Tag: Men’s Soccer
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on October 10, 2019
Friar Sports
By Marc Demartis ’21
Sports Staff
Tennis Team Update:
The Providence College Tennis Team stole the show at the tournament hosted here at PC last weekend. They won their first PC Invitational Tournament after winning 18 out of the 22 matches that they played against Bryant University, College of the Holy Cross, and Merrimack College. Vannelie Melendez ‘23 and Catherine Gamble ‘23 won their first doubles and singles matches and Gamble and Brenna Magliochetti ‘23 went undefeated for the day. Natalie Pitocco ‘20 and Aidan Epstein ‘20 also went undefeated on the day. They can keep the momentum going forward when they play in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Regionals on Thursday, October 17 in West Point, New York.
Swim Team Update:
The Providence College Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Teams placed third overall at the New England Catholic Invitational (NECI) this past weekend at Boston College. The men finished in third place with 462 points and the women’s team also finished third with 482 points. There were six men’s teams and seven women’s teams competing in each division with colleges such as Fairfield University, Assumption College, College of the Holy Cross, La Salle University, Mount Saint Mary’s University, and Boston College. The next time the Friars hop in the pool will be on Monday, October 14 in the Taylor Natatorium here on campus where they will be holding their Black and White intrasquad meet.
Men’s Soccer Team Update:
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team lost to Butler University during alumni weekend on Friday, October 4. After leading 1-0 in the first half, the Friars struggled to contain the Butler Bulldogs in the second half, giving up 3 goals. After the 3-1 loss, the team has a 6-4 record putting them in 6th place in the Big East Conference. The lone goal for the Friars came from Joao Serrano ‘20, his third goal of the season. Providence had 15 shots compared to Butler’s 7. After this devastating loss, the Friars look ahead to their next game on Tuesday, October 8 at the University of Connecticut at 7:00pm.
Women’s Hockey Team Update:
The Providence College Women’s Hockey Team earned their first win of the season against Quinnipiac University, improving their record to 1-1-0. The Friars defeated the Bobcats 3-2. After trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Friars came back in the second period to make it 2-2 by the start of the third. These goals came from Maureen Murphy ‘21 and Annelise Rice ‘21. However, the goal that really stood out from the rest comes from Bailey Burton ‘23 who scored the game winning goal with only one minute remaining in the third period. The Friars’ next game is against the Bemidji State Beavers on Friday, October 11.
Sport Shorts 9/22-9/29
by The Cowl Editor on October 3, 2019
Friar Sports
Sports Shorts For Sept. 22-29
by Scott Jarosz ’21
Men’s Soccer:
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team hosted Brown University on Sept. 25 in a crosstown battle. PC entered the game with a record of 5-2, having previously defeated Seton Hall University 1-0 in its Big East Opener. Brown and PC battled for the majority of the game with neither able to find the back of the net, until Ramzi Qawasmy ’22 finally broke the tie in the 77th minute with a volley from the top of the box. PC would hold on to win the game 1-0. PC looked to take the momentum from this win into its next game against Georgetown University, who is currently nationally ranked as the no. 2 team in Division I soccer. PC conceded goals in the 48th and 75th minutes, however Andualem Chisholm ’22 scored in the 80th minute on an assist from Tiago Mendonca ’20RS and Kevin Vang ’22 to cut the lead to 2-1. Unfortunately, this was not enough for PC, as it fell 2-1.
Women’s Soccer:
The Providence College Women’s Soccer Team has been off to a fast start in the 2019 season, racking up wins over talented opponents such as the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and the University of Texas at Austin. PC carried its fast start into this past week as it hosted Northeastern University on Sunday, September 22. Although NU scored the first goal of the game in the 45th minute, PC managed to tie it in the 52nd minute thanks to a penalty kick by Elayna Grillakis ’22. The game remained tied for the duration of regular time, but in the 96th minute, Hannah McNulty ’21 powered a low shot past the keeper from outside the box to win the game 2-1 in overtime. On Saturday, September 28, PC hosted St. John’s University in the first Big East matchup of the season, and the host team did not disappoint. PC shut out the visitors by a score of 4-0 to kickstart its Big East schedule. The team now looks ahead to playing at Marquette University on Thursday, October 3.
