two on the second team.
O’Reilly and Corinne Kenney ‘18GS represented the Friars on the All-Big East First Team. This is the third time Kenney has been selected to an All-Big East Team, and second time on the first team. She has been one of the Friars’ best defenders during her career and she has started in all 75 games since she came to PC.
O’Reilly has steadily improved every season since her freshman year and set career highs in several offensive categories including, points (16), and goals (five). She would also lead the team in assists with six. Last season she was selected for the All-Big East Second Team. In November she will head down to North Carolina to play in the NFHCA Division I Senior Game.
Mendez and Lydia Rice ‘19GS were selected for the All-Big East Second Team. Rice was one of the best goalies in all of the conference this season, posting a 1.26 goals against average, second best in the Big East, to go along with six shutouts. She was also named to the second team last year.
The team leader in points and goals, Mendez saved her best season for last, recording the team’s first 20 point season since 2016. Mendez’s nine goals were tied for fourth best in the conference. Her 21 career goals is the 26th highest all-time at PC. This is also her second time being selected to the second team.
Looking forward, PC hopes they can finally break into the Big East Finals. The team will return with Niamh Gowing ‘22, Olivia Ward ‘21, and Maddie Babineau ‘21, all of whom tallied eight or more points this season.
The Boys are Back
by The Cowl Editor on November 7, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Ready to Pick-Up the Pace
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
It would be an understatement to say it has been a tough past two years for center Emmitt Holt ‘19GS who has dealt with many ups and downs during his time at Providence College. After having a successful 2016-17 season, Holt suffered an abdominal injury that caused him to miss the entire 2017-18 season. Despite getting a full year to recover, he would only appear in six games the next season and would eventually red shirt once again to gain a sixth year of eligibility.
That made the moment all the more special when the home crowd gave Holt a standing ovation when he checked into the game for the first time in the opening half against Sacred Heart University. He brought the crowd to its feet shortly after when he made his first shot behind the three-point line. His play helped spark the Friars to jump out to an early lead that they would not relinquish for the entire game, beating the Pioneers 106-60. After the game, Holt spoke on the standing ovation he received.
“It was a great moment for me and my teammates. It’s great to be recognized for all the hard work I’ve been putting in at practice.”
Head Coach Ed Cooley was also really happy to see his veteran to come back after two years that challenged Holt mentally and physically.
“I was really proud to see Emmitt out there and how the crowd reacts to him.”
It was a dominant performance on both ends of the court for the Friars, a pleasing sight for a team that finished last season 7-11 in the Big East. Seven players scored in double figures for the team, led by Alpha Diallo ’20 with 19 to go along with his team-leading 14 rebounds. The team also showed a willingness to share the ball, witnessed by 31 assists on 39 buckets.
Coach Cooley raved about how experienced the team will be this year, noting that sophomores A.J. Reeves ’22 and David Duke ’22 have matured a lot since last year. The two combined for 26 points, 12 assists, and, most importantly, no turnovers.
Newcomer Luwane Pipkens ’19GS got the start in his first game for the team. The former University of Massachusetts-Amherst guard came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 11 points in the first half with five assists. He also showed off on the defensive end with three steals throughout the night — an effort that sparked the team emotionally.
“It’s a blessing for me,” Pipkens said on coming to PC. “I’m enjoying myself. I’m happy to be here and try to win some games.”
Going into halftime, the Friars nearly doubled the Pioneers’ score, leading 59-30, as Diallo, Pipkens, and Holt all had 11 or more points. Top recruit Greg Gantt ’23 entered the game with about four minutes left in the half and scored his first college points on a fadeaway a minute later. He would hit the first three shots of his career and finish with seven points.
“He has an ‘it’ factor,” Cooley said of the freshman. “He has a very active body. He has never worked this hard in his life.”
PC’s defense put together a complete 40-minute effort that stifled anything Sacred Heart was trying to do with the ball. Holt and Kalif Young ‘20 provided the Friars with strong interior defense that held Sacred Heart to only 24 points in the paint and 32.2 percent shooting from the floor. Young, who got the start in place of the injured Nate Watson ’21, recorded two blocks and steals apiece and after the game was praised by Cooley as one of the best defenders in the country.
In the second half, the Friars raised their intensity on defense and extended their lead to 49 points at one point. PC scored 30 points off of 19 turnovers. The team also pushed the pace on offense, highlighted by the team’s 16 fast break points, which is a new change Cooley plans to emphasize this season.
