Tag: men’s lacrosse
PC Lacrosse 2020 Season Preview
by The Cowl Editor on February 6, 2020
Friar Sports
Lacrosse Begins Season With Win Over BU
by Liam Tormey ’22
Sports Staff
As the spring semester gets underway, so too does the season for the Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team. The Friars are very excited for the upcoming season, to say the least.
Last season saw the Friars post a 7-9 record, with an elimination in the Big East Men’s Lacrosse Semifinals to Georgetown University. It was not the way the team had hoped to finish their season while being led by top scorers Nick Hatzipetrakos ’19 and Brendan Kearns ’19, but head coach Chris Gabrielli says there is a lot to be excited about with this particular team.
Gabrielli joked, “I certainly wish we could keep our top players around for 20 years like Tom Brady, but it’s also extremely rewarding to see the next wave of players emerge.” He added, “We have quite a few athletes on our team that no one is talking about now, but they will later.” Mixed in with the 11 current seniors on the roster, the combination of all different years on Gabrielli’s squad could result in some eye-opening play this season.
The senior year class always holds importance for any collegiate athletic team. Many of the players have gone through the ranks and have seen what it takes to be successful on the field. This year’s seniors are going to be no different. “The number one story of this year’s team is our senior class,” said Gabrielli. “All 11 seniors will play important game-day roles for our team in 2020, and this is rare.”
The seniors and the rest of the team will be led by captains Tim Hinrichs ’20 and Nick Shaw ’20. Hinrichs has appeared in 47 games since his freshman year for the Friars. He played 15 games last season, starting in 11 of them. He registered 29 points on 13 goals and 16 assists last season and looks to add to that total this season. Meanwhile Shaw has appeared in 30 games for the Friars since joining freshman year. Shaw had eight points last season with five goals and three assists. Gabrielli lauded the efforts of the two seniors, saying, “These two young men are excellent representatives of our program.”
Gabrielli has continued to grow the program since arriving eight years ago. This year may very well showcase just how far the program has come, as the coach mentioned that this year’s team has a different sort of confidence than in years past. He talked a lot about the culture of the team, saying it “has never been stronger, and we have never had such few distractions.” A large part of this is due to the senior class. Gabrielli stated, “This is a testament to their leadership style and caring for the success of the program. I trust this group to do the right thing every day, and to stick to our process.”
The Friars had their first official game this past Saturday in Boston, taking on the Boston University Terriers. Last season, PC lost their annual opener against BU at home 8-7, but Saturday was different. After a 2-2 start to the first quarter, the Friars scored six goals in the second and did not look back after halftime. The result was a victory for PC by a score of 12-5, with three goals coming from Matt Grillo ’22 who picked up right where he left off with 30 goals last season as a freshman.
Looking ahead to what comes next for PC, Gabrielli commented, “We have very high expectations every year, and this is due to the uncommon commitment that we demand of each other. We have put the work in to have high expectations, but the team knows that true success is earned on game day.” Gabrielli holds his players to very high standards and they know that. “Every team that we compete against has worked hard. Now we must honor the work that we have put in by executing on game day, while playing with tremendous passion and toughness.” Gabrielli knows his team has what it takes to take a big step this season.
The Friars first home game will be this upcoming Saturday against Holy Cross University at 3:30 p.m. The start of Big East play will pick up on March 28 with the team hosting St. John’s University.
Club Lacrosse Ready to Defend Title
by The Cowl Editor on October 3, 2019
Friar Sports
Team Returns Strong Championship Core Capable of Repeating
by Marc DeMartis ’21
The Providence College Men’s Club Lacrosse team is entering their 2019 season as the defending champions of the National Collegiate Lacrosse League (NCLL). After defeating the Westchester
Golden Rams 12 – 9 in the National Championship last Spring, the Friars have set the bar high for their upcoming season. Returning junior Ryan Barrett ‘21 said, “As we head into this season, we are expecting to protect our title and continue our success. Last year’s graduating class left us with the right mindset and the boys came back from the off season feeling dangerous this year.”