Field Hockey:
The Providence College Field Hockey Team entered the Sept. 22 contest at Fairfield University with a record of 4-2. PC started off on the right foot on the road, as Izzy Mendez ’20 scored just 6:55 into the game. However, the home side would go on to score the next two goals and beat PC 1-2. Despite the loss, PC moved on and prepared to host Temple University for its next contest. PC appeared prepared for this game as it beat TU by a score of 1-0, thanks again to Mendez, who scored in the second quarter, which was the only scoring of the game. However, PC was unable to begin a winning streak going, as it fell to the University of Louisville by a score of 0-2 on Sunday, September 29 at home. PC now looks forward to its next matchup, which is away against Villanova University on Oct. 4.
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.
Men’s Soccer Wins Two Games 1-0
by The Cowl Editor on September 26, 2019
Friar Sports
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
Last Friday, the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team played its first Big East game against the Seton Hall University Pirates. The last time the two teams faced off against one another was last season, when the Friars defeated Seton Hall 1-0 in double overtime.
Heading into the game against Seton Hall, the team was looking to keep their win streak after a great week of wins against Sacred Heart University and Harvard University, winning 4-0 and 1-0 respectively, putting the Friars’ record at an overall 4-2, and making a name for themselves in Big East men’s soccer.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Seton Hall came into the game still trying to find their footing, after a 1-3 record in the beginning of the season.
Throughout the first six games of the season, the Friars have been outshooting their opponents 111-32, even holding Harvard to five shots and Sacred Heart to only two shots.
In the first 26 minutes of the match, PC scored on a header from Paulo Lima ’22 to the top left frame of the goal right over Seton Hall’s goalkeeper. The goal came from an assist off a crossed ball corner kick from Joao Serrano ‘20RS, on the backside of the eighteen-yard box on the pitch. The corner kick came from Danny Griffin ’20, which Lima was able to head into the net for the Friars’ first and only goal of the match.
Within the first 45 minutes of the match, Seton Hall was not able to find a shot. Their chance came in the 63rd minute of the game off a free kick, which was tipped away by the Friars goalkeeper Austin Aviza ‘20RS. Aviza finished the game with four saves, and the Friars had 12 shots, including four on goal.
This win put the Friars at a 5-2 record, making them third in the Big East Conference, right behind St. John’s University and Georgetown University.
Immediately after the weekend, the Big East Weekly Honor Roll was announced. Both Aviza and Serrano were featured on the list. This was Serrano’s third time on the list this season, and Aviza’s first time this season. Aviza has so far recorded three straight shutouts for the season, on top of .61 goals against average, and .778 save percentage.
On Wednesday, PC faced off against their Rhode Island rival Brown University. After a tough defensive game, PC walked away from the match with a 1-0 victory, improving their record to 6-2, on a four-game win streak. The lone goal was scored by Ramzi Qawasmy ’22.
Coming off this match, the Friars look forward to continuing their Big East play with an away game in Washington, D.C. to face off against rival Georgetown.
Friars Beat Harvard 1-0
by The Cowl Editor on September 19, 2019
Friar Sports
Captain Tiago Mendoca ’20RS Nets Game-Winner at Home
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team hosted the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University this past Saturday at Anderson Stadium. The Pioneers entered Saturday’s contest with a record of 1-3 and were coming off their first win of the season, a 2-1 victory over Saint Peter’s University. The Friars, on the other hand, entered Saturday’s game with a record of 2-2, coming off a 2-1 loss at the University of Rhode Island.
PC wasted no time against SHU on Saturday afternoon, as Davis Smith ’21 headed a cross past the outstretched arms of the SHU goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make the score 1-0 in the sixth minute of the game.
PC did not stop there, as Andualem Chisholm ’22 chipped a goal past the keeper before halftime to extend the lead to 2-0. PC continued its success into the second half as Danny Griffin ’20 scored on a penalty kick to increase the home team’s lead to 3-0.
