Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at RV/#19 Fairfield on March 1, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 15
Men's Lacrosse
at RV/#19 Fairfield
Final
7
-
15
Providence College Athletics
Men's Lacrosse To Host No. 2 Denver
4/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
April 21, 2016
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -
The Providence College men's lacrosse team (7-6) will host Denver (10-1) on Saturday, April 23 at 12:00 p.m. The Pioneers are ranked No. 2 in the most recent USILA/Nike Coaches' Poll, released on April 18. Prior to the game, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the official grand opening dedication of Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium. Additionally, the graduating seniors will be recognized as part of senior day.
Live Stats:
Live Video: Friars All-Access
Twitter: @PCFriarsLax
Series History vs. Denver
First Meeting: PC 7, Denver 8 (2000)
Last Meeting: PC 9, Denver 13 (2015)
All-Time Series: Denver leads 5-0-0
Scouting The Pioneers
The defending NCAA and BIG EAST Champion Denver Pioneers are currently 10-1 on the season and are ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Pioneers' only loss came against Penn State, 15-10, on March 26. The Pioneers are on a three-game winning streak and are undefeated in BIG EAST play (3-0).
Connor Cannizzaro leads Denver in scoring with 34 goals and 18 assists for 52 points, while Tyler Pace tops the team in assists, with 20. Five of the Pioneers have over 10 goals this season, with three men sitting tied for sixth in goals, with nine. Denver's scoring offense currently ranks third in the nation (13.73), while its assists per game (9.27) and points per game (23.0) rank second. Alex Ready has appeared in net for all 11 of Denver's games. Ready has collected 100 saves and owns a 8.88 goals-against average and a .535 save percentage.
The two teams have met five times in the history of the two programs prior to this weekend. Denver leads the series, 5-0.
Last Time Out
Providence fell at No. 3 Brown, 16-10, on April 19. The Friars were the first to get on the board but the Bears retaliated with three unanswered goals to gain a lead, which they held for the remainder of the game. Junior Keenan Assaraf (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) registered a hat trick in the effort, while freshman Tate Boyce (Matthews, N.C.) tallied 17 saves in net for Providence. With the loss, Providence moved to 7-6 overall on the season (1-2 BIG EAST).
Scouting the Friars
So far this season, Mazzone leads the team in goals (30), assists (21) and points (51). Freshman Brendan Kearns (Wantagh, N.Y.) ranks second in each of those categories with 20 goals, 14 assists and 34 points. Junior Jimmy Cunningham (Syracuse, N.Y.) leads Providence with 47 ground balls, while junior Jarrod Neumann (Springfield, Mass.) owns 38. Tate Boyce has started all 13 games for Providence, collecting 155 saves. Boyce enters the weekend with a 9.50 goals-against average and a .560 save percentage.
The Friars were picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason poll after finishing with a 5-9 (1-4 BIG EAST) record during the 2015 season. Four of the top six scorers from last season return to the field in 2016, including Will Mazzone, Michael Perettine, Joshua Keller and Keenan Assaraf. Mazzone was last years' leader in goals (24) and points (35) and also tied for the lead in assists with 11, while Perettine tied for second on the team in goals, with 16.
Additionally, Neumann returns for the Friars on defense and was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Jan. 25, the NEILA Preseason All-New England First Team on Feb. 8 and was also named a Preseason All-America Honorable Mention selection in December by Inside Lacrosse.
Amongst The Best In The Nation
The Friars are ranked 14th in the nation in shot percentage (0.315) and No. 17 in caused turnovers per game (7.69).
Additionally, Tate Boyce is ranked eighth in the nation in saves per game (11.92) and 12th for save percentage (.560), while Will Mazzone is ranked 19th for points per game (3.92) and Keenan Assaraf sits in third for shot percentage (0.5).
Top Of The BIG EAST
Providence is currently the top-ranked team in the BIG EAST for caused turnovers/game (7.69) and penalty-killing percentage (.788). Will Mazzone also sits third for points per game (3.92), while Tate Boyce leads the BIG EAST in saves per game (11.92).
Friars Received Votes in the National Polls
After their 12-7 upset of then ranked No. 12 Hofstra on March 19, the Friars received votes in the USILA/Nike Division I Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll released on Mar. 22.
Brendan Kearns Earns Multiple Player of the Week Honors
Kearns registered three goals and two assists for five points in the Friars' 12-7 upset over then ranked No. 12 Hofstra on March 19 to earn BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and Epoch/Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week on March 21. The win was the first time that the Friars have defeated a ranked opponent since April 28, 2012.
Will Mazzone Named BIG EAST Offensive Player Of The Week Twice
Mazzone has been named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. Both of his honors came after eight-point efforts, including a six goal, two assist performance in the Friars' victory over Holy Cross (Feb. 12) and another six goal, two assist effort in the Friars' 15-10 win over St. John's on April 2.
The Holy Cross game marked a single-game career high in goals and points, while the St. John's game tied that career high.
Mazzone Hits 100 Career Points
Prior to the Holy Cross game on Feb. 12, Mazzone had a total of 98 career points. With his second of six goals in that game, he hit the 100 career points mark and then surpassed it during the game. After the April 19 game at Brown, Mazzone collected three points to add his collegiate career total (139).
Mazzone currently ranks ninth all-time in in career scoring at Providence (including two seasons at West Point - 2013-14), 10th in career goals (84) and is 11th in career assists (54).
Next Game
After taking on the Denver Pioneers, the Friars will play their final regular season game of the year at Villanova on April 30. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
2016 Providence College Individual Award Winners
Jarrod Neumann
- Preseason NEILA All-New England First Team (Feb. 8)
- Preseason All-BIG EAST Team (Jan. 25)
- Preseason All-America Honorable Mention (Dec. 9)
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (April 18)
Will Mazzone
- BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (Feb. 15 & April 4)
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 7)
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 14)
James Barclay
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Feb. 15)
Tate Boyce
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Feb. 22)
Connor Byrne
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Feb. 29)
Brendan Kearns
- BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (Mar. 21)
- Epoch/Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week (Mar. 21)
Jimmy Cunningham
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 28)
Michael Perettine
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Mar. 28)
- GO FRIARS -
Players Mentioned
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Goalie
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
/ Men's LacrosseLAX vs. Marquette
Saturday, April 17
LAX vs. St. John's
Saturday, April 10
LAX vs. Denver
Saturday, March 27
LAX vs. Georgetown
Saturday, March 20