Tryouts for the team this year were held on Sunday, September 29 from 7-9 p.m. As expected, there was a great turnout according to the Vice President of the club, Teddy Allen ’21. He was pumped to see all of the new faces looking to join the team on their quest for another championship this season.
Allen said, “The first night of tryouts was absolutely phenomenal, it honestly could not have gone better. I saw no shortage of talent out on the field, I’m really looking forward to the season with the guys that we have.” With the talent the team currently has, any additions will only improve the success of the team in the coming year.
Another member of the team, Ryan Gayman ’21, spoke on his thoughts regarding the team’s ability on the field. Gayman stated, “Coming back this season off of a championship, the offense is juiced up as were returning all and necessary firepower… shooters everywhere. Defense has also been buzzing around during the first couple of weeks of practice. Checks are flying hard enough to break sticks.” It seems the team has their heads held high and their goals set for the year ahead. They are entering their fall season with plenty of confidence in their fellow players and this chemistry seems to be extremely valuable to the team.
Although the seniors that started the team only four years ago graduated last year, President John Buckley ’20, Allen, Captain Connor Corrod ’20, Captain Dauzia Etete ’20, Treasurer Kevin Flaherty ’21, and Marketing Manager JohnPaul Adams ’20 have returned as a hardworking group of leaders to kick off the year with new energy. This group of leaders have led multiple practices with a mixture of organization and unmatched positivity. Considering that the club team was only founded in 2016, to already have a national championship under their belt is quite an achievement.
The Club Lacrosse Team’s home opener is against Fairfield University on Oct. 6 at 5:00 p.m. on Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium. The boys all seemed thrilled to kick off the season and get the ball rolling.
Men’s Lacrosse Enters the Second Half of Their Season
by The Cowl Editor on April 4, 2019
Friar Sports
Team Already Matches Win Total from 2018
By Liza Sisk ’19
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team is heading into the second half of the 2019 season with a 5-5 record. The second half of the season ushers in a focus on conference play. Four of the next five games for the Friars are against Big East competitors.
The Friars defeated their first in-conference competitor, St. John’s University, on March 30. The team traveled to Queens, New York and took on the Red Storm in a nail biting game. The Friars secured an impressive 8-7 overtime victory, advancing their record to 5-5 and 1-0 in league play.
St. John’s was first to score, however, Kevin McCordic ’20 quickly answered, tying the game with his third goal of the season. The second quarter showcased the offensive prowess of the Friars with Tim Hinrichs ’20, of Amherst, New Hampshire, scoring back-to-back goals giving the Friars a 3-1 lead.
The third and fourth quarters brought a fury of goals for both the Friars and the Red Storm ending regulation play with a 7-7 score. With 1:12 left in overtime, Hinrichs netted yet another goal, assisted by Matt Grillo ’22 of Setauket, New York.
Goalie Tate Boyce ’19 faced 24 shots on goal, tallying up 17 saves. Boyce was also named as a finalist for the Senior Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School Award. Ten NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse student-athletes are distinguished as candidates for the award. To be qualified for nomination, a player must have notable achievements in community, classroom, character, and competition. Head Coach Chris Gabrielli describes Boyce as “a true game and program changer.” The award is determined by nationwide fan voting, and the winner is announced during the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse National Championship in May. Boyce is a three-time captain for the program, pursuing a degree in marketing. When asked about his goals for the team and for himself this season, Boyce said, “I am hoping to do something we have never done in my previous three seasons, and that’s win a Big East Championship.”
The Friars are looking to maintain this momentum as they delve deeper into conference play. The team will be facing Georgetown University on April 6, at home, to kick off this portion of their season. April also brings competition against Marquette University, cross-city rival Brown University, University of Denver, and Villanova University. Other than a trip to Denver on April 20, the Friars will be competing in Providence for the duration of the regular season.
Duncan McGinnis ’19, of Menlo Park, California, said, “The team’s goal this season is to win a Big East Championship and continue playing into the NCAA tournament in May.” He is particularly looking forward to the game against Brown University on April 16.
