Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Seton Hall on September 19, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2
Men's Soccer
at Seton Hall
Final
0
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2
Providence College Athletics
1998 Men's Soccer Review
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
1998 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN'S SOCCER: 9-9-1, 6-4-1, 5th BIG EAST
The 1998 Providence College men's soccer team enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in the history of the program. With a 9-9-1 record, it marked the first time the Friars earned nine victories in a season since 1987. It also was the first time PC finished .500 or better since 1990. More significantly, the 1998 squad will be remembered as the first Friar soccer team to finish with a winning record in BIG EAST Conference action. PC's 6-4-1 league mark earned the squad a fifth-place finish and a berth in the BIG EAST Playoffs for the first time since 1987.
Ironically, five games into the 1998 season it appeared as though the Friars were headed for a disastrous campaign. PC began the season with a hard-fought 3-0 loss at 10th-ranked Connecticut. In the next three games the team showed little improvement as PC scored only one goal in losses to Vermont (1-0) on September 5, New Hampshire (2-1) on September 6 and Fairfield (1-0) on September 11.
On September 18 and 20, the Friars played two BIG EAST road games that signalled a dramatic turnaround in the team's fortunes. The Friars played at St. John's on September 18 and suffered their worst defeat of the season as the Red Storm shutout PC, 8-0. The St. John's game served as a wake-up call for the Friars as two days later they earned their first win of the season with a 1-0 overtime victory against Syracuse. Sophomore John Costigan (Dublin, Ireland) scored in the 104th minute to give the Friars their first win against the Orangemen since 1990. Dan Pires (Ludlow, Mass.) played a strong game in net, making a season-high 12 saves.
Following the Syracuse win, the Friars won their next three games, allowing only one goal in 270 minutes of play. The season of firsts continued for the Friars as they defeated Harvard, 2-1, on September 23 at Glay Field for their first win ever against the Crimson. Forward Kevin Jones (Westford, Mass.) recorded his first collegiate multiple-goal game. On September 27, PC recorded its second BIG EAST win of the season with a 2-0 shutout at Pittsburgh. Jones again was the offensive star for PC, recording his second consecutive two-goal game and earning BIG EAST Player of the Week for his efforts. Pires made eight stops in net for his sixth career shutout. The Friars won their fourth straight game with a 4-0 victory against the University of Rhode Island at Glay Field on September 29. The four goals would prove to be the Friars' highest single-game offensive output of the season.
With four consecutive wins, the Friars record stood at 4-5 and the team was closing in on the .500 mark. However, a disappointing 2-0 loss to West Virginia at Glay Field on October 3 sent the team into a tailspin which resulted in two more losses. On October 6, the Friars travelled across town and were defeated by a strong Brown University squad, 2-1. After a 10-day break, PC returned to action against 19th-ranked Rutgers at Glay Field. Rutgers defeated the Friars, 2-1, but PC proved it was ready to compete with some of the top teams in the country.
A 2-1 win against Notre Dame on October 21, gave the Friars their first win ever against the Fighting Irish and was the start of PC's five-game unbeaten streak. On October 24, Jones scored 3:20 into the second half for what proved to be the game-winning goal and give the Friars a 2-1 upset win over 11th ranked Georgetown. The Friars continued to roll with a 2-0 shutout against Boston College on October 28 for the team's first win against the Eagles since 1992. Pires registered 10 saves in his fourth shutout of the season. Playing its final BIG EAST league contest of the season, PC played to a 0-0 tie after 120 minutes of action against the Seton Hall Pirates in South Orange, N.J. Pires was impressive in goal, recording eight saves. With a 6-4-1 mark in league play, the Friars wrapped up a fifth-place finish and their first appearance in the BIG EAST Playoffs since 1987. Although the BIG EAST seedings were determined the Friars had one final regular-season game remaining on the schedule against Dartmouth. Playing with complete confidence, the Friars defeated a strong Dartmouth team, 3-1, at Glay Field on November 3. The win gave the Friars an impressive 7-2 mark at home during the 1998 season and the team's first win ever against the Big Green.
On November 8, the Friars played at Georgetown in their first BIG EAST Playoff game since 1987. The resilient Friars entered the game playing their best soccer of season and holding a five-game unbeaten streak. Unfortunately, PC's season came to an end when Georgetown's Eric Kvello scored with 21 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Hoyas the win.
At the conclusion of the season, sophomore back John Costigan (Dublin, Ireland), junior midfielder Michael Eisenhut (Hanover, Mass.) and freshman back Kempes Corbally (Dublin, Ireland) all earned BIG EAST accolades. Costigan and Eisenhut were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and Corbally earned All-BIG EAST Rookie Team honors.
The 1998 PC men's soccer season was very successful. Head Coach Brian Ainscough continued his process of building one of the top soccer programs in New England. With all of the team's top five scorers returning in 1999, including team leader Kevin Jones (nine goals, four assists), the Friars have the potential to build upon this year's success and field a stronger team in 1999.
Men's Soccer vs Georgetown
Friday, November 07
Men's Soccer vs UCONN
Saturday, October 25
Men's Soccer vs Marquette
Friday, October 17
Men's Soccer vs Villanova
Friday, October 03
