Field Hockey Opens Season With Three-Game West Coast Swing

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE COLLEGE: The Providence College field hockey team opens the 2018 campaign with three games in four days on the West Coast against Cal (Aug 24, 9:00 p.m. ET), UC Davis (Aug. 26, 2:00 p.m. ET) and Pacific (Aug. 27, 4:00 p.m. ET).

Providence is 3-2 all-time versus Cal, with the most recent meeting between the two programs being played in 2010. That season, the Friars earned a 2-1 victory over the Golden Bears. The Friars are 2-0 all-time against UC Davis, and are fresh off a 5-2 victory against the Aggies in 2017. The last meeting between Providence and Pacific dates back to the 2011 campaign, with the Friars taking a 4-1 victory. Providence leads the all-time series against Pacific, 4-1.

The Friars return 16 letterwinners, including five full-time members of the starting line-up, from last year's team that finished 11-8 overall and posted a 4-3 mark in the BIG EAST Conference (fourth place). Eight of the Friars' 11 victories came at home on Lennon Family Field, marking the most wins at the facility since opening its doors in 2005.

In 2017, Providence qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for the 17th time in program history, including the eighth time in the last 12 seasons. As the No. 4 seed, Providence fell to BIG EAST and NCAA National Champion Connecticut, 3-0, in the semifinals. The Friars were picked to finish fourth in the 2018 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Among the list of returning players is 2017 All-BIG EAST Second-Team selection Corinne Kenney (Warrington, Pa.), who will anchor the Friars' defense. Kenney was one of two Providence College honorees on the 2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Junior midfielder Mikayla Michals (Needham, Mass.) also was named to the team as one of four unanimous selections.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA: Last season Cal clinched a share of the America East West Division title, going 4-2 in conference play, and recorded a 9-8 record overall. In 2018, the Golden Bears have been picked to finish third in the West Division, according to the league's preseason coaches' poll.

The 2018 Golden Bear roster features a wealth of talent, including three members of the U.S. Women's National Team pipeline in Katrina Carter, Megan Rodgers and rookie Brynn Zorilla. The Bears return six players who scored three or more goals last season in Rodgers (17 goals), Carter (four), Melina Moore (eight), Janaye Sakkas (three) and Gabi Jimenez (three), along with assist leader Femke Delissen (nine assists).

Last season, Danielle Mentink started 17 games in the cage for Cal, totaling 1140 minutes. She posted a 1.90 goals against average and a 0.728 save percentage. She logged one shut-out victory during the course of the year against Bryant in an 8-0 victory.

SCOUTING UC DAVIS: Last season, UC Davis completed the year with a 1-17 overall record, with its lone victory coming against Bryant (2-1) on Sept. 29. The Aggies scored just 18 goals on the season, while giving up 70. However, the team looks to have a revamped roster for the coming year. The Aggies enter the 2018 season with 17 underclassmen on its 24-player roster, including nine freshmen.

The Aggies return their two leading scorers from 2017 in Emily Chen and Nica Taglieri. Chen tallied seven points on three goals and one assist, while Taglieri chipped in seven points on two goals and a team-best three assists.

Chelsea Bigelow returns for her sophomore campaign in the cage, having played all 18 games for a total of 1278 minutes of action. She posted a 3.83 goals against average and a 0.679 save percentage. She will be challenged by fellow sophomore Melissa Ardila.

Prior to hosting Providence, UC Davis will host Temple on Friday, Aug. 24 to open the 2018 campaign.

SCOUTING PACIFIC: Pacific completed the 2017 season with a 10-9 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the America East Conference Field Hockey Championship. The Tigers have been picked to finish second in the America East West Division, earning six points in the preseason coaches' poll, while Stanford sits atop the poll with nine points.

The Tigers return nine members of their starting line-up from a season ago, including NFHCA All-America selection and reigning America East Player of the Year Kriekie van Wyk, who finished the year with 45 points on 19 goals and seven assists. The two losses in the starting line-up for Pacific both come from the defensive unit in Savannah Burns and Emma Leach. Burns finished second on the team in scoring with 37 points on 14 goals and nine assists, while Leach contributed 16 points on three goals and 10 assists.

Marlise van Tonder returns to the cage for Pacific having played all 1357 minutes in goal last season. She posted a 2.58 goals against average and a 0.691 save percentage.

Pacific is scheduled to open the season against Maryland on Aug. 24, and will face fellow BIG EAST Conference member Temple on Aug. 26, before hosting the Friars.

- GO FRIARS! -

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Players Mentioned

Mikayla Michals