PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's soccer team will travel to take on the St. John's Red Storm on Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. The match will be played at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.
Series History vs. St. John's
Last Meeting: Providence – 2, St. John's – 1 (2017)
All-Time Series: 15-15-2
Current Streak: Providence snapped the Red Storm's three game winning streak against them last season with a 2-1 win.
Scouting the Red Storm
St. John's enters Thursday's game with a 5-7 overall record and 1-2 record in BIG EAST play, most recently losing at Marquette, 1-0. The Red Storm hold a 4-1 record at home but have struggled on the road, recording a 1-6 record. Sophomore Zsani Kajan leads St. John's in goals (seven) and points (16), tallying 43 shots over 12 games. The Red Storm return 2017 All-BIG EAST Second Team member, Christina Bellero, who is tied for second on the team in points (eight) and goals (three). Meredith Reinhardt will most likely start in net. She's recorded 771 minutes compared to her teammate, Jordan Kamp, who has played 299 minutes in goal. Reinhardt holds a 1.63 goals against average compared to Kamp's 2.10 goals against average.
BIG EAST Play
Providence fell to 1-2 in conference play on Sept. 30 after a 1-0 loss to the Butler. The Friars struggled to find anything on offense, tallying five shots with zero on net.
Shelby Hogan (Franklin, Mass.) ended with six saves on the afternoon, giving up a game-winner in the 56
th minute. Madison Toth scored her first goal of the season on a deflected ball in the box that Toth volleyed off the right post and in. Butler remained undefeated in BIG EAST play after jumping in and out of the top 25 throughout the season.
Providence dropped their first game at home this season against Xavier (3-2) on Sept. 27, despite taking the lead twice in the match.
Hannah McNulty (Warwick, R.I.) opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a free kick she bent around the Musketeer's wall, and tucked inside the right post. Xavier responded and tied the game just nine minutes later on Samantha Dewey's fifth goal of the season.
Alessandra Arace (Pittsfield, Mass.) tallied her first goal of the season just two minutes into the second half, converting a header just under the crossbar off a corner kick from
Kayla Steeves (Needham, Mass.). The Musketeers tied the game for the second time in the 71
st minute off a corner kick the Molly McLaughlin headed in. Xavier picked up the win just 1:16 into the second overtime period on a goal from Sydney Schembri.
The Friars opened up their BIG EAST schedule with a 2-0 win over Villanova on Sept. 22.
Hannah McNulty built on her already impressive season, giving the Friars the lead in the 50
th minute on a well-struck ball at the top of the 18-yard box that the Villanova goalkeeper had no chance on.
Kayla Steeves contributed to the scoring just eight minutes later, curling her shot to the back post off her corner kick that just got over the outreached hands of the goalkeeper.
Arkansas Draw to Wrap Up Non-Conference Play
Providence finished non-conference play at 6-2-1 after picking up a 1-1 draw against Arkansas on Sunday, Sept. 16. Sophomore
Shelby Hogan tallied her career-high in saves (14) in the Friars' draw. The Razorbacks took the lead in the 79
th minute with a deflected ball that Stefani Doyle slipped by Hogan. Providence responded quickly as
Amber Birchwell (Mastic, N.Y.) finished a right footed shot from the penalty mark in the 84
th minute.
Elayna Grillakis (Lowell, Mass.) and
Casey Estey (Kensington, N.H.) assisted on the play. Hogan extended the game in the first overtime period (98') with a full-extension dive to save a shot heading to the upper right 90. Arkansas outshot Providence 5-2 in the overtime periods but neither team could finish, ending the game 1-1.
Home Stretch
Providence began its three-game homestand with a 2-0 win over Brown on Sept. 6. The Friars held a 13-0 advantage in shots at the end of the first half.
Amber Birchwell and
Hannah McNultyscored their second goals of the season, while
Hailee Duserick (Canton, Mass.) and
Kayla Steeves picked up assists on Birchwell's goal.