To cap things off for the Friars, Kevin Vang ’22 curled a left-footed shot past SHU’s goalkeeper to score his first career goal for PC in the 81st minute on a sharp assist by Matt DePerro ’21.
That was the last of the scoring for PC. The team beat SHU 4-0 to improve its record to 3-2.
The Friars looked to carry momentum from its victory over SHU into Monday’s contest against the Crimson of Harvard University.
The Crimson came into Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium on Monday with a record of 0-3, having previously lost to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and the University of Vermont.
Despite Harvard’s recent struggles, they put up a good fight against PC from the early stages of the game. The game started off back and forth between the two teams, with neither team dominating possession or even finding the back of the net.
The 0-0 score finally changed in the 21st minute of the match when Smith and Chisholm assisted Tiago Mendonca ‘20 RS, who unleashed a powerful one-time strike into the back of the net to give PC a 1-0 lead over Harvard.
From this point on, PC maintained a calm and collected play style and controlled possession while also making an effort to keep up its offensive attack. PC ended the game with a total of 27 shots compared to just five shots for the Crimson. PC also earned eight corner kicks compared to three for the Crimson. Even though the Friars controlled the majority of the game, the Crimson kept the game tight for the full 90 minutes thanks in part to goalkeeper Oskar Nilsson, who made six outstanding saves to keep his team within striking distance. However, Harvard was unable to break through and PC earned the 1-0 victory.
PC now looks ahead to Friday, when it opens Big East play at home against Seton Hall University at 7 p.m. at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.
Men’s Soccer Picks Up First Road Victory
by The Cowl Editor on September 12, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Look to Get Back on Track at Home vs. Sacred Heart
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Assistant Editor
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team went on the road for the first time last Friday night, traveling to the State University of New York at Albany for a tilt against a gritty Great Danes squad. The result: a solid 1-0 road victory for the Friars.
PC dominated the first half, although the score remained tied when the halftime buzzer sounded. The Friars dominated possession, putting together some great link-up play that netted several good chances on goal. In total, PC outshot the Great Danes four to one in the half, never letting the opposing squad get a good look on net.
The Friars were quick out of the gate in the second half, putting pressure on the UAlbany defense almost immediately. That pressure resulted in the first and only goal of the night in the 49th minute when Trevor Davock ’20 RS slotted a shot past the UAlbany keeper from the top right-hand corner of the box. He was assisted by Esben Wolf ’23, who made a great pass up the right wing to find Davock in scoring position.
The next 25 minutes were more of the same for PC, as solid passing and a stout defense kept the ball in UAlbany’s half of the field. Momentum did pick-up at the 75-minute mark for the Great Danes when PC was assessed a yellow card right outside of the box. However, the Friars defense easily blocked and sent away the free kick that followed.
For the rest of the match UAlbany was on their front foot, having the edge in possession for the first time. However, the PC backline continued to turn them back as the Friars defense excelled at blocking any potential shots on net.
The Great Danes’ best scoring chance of the night came off of a corner kick in the 88th minute. The initial kick connected with the Great Dane’s Alex Bourgeois head, causing the ball to barely miss the net as it ricocheted off the crossbar. The rebound came right back out to Sam Philip, who scorched a shot on net, but was met with the save of the night by PC keeper Austin Aviza ’20 RS. Aviza dove to his right to make the tremendous save, successfully clinching the one goal victory.
Aviza ended the night with two saves and zero goals against, seeming to have found his groove with his new team. On the offensive side, Davock had three total shots to go along with his second goal of the season. Danny Griffin ’20, also had a great performance on the offensive end, racking up four shots while showing off his impressive footwork.
Defensively, the entire backline played a very solid game, but Malcolm Duncan ’21 particularly stood out. He continually turned away the Great Dane attack and prevented any sort of link-up play between the opposing squad’s forwards and midfield.
After a successful trip to New York, the Friars made it back to their home state to take on the University of Rhode Island in South Kingston on Sept. 9. The game flow went PC’s way, as they peppered the Rams keeper with 21 shots. Unfortunately, only one of those shots found the back of the net. Joao Serrano ’20 RS produced the lone Friar goal off a penalty kick in the 60th minute. The Rams on the other hand were able to work two goals on the night, giving them a 2-1 victory over their interstate rival.