“We want to try to score off our defense more. Normally some of our teams have played a little slower; we are trying to be one of the fastest teams in the country endline-to-endline.”
With such a deep team this year, Cooley is not worried about wearing his team down early on.
As PC was able to extend their lead late in the game, Cooley was able to give his bench some extended minutes as nine players got 10-plus minutes of action. Even walk-ons Drew Fonts ’21 and Tommy Dempsey ’23 got multiple minutes at the end of the game. Fonts took advantage of the extended minutes and scored five points and recorded an assist.
The Friars will now prepare for their next game against New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The game will once again be at home and PC will be looking to start the season 2-0. Cooley and the team hope Jimmy Nichols ‘22 will be able to return after he was not feeling well enough to play in the home opener.
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.
The New Man in the Net
by The Cowl Editor on October 3, 2019
Athlete of the Week
Grad Transfer Aviza Finds New Home with Friars
by Jack Belanger ’21
As faces came and went on the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team, one remained constant: Colin Miller ’18RS in net. After receiving numerous awards and accolades, such as the 2018 Big East Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and 2018 All-Big East Second Team, Miller graduated and signed with Loudoun United FC in the United Soccer League Championship. That left the Friars with one important question for the upcoming 2019 season: Who would take over the goalkeeping duties?
That question was answered quickly as transfer student Austin Aviza ’19 GS has followed in Miller’s footsteps and has given the Friars another solid season from their goalkeeper so far.
Aviza graduated early from the University of Connecticut after a successful 2018 season where he went 9-3-2 as the starting goalie while also posting a 1.03 goals against average. He was granted a fifth year of eligibility as a graduate transfer by the NCAA and did not wait long to land a new home.
“Providence was really the only team on my radar,” Aviza said. “As soon as the NCAA called me to tell me I was eligible for another season, I got into contact with Coach Stewart right away.”
After finishing up school in Connecticut, Aviza came to the College for the spring semester and got the chance to practice with his new teammates. Although he was not able to play in games during the spring season due to NCAA eligibility rules regarding transfers, the semester gave Aviza the chance to get acclimated to the campus and his new teammates.
The results for Aviza have been spectacular this season. Through September he has already had six shutouts while posting a 0.70 GAA. After posting back-to-back 1-0 shutouts against Harvard University and Seton Hall University, Aviza was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 23, though he was quick to give his teammates credit.
“It is great to be named to the honor roll, but I think it’s more of a team award,” Aviza clarified. “We have a really good defense and the guys have been playing well.”
When it comes to the differences in his experience from UConn, the goalkeeper focused in on two things: the style of play and home games. Aviza noted how PC’s play style focuses more on possession and ball control to limit the opponent’s opportunities.
As for the home games, Aviza explained how great the atmosphere has been playing at Chapey Field.
“It’s really nice to see how many fans come out to support us. They really make it exciting to be playing here.”
If there was any pressure to fill the big shoes left in goal, Aviza has certainly shown both on the field that he is ready for the challenge, and off the field he has made it a point to focus on his own game.
“Colin Miller was obviously really good, and it is not the easiest thing to follow up a guy like that. All I can do is focus on myself and do my best,” said Aviza.
Aviza’s path to PC has not been like that of his teammates. While the majority of the team has spent the entirety of their careers in Providence, the Friars will be Aviza’s third team as he spent his first two collegiate seasons at Syracuse University before he went on to play for the Huskies. Joining his third team within four years has given him a chance to look at how unique his college career has been.
“I used to have a coach that told us everyone has their own paths in life. It didn’t really hit me how different my journey has been until I came to Providence.”
As their record stands at 6-3-0, PC is once again in the hunt to grab one of the top spots in the Big East. With the talent that is in front of him, Aviza believes the team has a chance to compete for a conference title and even make it back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. The team has shown they can compete with some of the best teams in the country, such as tough one goal losses to No. 5 Georgetown University and No. 15 University of New Hampshire.
It may be his only season in Friartown, but Aviza has shown that he wants to finish his college career out strong by bringing this team deep into the playoffs and maybe even a championship.