Shelby Hogan picked up her fourth shutout of the season. The Friars improved to 3-0 at home after the win over the Bears on Thursday night.
McNulty, who was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, led the Friars on Sunday (Sept. 9) in their 3-1 win over Harvard. The Friars gave up a goal to Leah Mohammadi in the 29
th minute, giving the Crimson a 1-0 lead heading into halftime despite being outshot by the Friars, 5-3.
Olivia Lucia opened up the scoring in the second half, notching her first career goal in the 54
th minute. McNulty added the game-winning goal in the 76
th minute and just five minutes later, the insurance goal.
Alessandra Arace picked up two assists on the afternoon, while
Casey Estey assisted on the Friars third goal. Hogan finished the afternoon with seven saves.
The Friars wrapped up their non-conference slate at home this season posting a 5-0-0 record, after defeating Drexel (Sept. 13) in overtime, 2-1. This marks the second game in a row they overcame a 1-0 deficit and also marked back-to-back games for McNulty scoring two goals. McNulty is now tied for the BIG EAST lead with six goals on the season. Providence held a 14-9 advantage in shots and just needed one shot from McNulty in the first overtime session to take the win. Hogan finished the afternoon with five saves and one goal against.
Duke Nike Classic
The Friars came away from the Duke Nike Classic with a strong showing in Durham, N.C. Providence fell short of an upset dropping game one to No. 3 North Carolina, 1-0. Hogan tallied a season-high seven saves and only gave up a single goal to one of the most efficient offenses in the country. The game-winning goal came in the 40
th minute off a shot from Alessia Russo five yards outside the 18-yard box. The ball rebounded off Hogan and was finished by Julia Ashley.
Their final game in the tournament against No. 12 Duke was another battle. The Blue Devils gained a 2-0 advantage in a 15 minute span in the first half. The Friars battled back with a late goal in the 76
th minute by Estey, but Providence could not convert their lone scoring opportunity for the remainder of the game off a corner kick in the 83
rd minute. Hogan had another impressive game, holding No. 12 Duke to just two goals with three saves.
Duserick and Hogan were named to 2018 Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament Team.
Hannah McNulty's assist and Estey's goal have tied them for the team lead in points (four).
Friars' Hot Start
Providence started the season 3-0 for the first time since the 2015 season, outshooting their opponents 41-17 over the course of the three games. Hogan recorded three-consecutive shutouts for the third time in her career, giving her 10 career shutouts as a sophomore. The Friars' three wins came over Holy Cross (2-0), Fairleigh Dickinson (1-0) and Hartford (2-0). Five different players have scored a goal for the Friars. All-BIG EAST First Team member in 2017 and Preseason All-BIG EAST member,
Katie Day, led the back line for the Friars, who did not give up a goal in 310 minutes to start the season.
Birchwell Starts Strong
Amber Birchwell picked up three points for the Friars in her season debut against Hartford (Aug. 23). Birchwell tallied a goal and an assist, as she proved to be Providence's main offensive threat. Her success led her to be named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (8/27).
Up Next
The Friars will return home to host Marquette for an Oct. 7 BIG EAST match-up. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
2018 Providence College Award Winners
Katie Day
- Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
- BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week: 8/20
Shelby Hogan
- BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week: 8/27
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll: 8/20, 9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24
- 2018 Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament Team
Hailee Duserick
- 2018 Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament Team
Hannah McNulty
- BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week: 8/20, 9/10
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll: 9/17
Amber Birchwell
- BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll: 8/27
Follow the team on Twitter:
@PC_WomensSoccer
To watch games on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) via FOX Sports Go. Download the FOX Sports Go app on your mobile device or tablet to watch the game, or tune in via the internet on your desktop/laptop computer by navigating to http://www.FOXSportsGo.com. The app is not available internationally, but the game may be watched via the internet.
-GO FRIARS-