Up next for PC is a Sept. 14 matchup against Sacred Heart University at Chapey Field. The game will be the first in an important four-game homestand for the Friars.
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.
Editors
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
PCI
Men’s Soccer Upsets #8 Southern Methodist
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
One of the best moments in Providence College Athletics this year came before many students stepped foot onto campus. In their first game of the season, the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team went on the road and knocked off the 8th-ranked Southern Methodist University Mustangs 2-1 in double-overtime. The Friars were coming off a 5-8-5 season in 2017 where they made a big splash to open the 2018 season.
In the previous season, SMU had a lot of success on the field. The Mustangs captured the American Athletic Conference regular season and conference title. The Mustangs would also go on to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. They had compiled a 17-3-1 in 2017, including a perfect 13-0-0 record on their home turf.
The Mustangs returned one of the best players in the AAC, Garrett McLaughlin, who lead the conference in scoring with 14 goals and 31 points.
After a scoreless opening forty-five minutes, the Friars began the scoring in the 52nd minute when Tiago Mendonca ’20RS netted the Friars first goal of the season. Brendan Constantine ’19 came close to doubling their lead with a chance in the 55th minute. With just over ten minutes to go in game, SMU would tie the game up.
It would remain a deadlock at one until the 104th minute in double-overtime when Alex DaCosta ’20 scored the game winner. DaCosta would be named to the All-Tournament team.
A key factor in the Friars’ victory was netminder Colin Miller ’19, who recorded eight saves for the Friars, including a couple down the stretch of regulation. Even though SMU outshot the Friars 24-8, SMU only had nine on target.
The Friars opened the 2018 season in a big way that would help set up their success for the rest of the season. The Friars would go on to finish 10-7-2 on the year, including a 6-2-1 record in conference.
Although many of the teams in Friartown had knocked off nationally ranked opponents, I believe this men’s soccer victory over SMU at the start of the season was by far one of the biggest moments in PC sports this year.
Julian Gressel ’16 Finds Home with Atlanta United
by The Cowl Editor on January 24, 2019
Friar Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
After what was an outstanding career as a midfielder on the Providence College Men’s Soccer Team, Julian Gressel ’16 has quickly become one of the top rising stars in Major League Soccer. Born in Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany, Gressel came to the United States in 2013 to join the Friars’ soccer team. Gressel’s impact on the team was felt immediately as he started all 22 games for the Friars in his freshman season. Over that span of time, Gressel led the team in goals, assists, points, and shots on goal. In his rookie season, Gressel achieved a Big East Rookie of the Week honor and was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team and All-Big East Second Team.
Gressel continued to produce for the Friars in his sophomore season on the team in 2014. During the 2013-14 season, Gressel scored five goals and added five assists. He continued his steady play into the Big East Tournament, receiving Big East All-Tournament Team recognition. In 2015, Gressel scored five goals in his third season at PC. He again received numerous accolades including being named to the Big East All-Tournament Team and the All-Big East Second Team. However, during his senior season in 2016, Gressel truly played to his full potential. Gressel netted an outstanding 15 goals in just 22 games played, 6 assists, and 36 total points. His incredible performance throughout the season ultimately led to an NCAA tournament berth for the Friars, which included an incredible 5-4 comeback win over No. 1 seed University of Maryland. Gressel added two goals in this second-round game of the tournament, and finished second all-time in goals, assists, and points among all PC players.
Upon the conclusion of his career at PC, Gressel entered the 2017 MLS Super Draft where he was the highest Friar ever selected. He was picked up by Atlanta United FC as the 8th overall draft pick in the draft.
In his rookie season with Atlanta, Gressel showed no signs of being overwhelmed with the conversion from college to professional soccer. In his first season with Atlanta United, Gressel appeared in 32 games, scoring five goals and adding nine assists. This stellar first season led to him being named the 2017 MLS Rookie of the Year. Atlanta, however, fell short in the MLS Playoffs to Columbus Crew SC in the 2017 season. Gressel and Atlanta United made sure that they would not fall short the following season, and showcased their dominance throughout the 2018 season.