The road to the Big East Championship will be a tough one for the Friars. The rest of their Big East schedule consists of teams with winning records, which includes Georgetown, who is the first team to seven wins.
Scores from Spring Break
by The Cowl Editor on March 15, 2018
Friar Sports
Lacrosse:
03/03/18
vs. Sacred Heart University: L, 10-9 (OT)
03/06/18
vs. University of
Massachusetts-Lowell:
L, 12-11
03/10/18
vs. Harvard University:
L, 11-8
Softball:
03/04/18
vs. San Jose State University: L, 4-2
vs. Pacific University:
L, 11-5
03/06/18
vs. California State University-
Northridge:
L, 5-0
vs. CSUN:
L, 10-0
03/08/18
vs. Loyola Marymount
University:
L, 4-1
vs. Florida Gulf Coast
University:
L, 3-2
03/09/18
vs. FGCU:
L, 2-1
03/10/18
vs. Harvard University:
L, 6-5
Tennis:
03/03/18
vs. Dayton University:
L, 7-0
03/06/18
vs. College of Charleston:
L, 7-0
03/10/18
vs. Harvard University:
L, 7-0
03/11/18
vs. Marist College:
L, 4-3
PCI: Which Spring Sports Team Will Finish with the Best Record?
by The Cowl Editor on February 15, 2018
PCI
Men’s Lacrosse will Finish with the Best Record
by Max Anderson ’18
I believe this is the breakout year for the Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team, which leads me to believe the team will finish as the spring sport squad with the best record.
As a senior, I have watched the lacrosse team progress every year. The 2015 season saw the team have a final overall record of 5-9, with a 1-4 tally in Big East play. The team improved in 2016, finishing with a final record of 7-9 and again finishing with a record of 1-4 in conference play.
It was last year’s fini
sh, however, that has me confident in the lacrosse team this year; the team improved by three wins to finish with a final record of 10-7, including a 3-2 mark in Big East play, making it the first time that the team finished with a winning record since the 2005-06 season. Perhaps most impressive, however, is the fact that the team was able to advance to the Big East Championship game, where they lost by just one point to Marquette in a 10-9 nail biter.
While the 2006-07 team regressed after the superb 2005-06 season, I do not see that being the case with this year’s team. The team lost just 10 players to graduation last year, meaning a large portion of those who finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade will be back. Among those returning are Brendan Kearns ‘19 and Nick Hatzipetrakos ‘19, the Friars two leading scorers from last year, who both finished the season with over 40 points. Along with Kearns and Hatzipetrakos, the Friars are returning nine of their ten leading point scorers from last season, meaning there will be no shortage of offensive power for the Friars this year. Along with the superb offense, the Friars also bring back goalie Tate Boyce ’19, who started all 17 games for the Friars last season and finished with over 1,000 minutes logged for the year. Boyce finished the season with final tallies of 178 saves to go along with a 56.9 percent save percentage.
With so many returning faces, I can easily see the Friars topping their 10-win mark from last year and picture them being the most successful team on campus this spring.
Lacrosse Gears Up for Spring Season
by The Cowl Editor on January 25, 2018
Friar Sports
by Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team has been waiting for a chance to play another game since the gut-wrenching Big East Championship game last May. The Friars upset Big East rival Villanova University in the semi-final game, winning their first ever Big East Tournament win and advancing on to the championship game. The team played their hearts out against defending champion, Marquette University. They fell to the Golden Eagles by just one goal on their home turf, concluding their 2017 season with a record of 14-7.
The Friars have had the past eight months to work hard in their off-season, using this heartbreak to motivate them for a 2018 season with better results. Head Coach Chris Gabrielli added Conner Byrne ’18, and Brendan Kearns ’19 will join returning leaders, James Barclay ’18, Tate Boyce ’19, and Austin Goltz ’17 as captains.