Once a Friar, Always a Friar
by The Cowl Editor on September 26, 2019
Friar Sports
An Interview with College Basketball Hall of Famer Ernie DiGregorio ’73
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
Former Boston Celtic point guard Bob Cousy was asked if anyone currently in the NBA reminds him of how he used play back in the 50s and 60s. Cousy responded, “Not really, because everyone has their certain way they play, but only in one case, Ernie DiGregorio. The way he saw the floor and passed was like me.” To fans who watched Ernie DiGregrio ’73 play basketball back in the early 70s, he was much more than just a great floor general for the Friars—he was one of their own.
Nearly 50 years after scoring 37 points in his high school championship for North Providence High School at Alumni Hall, the man nicknamed “Ernie D.” is still one of the most recognizable and talked about PC athletes. Despite graduating from the College in 1973, he has lived in Rhode Island for his entire life and made headlines this spring when he was named to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 for his fantastic career at PC. He will be formally inducted at the College Basketball Experience located in Kansas City, Missouri this November.
“I was home when I got the call that I was named into the Class of 2019, and I said, ‘That’s tremendous,’” recalls DiGregorio on the day he got the call. Two months later the announcement was made to the media and outlets such as ESPN brought it onto the airwaves.
“I went to Stop & Shop and everybody is telling me congrats. I usually walk six and a half miles every morning and people were coming up out of their cars to congratulate me. It’s a very humbling honor and I could not have gotten there without a great coach in Dave Gavitt.”
Ever since he stepped into Alumni Hall, DiGregorio was embraced by the fans and the entire city of Providence. His roots as an Italian kid who grew up just 10 minutes down the street and loved basketball more than anything else gave everyone a hometown hero to root for along with teammate Marvin Barnes ’74.
Stories of his incredible work ethic and dreams to play basketball professionally just added to his reputation as a local legend.
“When I was 10 years old, I came home from school and told my mother I wanted to become a professional basketball player and she laughed. I knew if I practiced 8-10 hours a day and did it for years, I could be a great player. I used to get my basketball at six in the morning and I would just start dribbling,” said DiGregorio. There were also times he would go out in the middle of winter and shovel off snow at Evans Park to practice in North Providence.
Despite receiving scholarships from colleges such as Indiana University and University of California-Los Angeles, DiGregorio never bothered to visit any school other than PC.
“I wanted to play in front of my family and friends. When I got to do that and see them enjoy that, I thought what’s better than that. I wanted to be part of the PC tradition,”said DiGergorio.
Not only did he become part of the tradition, DiGregorio helped create it. He spent three seasons playing for the Friars, setting records such as most assists in a season and highest career average for assists per game, but he will always be remembered most for leading the Friars to their first Final Four appearance in 1973.
While PC had a strong program before the ’70s, it was the 1972-73 team that would change the course of PC basketball for years to come. That year would be the first season the Friars would play their home games at the then Civic Center, now the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, in downtown Providence. DiGregorio, Barnes and Kevin Stacom ’74 gave the Friars three future pros on the roster with the Hall of Fame coach, Dave Gavitt on the sidelines. That season, DiGregorio would score 24.5 points per game and dish out 8.6 assists per game.
The team went 23-2 during the regular season, with one of those losses coming against the eventual champion UCLA. With such an extraordinary amount of talent on that team, Coach Gavitt never had to draw up any plays according to DiGregorio.
“We knew how to play, plain and simple,” said DiGrgerio. “We were always trying to get layups and he knew Marvin would grab every rebound and throw it up to me. He trusted me with the ball to attack the defense and make the right play.”
The Friars used the fast break to their advantage and ran themselves into the Final Four where they would face the Memphis State Tigers (now Memphis University). The Friars managed to grab an early 16-point lead before Barnes went down with a knee injury that changed the momentum of the game.
“He stepped on someone’s foot, twisted his knee, and that was it. They began to grab all the rebounds and we couldn’t run our fast break. They grabbed more offensive rebounds and we ended up losing that game.”
To this day, DiGregorio still believes they could have beaten UCLA in the title game had they gotten there. He finished with 32 points and seven assists in his final game in a Friars uniform.
Despite the loss, the magical run brought new national attention to PC as one of the best basketball programs in the country. That team, according to DiGregorio, “changed the culture forever at Providence.”
While DiGregorio was looking forward to continuing his career in the NBA, he knew he would miss his coach with whom he had built a sepcial bond.