In his second season in the MLS, Gressel scored four goals and recorded 14 assists to help lead his squad to its first MLS Cup victory. Atlanta beat the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Final by a score of 2-0. This was a fitting way for Atlanta United to cap off its second season in the league as no other MLS team showcased nearly the same level of quality and consistency throughout the season. Gressel was an integral part of this quality and consistency as a rock-solid midfielder.
Through just two seasons in MLS, Gressel boasts a Rookie of the Year award and an MLS Cup victory. The PC graduate has shown no signs of slowing down as he is one of the top young midfielders in the league.
Twenty Friars Named to All-Big East Teams
by The Cowl Editor on December 6, 2018
Friar Sports
Soccer Teams and Field Hockey Each Send Five Players
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The fall sports season has come to a close, meaning that the time to honor athletic accomplishments is now upon us. All six Providence College Division I teams, who finished their seasons by the end of November, saw players receive All-Big East honors. Three of these six teams saw a whopping five players receive conference accolades.
The PC Women’s Soccer Team was one of the teams to nab five All-Big East awards, marking the most in program history. Katie Day ’19 is the second PC women’s soccer player ever to earn back-to-back All-Big East First Team Honors. The dominant defender started every game for the Friars this season, including one in which she headed home the game-winning goal against Marquette University.
Shelby Hogan ‘20RS, Kayla Steeves ’19, and Hannah McNulty ‘21 were awarded Second Team Honors, while Hannah Morgan ’22 was named to the All-Freshman Team. Hogan had a tremendous year in her second season as the team’s goalkeeper, while McNulty led the Friars in goals scored with 10.
On the PC Men’s Soccer Team, five All-Big East awards were also handed out. Tiago Mendonca ‘20RS took home First Team Honors as the crafty midfielder led the Friars in goals (five), points (10), and shots (40). Colin Miller ‘19RS and Klisman Sousa ’19RS picked up Second Team Honors. Miller, the starting goalkeeper for the past three seasons, reached eight shutouts for the second time in his very successful career, finishing the season with nine. Two impressive newcomers in Ramzi Qawasmy ’22 and Gil Santos ’22 were named to the All-Big East Freshman Team. Qawasmy logged the second-most minutes of anyone on the team while Santos hammered home three goals.
The field hockey team rounds out the squads to pick up five All-Big East Honors, as the team saw one member named to the All-Big East First Team and four named to the All-Big East Second Team. The team’s five All-Big East selections are the second-most in program history. Corinne Kenney ’19 was the player to find herself on the First Team. She anchored the Friar defense while also setting a career high in assists with five. Her selection only adds to her long list of accolades, including being an All-Academic Team honoree.
Maddie Babineau ’21, Izzy Mendez ’20, Mary O’Reilly ’20, and Lydia Rice ’19 were the four additional players who garnered All-Big East Second Team Honors. Babineau started all 18 games for PC this year and posted career highs in points (12), goals (three) and assists (six). Mendez accumulated a team-best seven goals, while O’Reilly pitched in 10 points. She also received various academic honors. Rice’s lone season in goal for the Friars was a superb one, as she had five shutouts and had the highest save percentage across the entire conference.
Moving away from the field and onto the race course, four different Friars picked up All-Big East Honors for the cross country teams. On the women’s side, runners Abbey Wheeler ’20, Regan Rome ’18G, and Tessa Barrett ’18G all finished top 20 at the Big East Cross Country Championships, determining their status as All-Big East. Wheeler capped off a tremendous season with a fourth overall finish in a time of 20:35.3.
For the men, Ryan Gallagher ’21 also earned the Honors due to his top-20 finish at the championships.
The final All-Big East honoree was volleyball star Allison Impellizeri ’19. She was named to the All-Big East Second Team after leading the Friars in kills (326) and total blocks (86). Impellizeri also ranked fifth in hitting percentage in the Big East.
As the athletic calendar moves to the winter season, the Friars who will take to the court and ice can only hope to match the all-around success of the fall athletes.