The returning captains will lead by example, and continue their successful careers as Friars. Barclay helps protect Boyce as he holds up the defensive end; he has caused 35 turnovers and has started all 47 games of the past three years at PC. Boyce returns after a decorated 2017 season. He received the USILA/Nike Third-Team All-America honors and Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American accolades. The Friars appreciate his steadiness in net, as Boyce reported an 8.05 goals against average and a 0.569 save percentage. He was ranked sixth in the NCAA against all other Division I goalkeepers. Goltz returns as a graduate student and his veteran status will help lead the younger Friars. He played in 15 games last season and finished with 18 points.
Big East All-star Byrne, will be a positive addition to the team as a new captain. In midfield, he has started in 39 games and scored nine goals and four assists in the 2017 season. As a senior, Kearns will want to make his last season the best for himself and his team. As an attackman he has posted 32 goals and 13 assists in his two years at PC.
The regular season opens up on Saturday, February 3 at Boston University. The Friars will then return home and pick-up their momentum with a three game home stretch, hosting the College of the Holy Cross, Bryant University, and St. Joseph’s University.
The team will travel to the University of Connecticut to Sacred Heart University’s territory on March 3 before yet another three-game homestead against University of Massachusets at Lowell, Harvard University and Hofstra University. At the first Big East matchup is on March 31, the Friars will face-off against St. John’s University.
The Friars will have to wait until April 14 for their highly anticipated rematch against Marquette University. The Friars are expected to come back looking better than ever, and have another historic year for the program.
Men’s Lacrosse Continues to Improve
by The Cowl Editor on March 16, 2017
Sports
by Jake Scearbo ’17
While everyone was gallivanting around the Caribbean and beyond last week, the Providence College Men’s Lacrosse Team was on campus in the midst of their season. On Saturday, March 4, the Friars took on Sacred Heart University at Chapey Field in their first of two games over the break. In a hard fought tilt, the Friars fell to the Pioneers 10-8. The Friars were paced in the first half by goals from Brendan Kearns ’19 and from defenseman Jarrod Neumann ’17. The score was 5-4 Pioneers. The third quarter was the downfall for the Friars in this game where they were outscored 3-0.
The offense was clicking in the fourth quarter with goals from Connor Byrne ’18, Tim Hinrichs ’20, Sean Leahey ’20, and Kearns, but the Sacred Heart lead proved insurmountable. Head Coach Chris Gabrielli was disappointed after the tough loss but was encouraged by his defense. The Pioneers have a high powered offense and average over 11 goals per game. Gabrielli liked how “in settled situations we stayed on task, caused a lot of turnovers and got the ball on the ground.” Sacred Heart exposed the Friars in unsettled and man-down situations; these are two takeaways that the team will work on leading up to its matchup with High Point University.
In the second game over Spring Break, the Friars earned a dominating 17-8 victory on their home field to push their record to 4-2 on the season. All season the defense has led the Friars, but in this game the offense was the story. Nick Hatzipetrakos ’19 led the offense with five goals and three assists and Leahey had his best game in his freshman season with a hat trick. Kearns added two goals and an assist and Keenan Assaraf ’17 also tickled the twine twice.
This game was far from over at halftime with the Friars nursing a 6-3 lead. The momentum shift came when faceoff man Alex George ’19 won the opening faceoff in the second half and scored an unassisted goal. George was on fire in this game winning 20-25 at the faceoff X and picking up 14 groundballs. Gabrielli said the key to his offense’s success against a great goaltender was George. “The very first faceoff he goes down and almost scores goal and set the tone from there and he was dominant at the faceoff X. We haven’t had dominance there and he gave us extra possessions.” After George’s first goal of the season, the Friars ripped off five straight goals and put the game out of reach. Despite being overshadowed by some huge offensive performances, the defense was solid like they have been all season.
This game against High Point indicates the young guns on offense are starting to figure out their place on the team. After six games, the freshmen and sophomores have enough experience and confidence to lead this team once the Big East Schedule begins in April. The Friars play next against Hofstra University on March 18 on the road.