“He would never yell,” DiGregorio said of his coach. “I missed playing for a guy like Gavitt. He had no ego and would let me play my game. I loved playing for Providence College. They were the greatest years of my life.”
DiGregorio would go on to have a five-year career in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves, Los Angles Lakers, and Boston Celtics. During his first year, he won the Rookie of the Year and lead the league in assists per game. He also set a rookie record for assists in one game with 25. Knee injuries ultimately pushed him out of the game, but not before getting to experience a special moment in his final game with the Celtics and future Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek.
“Havlicek was the best,” said DiGregorio. “I remember his last game. He got a seven-minute ovation from the crowd. It was so emotional.”
DiGregorio and Havlicek will forever be connected as the former Friar fed Havlicek the ball every time he was in and even assisted Havlicek for his final bucket ever. After the game, Havlicek wrote on a picture, “Ernie D, one more pass, John Havlicek.” This would be one of DiGregorio’s most special memories as a professional basketball player as both men were able to go out on top with a special moment.
After his career was over, DiGregorio returned to Rhode Island and stayed involved with the game by coaching high school and younger kids. The game remains a part of him and he will consider himself a basketball player “till the day he dies.”
Even though his career ended sooner than he wanted it to, DiGregorio remembers the positives of his career and the special moments he shared with others. He will forever remember seeing the local fans who had never been to a basketball game come out to support the team when he was there.
When he reflects on his career and how much he treasures it, DiGregorio reminisces about a time when he went over to Gavitt’s house after he retired.
“I told him, ‘If I could’ve dreamt how great my career was going to be at PC, reality surpassed the dream.’”
California Passes Fair Pay for Play Act: What’s Next for NCAA?
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
Friar Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Staff
The debate about whether college athletes should be compensated has recently reached a new peak that could shift the sports landscape in the near future. The state assembly and senate of California just passed SB 206, also known as the Fair Pay to Play Act, which would allow college athletes within the state to sign endorsement deals and be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, it will be the first bill of its kind to allow college athletes to receive some form of compensation and would go into effect in 2023.
If the bill is passed, it will send shock waves through the entire country, affecting colleges, the NCAA, and even state governments. Schools in California will have a significant advantage when it comes to recruiting high school athletes who may be deciding between schools across several states. The NCAA has already sent a letter to Gov. Newsom, asking him to veto the bill, stating it would “remove the essential element of fairness and equal treatment that forms the bedrock of college sports.”
The NCAA also threatened to prohibit California schools from competing for championships due to the unfair advantage in recruiting.
Passage of this bill would put pressure on the NCAA to reconsider their rules against compensating college athletes. If the organization stands firm in its stance, even their threats will not stop the wave the bill would start.
Lawmakers in South Carolina are now planning on proposing a similar bill that would pay a $5,000-a-year stipend to collegiate athletes in profitable sports like football and basketball. If the NCAA wants to keep consistency across the country, then action needs to be taken before even more states pass laws to ensure their schools do not find themselves at a disadvantage.
States such as the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia, where football brings in millions of dollars and is integral to the school’s culture, are likely to start taking action if the top athletes start choosing schools such as the University of Southern California and University of California-Los Angeles at a higher rate over their own state schools.
While a basketball-centered school such as Providence College may not be affected right away, once states that have big-time college basketball programs begin to incorporate similar laws, Rhode Island’s hand may be forced to take action to prevent PC from falling behind in recruiting.
PCI: Will the Patriots Go 16-0 This Season?
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
PCI
Yes, This Team Has Too Much Talent To Lose
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
There is no team hotter right now in the NFL than the New England Patriots. Even though it is early in the season, the Pats have shown hardly any glaring weaknesses on either side of the field. They are already outscoring their opponents 76-3, highlighting the fact that this team will not have to heavily rely on quarterback Tom Brady to carry them through what will be another perfect 16-0 season.
The offense will be more dynamic in how it can attack defenses this season than it has been in past seasons. The Patriots’ top three receivers are Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and newly acquired Antonio Brown. As long as injuries or off-field issues do not plague these players, Brady will have three guys that have served as the number one option for their teams at one point in their careers.
Even if a team has a strong enough secondary to slow down the passing game, the Patriots have a strong enough backfield in Rex Burkhead and second-year player Sony Michel, who was just 69 yards short of getting 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season.
