Field Hockey Set To Take On Pair Of Intra-State Rivals

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE COLLEGE: The Providence College field hockey team has compiled an 0-3 record and will travel to Brown on Saturday, Sept. 1 for a 1:00 p.m. match-up before hosting Bryant in its home opener on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 1:00 p.m. The Friars opened the 2018 slate with losses to Cal (5-1), UC Davis (3-2) and Pacific (2-1).

Six different Friars have recorded at least one point this season, and three players have combined to score the team's four goals. Junior Mikayla Michals (Needham, Mass.) leads the team with four points on two goals. Fellow juniors Kara Sanford (Hazleton, Pa.) and Izzy Mendez (Cedar Grove, N.J.) have each tallied one goal this season. A trio of players have picked up assists, including Allyson Parker (Orange, Mass.), Corinne Kenney (Warrington, Pa.) and Mary O'Reilly (Longmeadow, Mass.).

Lydia Rice (Carle Place, N.Y.) has played 140 minutes in the cage and owns a 3.50 goals against average and a 0.611 save percentage. Cassie Kincaid (Hammonton, N.J.) has played 70 minutes in goal and has posted a 3.00 goals against average and a 0.500 save percentage.

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.

Kenney and Michals were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team prior to the start of the season. Michals was one of four unanimous selections on the team. Last year, Kenney was an All-BIG EAST Second-Team honoree for Providence.

SCOUTING BROWN: The Brown Bears opened the season with a 1-0 victory over Bryant on Friday, Aug. 31 at Goldberger Field in Providence, R.I. The Bears out-shot the Bulldogs, 11-4, and held an 8-3 advantage in penalty corners. Bryant took a 1-0 lead 2:26 into the game, but Brown scored three unanswered goals by Ali Dunning, Ellie Seid and Gina Openshaw to take the victory.

Brown finished the 2017 season with a 1-16 record, with its only victory coming over Siena. The Bears return their two leading goal scorers from a season ago in Rachel Lanouette and Anagha Nayak, who each recorded 11 points on five goals and one assist.

Katie Hammaker returns in goal for Brown, having stared in all 17 games for the Bears last season and posted a 0.688 save percentage. In the season opener vs. Bryant, Hammaker allowed one goal and made three saves, having faced a total of four shots.

Last season, Providence defeated Brown, 3-2, at Lennon Family Field in Providence, R.I. The Friars scored two first-half goal to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Providence tacked on a third goal at the 43:29 mark, before Brown got on the board at 45:24 to make the score 3-1. The Bears managed to add a goal as regulation expired (70:00) on a penalty corner, but the goal had no effect on the game's outcome. The Friars held a 9-7 advantage in shots during the game and a 5-4 edge in penalty corners.

SCOUTING BRYANT: The Bulldogs have opened the season with an 0-3 record, with their most recent loss coming at the hands of Brown University, 3-1, on Aug. 31 at Goldberger Field in Providence, R.I. Emily Perryman scored Bryant's lone goal of the game off a rebound. Lyndsay Swanston took the loss in goal for the Bulldogs. She played the opening 35 minutes, allowed two goals and made one save. Marijn Jaarsma played the second half and allowed one goal, while making two saves.

After the opening weekend of the season, Jaarsma was named MAAC Rookie of the Week, despite two Bryant losses to UMass Lowell and VCU. She made four saves against UML in her debut and allowed just one goal in a 3-0 loss. Jaarsma made her first career start against VCU and played all 70 minutes, making nine saves in a 2-1 loss.

For the season, Jaarsma has played 140 minutes and owns a 2.00 goals against average and a 0.789 save percentage. Swanston has totaled 70 minutes and has registered a 4.00 goals against average and a 0.500 save percentage.

Through three games, Perryman leads the team with three points on one goal and one assist. Leyna DiMarco is second on the team in scoring with two points on one goal. Victoria Newbill and Freya Ward have each recorded one assist for Bryant.

Last season, Providence defeated Bryant, 3-2, in a match played at Goldberger Field on the campus of Brown University. The Bulldogs held a 2-1 lead through the first 48 minutes of action, but the Friars closed the game with two unanswered goal to take the victory. The deciding goal came with 18-seconds left in regulation on a penalty corner. The Friars held a 20-4 advantage in shots during the game and a 13-3 edge in penalty corners.

- GO FRIARS! -

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Players Mentioned

Cassie Kincaid

Izzy Mendez

Mikayla Michals

Mary O'Reilly

Allyson Parker

Lydia Rice

Kara Sanford