Men's Lacrosse Opens Ocean State Cup at Bryant

LIVE STATS AND STREAM... Saturday's game will have a video stream and live stats available through Bryant. Both can be found by visiting bryantbulldogs.com. The game marks the first match-up of the season in the Ocean State Cup.

SERIES BREAKDOWN - PROVIDENCE VS. BRYANT.. The season series between the Friars and Bulldogs is tied, 7-7. The Friars have won the last two meetings.

Last season the Friars earned a 13-8 victory over Bryant. Sean Leahey (Cranford, N.J.) and Nick Hatzipetrakos (Syosset, N.Y.) each scored three goals in the win. Tate Boyce (Matthews, N.C.) made 12 saves in net.

VICTORY AT HOLY CROSS... Last weekend Providence notched its first victory of the season, defeating Holy Cross by a score of 12-5. Nick Hatzipetrakos scored a season-high four goals. Freshman Matt Grillo (Setauket, N.Y.) added two goals and three assists for a team-high five points. Brendan Kearns (Wantagh, N.Y.) collected four total points on three goals and an assist. Boyce made 10 saves in net and allowed just five goals.

OPENING DAY AGAINST BU... The Friars fell to Boston University, 8-7, on Sunday, Feb. 3. Brendan Kearns and Ryan Nawrocki (Smithtown, N.Y.) each had two points on one goal and one assist. Freshmen Jake Antonucci (Westwood, Mass.) and Matt Grillo each recorded their first-career goals in the game. Boyce made 10 saves in net, while Terriers' goalie Joe McSorely had a stand-out, 24-save performance. Providence held advantages in shots (48-38) and turnovers (12-23).

LAST YEAR'S OCEAN STATE CUP... Providence captured the Ocean State Cup last season with wins over Bryant and Brown. The Friars beat Bryant (13-8) and then defeated Brown in overtime (12-11). It was the program's first victory over Brown in history, and first Ocean State Cup title.

KEARNS NAMED TO WEEKLY HONOR ROLL... Brendan Kearns was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll following the opening two weeks of the season (Feb. 11). He is tied for the team-lead in goals (four) and points (six).

GRILLO GETS GOING... Freshman Matt Grillo has had a strong start to his rookie campaign, starting both contests. He is tied for the team lead in points, with six. He also has three goals and a team-leading three assists.

FRIARS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN BIG EAST POLL... Providence was picked to finish fifth in the 2019 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll with a total of 10 points. Denver was picked to win the league, having collected four first-place votes and 25 points overall. Marquette (18 points) was picked to finish second and Georgetown (17 points), who received one first place vote, was picked third.

TWO FRIARS EARN PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SPOTS... It was announced by the league on Wednesday, Jan. 23 that Providence College men's lacrosse players Tate Boyce and Alex George (Simsbury, Conn.) were named to the 2019 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Boyce, who has now been on the squad for three-consecutive seasons, was a unanimous selection.

2019 CAPTAINS.. Tate Boyce, Nick Crews (Longmeadow, Mass.), Brendan Kearns, and David Procopio (Syracuse, N.Y.) will serve as the team captains for the 2019 campaign. All four players are seniors and have made major contributions to the program during their careers as Friars.

BOYCE RETURNS TO NET... Boyce, a three-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, returns for his senior season. The goalkeeper has already had a storied career in Friartown, including being named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and a USILA/Nike Third-Team All-American in 2017. For his career, Boyce holds a 9.31 goals against average, a .543 save percentage and has accumulated 545 total saves. Last season, he was one of 50 players named to the Preseason Tewaaraton Watch List.

So far this season Boyce has a 6.50 goals against average and a .606 save percentage. He currently ranks sixth in the nation in GAA.

WHERE KEARNS RANKS... Last year, senior Brendan Kearns became the 22nd player in program history to reach the 100-point mark. He currently has 71 goals and 43 assists for 114 total points. He is tied for 15th all-time in points and ranks 14th all-time in goals.

ROOKIES... The Friars welcomed 11 freshmen to the men's lacrosse program in the fall of 2018. Newcomers include Jake Antonucci (Westwood, Mass.), Will Ciccarelli (West Chester, Pa.), Matt Gould (Darien, Conn.), Matt Grillo (Setauket, N.Y.), Michael Harris (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Rainier Lee (Alexandria, Va.), Cam Martin (Westwood, Mass.), Ryan Mechler (Marlborough, Mass.), Luke O'Grady (Wayne, Pa.), Mike O'Grady (Milton, Mass.) and Will Thomas (Cohasset, Mass.).

SCOUTING BRYANT.. The Bulldogs are 0-1, having played their lone game against Bucknell (Feb. 10). Bryant fell 9-6 despite three goals from Marc O'Rourke and two goals from freshman Mason Balch.

Last season, Bryant went 8-7 overall, including a 5-1 mark in conference play. The season concluded with a NEC Semifinal loss to Robert Morris. The Bulldogs averaged 11.33 goals per game and allowed just 9.73 last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH... Freshman goalie Luke Caracciolo, who was just named NEC Co-Rookie of the Week, made 16 saves in his collegiate debut. He also picked up eight ground balls.

Offensively, O'Rourke and Balch lead the team with three points apiece. O'Rourke was the team's leading goal scorer (33) and point scorer (48) last year. He is the only one of the top three point-getters to return for Bryant. Last year he was named the NEC Rookie of the Year and to the All-NEC First Team.

WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars remain on the road to take on Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa. The next home contest is Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. against Sacred Heart.

- GO FRIARS! -

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jake Antonucci

Tate Boyce

Will Ciccarelli

Nick Crews

Alex George

Matt Gould

Matt Grillo

Michael Harris

Nick Hatzipetrakos

Brendan Kearns

Sean Leahey

Rainier Lee

Cam Martin

Ryan Mechler

Ryan Nawrocki

Luke O'Grady

Mike O'Grady

David Procopio

Will Thomas

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at RV/#19 Fairfield on March 1, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 15

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Loyola (Md.) on March 8, 2025 , Win , 12, to, 11

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #6/#8 Duke on March 12, 2025 , Loss , 10, to, 16

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #18/#19 Saint Joseph's on March 22, 2025 , Loss , 8, to, 16

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #17/#15 Georgetown on March 29, 2025 , Loss , 13, to, 14

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Villanova on April 5, 2025 , Loss , 8, to, 11

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Marquette on April 12, 2025 , Win , 14, to, 2

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at #16/#16 Denver on April 19, 2025 , Win , 10, to, 6

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus St. John's on April 25, 2025 , Win , 16, to, 10

Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus No. 2 Villanova on May 1, 2025 , Loss , 14, to, 16

Providence College Athletics