On the other side of the field, New England boasts an elite defense that can win games if the offense is having an off day. Just this past week, they intercepted the Miami Dolphins four times, including two that ran back for touchdowns. The McCourty brothers and Stephon Gilmore have yet to allow 300 passing yards in a game, and held pro-bowler Juju Smith-Schuster to only 78 receiving yards in their Sept. 8 game against the Steelers.
As great as this team is, their schedule will also play into their favor. New England only has five games against teams that finished with winning records last year and they have already won in Miami, a typical trap game for them in recent seasons. The AFC East once again looks like it will be a runaway as the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins are all rebuilding with inconsistent quarterbacks. The two toughest games to watch out for will be against the Kansas City Chiefs, who feature reigning league-MVP Patrick Mahomes, and the Baltimore Ravens who are also 2-0 this season behind dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson.
No matter how good your team is, going 16-0 involves some luck. During their perfect season in 2007, New England had four games decided by single digits, including a three-point win over the New York Giants, the eventual Super Bowl Champions, in the season’s final week. That season, nine players from the team made it to the Associated Press All-Pro teams: six on offense and three on defense. This year the Patriots have a similar balance, and it will other require teams to think outside of the box in order to beat them.
No, Going 16-0 is Harder Than It Seems
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Assistant Editor
After an opening night drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a dominant win in Miami on Sunday, the nation is abuzz with talks of the New England Patriots going undefeated in the 2019 NFL season. The talk is understandable, as the Pats have assembled a team that boasts an absurd amount of talent. They also still have the greatest quarterback of all time at the helm, which certainly helps.
However, even with all this talent, the Patriots will not go undefeated. It is simply too difficult to remain on top of your game for every single quarter of a grueling 16 game season. A missed field goal, a tipped pass, or an untimely fumble can decide a game, and even a team coached by Bill Belichick is not immune to mistakes.
Only two teams in the modern history of the NFL have gone undefeated, showcasing just how difficult it is to pull off. The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0 during the regular season and followed that up with a perfect postseason to capture the Lombardi Trophy. The other team to do it was the 2007 Patriots, who went 16-0 during the regular season before falling to the Eli Manning led New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
The 2019 Patriots certainly have a lot in common with that 2007 team: a star-studded receiving core, a lockdown defense, and a superb quarterback-coach combination.
Yet, perfection is nearly impossible to duplicate. Even the 2007 Patriots had some close calls, including just a three-point victory over the Giants in week 17 of the season. In week 13, the Baltimore Ravens led 24-17 in the fourth quarter. The Pats required a Jabar Gaffney touchdown with 44 seconds remaining to squeak out a victory.
No one is questioning that there is a possibility that these Patriots can go undefeated, but it is just not statistically probable. Close games went their way in ’07, but the final seconds of games may prove to be different this year.
Consider the week nine matchup against the Ravens as a potential game where the Pats may falter. Second year quarterback Lamar Jackson poses a dynamic threat with his rare mix of blazing speed and arm strength, and M&T Bank Stadium has always proven to be a difficult environment for a road team to come into. The Ravens will also be well-rested coming off their bye week, while the Patriots will be entering their ninth straight week of play.
Overall, there is no doubt that the Patriots are the favorite to win Super Bowl LIV, but to expect a perfect season in addition to a championship is simply asking for too much.
Women’s Volleyball Travel for First Tournament of the Season
by The Cowl Editor on September 12, 2019
Friar Sports
Alderson Leads Offense for Friars
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
In their first tournament of the season, the Providence College Women’s Volleyball Team had a tough past weekend in Morehead, Kentucky. Playing in the 2019 Morehead State Eagle Challenge, the Friars went 1-2 in three games, picking up their lone win over Presbyterian College, three sets to zero.
The team was originally supposed to play in the Puerto Rico Clasico to begin their season, but their trip was canceled due to Hurricane Dorian. Instead, the team played two games in Virginia and one at home, going 2-1 to start the season.
In the first game of the tournament, the Friars played Georgia State University. The Panthers would beat the Friars in four sets, each one being decided by two points. Jennifer Leitman ’23 and Addison Root ’20 were the only Friars with double-digit kills with 12 and 10, respectively. The loss brought the Friars to 2-2 on the season.
In their second game of the day, the Friars pulled out a win over the Presbyterian Blue Hose, winning easily in straight sets. It would be PC’s only win of the weekend, but the performance shows Head Coach Margot Royer-Johnson the team’s potential for the season.
“We matched up really well against Presbyterian,” said Royer-Johnson. “We were the stronger team and had a good game.”
The Friars had their best kill percentage as a team, connecting on 28 percent of their attempts. The Friars played a much cleaner game than Presbyterian, highlighted by only 12 attack errors compared to 24 for the Blue Hose.
Unfortunately, the Friars could not build on their momentum as they fell to Morehead State University in three sets. It was a tough matchup for the Friars as the Eagles had a solid defensive game, keeping the Friars under 20 points in each set.
Allison Barber ’21 also had a solid weekend for the Friars during which she was named to the All-Tournament Team. The setter recorded double-digit assists and digs in the first two games, accumulating 87 digs in the entire tournament. Her connection with Jenae Alderson ’20 was a highlight of the tournament for the Friars as both players had a successful weekend that will be crucial going forward.
Alderson was one of the best offensive players for the Friars. The fourth-year starter had kill percentages of 40, 50, and 69.2 in the three games, leading the team in each contest. Afterwards, Royer-Johnson called Alderson “our most athletic player this weekend.”
While the Friars did not do as well as they had hoped for, the team has plenty of talent moving forward to be competitive once they get into the heart of their schedule. The key for them is getting out of what Royer-Johnson calls “mental holes.”
“We are still adjusting our lineups as we used a lot of young players this weekend. We are a physically gifted team, but we are young in terms of experience,” says Royer-Johnson
The Friars will have a chance to regroup this weekend as they host the 15th Annual Friar Volleyball Classic. Last season, the Friars went undefeated in the tournament, winning three games including a big win over cross-town rival Brown University in the final game.
Men’s and Women’s Soccer Preview
by The Cowl Editor on August 29, 2019
Friar 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.
Editor’s Corner
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Friar Sports
Year in Review of Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
As the year comes to a close (though not for all spring sport athletes), I wanted to look back on the year for Providence College sports. This year, the sports section of The Cowl covered big moments and special people that deserved recognition from the Friar community. As a section, we made it a point to cover all sports across campus, get the inside scoop from athletes and coaches, and recognize students who competed away from campus.
In the fall, we covered the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team celebrating their 50th season as they made it to the Big East semifinals. Abbey Wheeler ’20 won NCAA Cross Country Division I National Athlete of the Week twice during the cross-country season, it seemed every week she was among the top racers as she won three races during in the fall and came in fourth during the Big East race.
Even though the PC Men’s Basketball Team did not perform to everyone’s expectations, the team still had a fairly successful season and the winter sports season remained the peak for PC athletics. The freshman class proved that the team will stay competitive for years to come. The PC Women’s Basketball Team had their most successful season in recent memory, posting a 19-16 overall record as well as earning their first Big East tournament win since 2001 and earning a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Jovana Nogic ’19 broke the College record for three-pointers and Mary Baskerville ’22 had a stellar rookie season as she went on to win Big East Freshman of the Year.
The Women’s Ice Hockey Team brought in Matthew Kelly as their new head coach and found immediate success. The team had an outstanding season that saw them ranked in the top 10 for most of the season. Men’s ice hockey also had a historic season. After losing several stars from last season, the team retooled, filled the missing holes, and made their sixth straight national tournament. In the first round the Friars came back from a 3-0 to Minnesota State University by scoring six unanswered goals. They would ride that momentum all the way to their fifth Frozen Four appearance in College history. While the team fell short of making the finals, this was one of Nate Leaman’s finest seasons as a coach.
The PC Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams continued to have success during the indoor season. Millie Paladino ’19RS was named 2019 Northeast Region Female Track Athlete of the Year after she won the Big East title in the 3,000-meter race and came in third at the NCAA championship for the mile run.
This spring, the PC Women’s Softball Team is currently in a breakout season as they are 28-20 after a disappointing season last year. Outfielder Emma Lee ’19 set the school record for most career hits with 215. Former Friar Emily Sisson ’14 finished sixth in the London Marathon with a time of 2:23.08, which was sixth fastest for an American woman in history.
Outside of reporting on the games, The Cowl managed to get exclusive interviews with several athletes and coaches such as Track and Field Coach Ray Treacy, Paladino, Wheeler, and Vincent Desharnais ’19. Next year, we hope to give students, teachers, and alumni an even more in-depth look into what is happening for the Friars.