Field Hockey Prepares To Host Pair Of Ocean State Rivals At Lennon Family Field

PROVIDENCE, R.I.– The Providence College field hockey team will host Bryant University and Brown University in a pair of non-conference games this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 6, the Friars and Bulldogs will square off at 3:00 p.m., followed by a match against the Bears on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 4:00 p.m.  Both games will be played at Lennon Family Field on the campus of Providence College.

PROVIDENCE VS. BRYANT
Last meeting: Providence 4, Bryant 1 (Sept. 2, 2018)
Match highlights: Current senior Allyson Parker (Orange, Mass.) scored two of the Friars' four goals to defeat the Bulldogs. The Friars held a 17-5 advantage in shots and a 13-4 edge in penalty corners. The Bulldogs' lone goal came from Ally Burdick at the 48-minute mark off a rebound. Marijn Jaarsma collected nine saves for Bryant, while Lydia Rice posted three saves for Providence College.

PROVIDENCE VS. BROWN
Last meeting: Providence 1, Brown 1 (Sept. 1, 2018)
Match highlights: Despite out-shooting Brown, 16-4, the Friars were held scoreless for the first 66+ minutes of play. Parker notched the game-winning goal for Providence at 66:50 on a penalty corner.  For the game, the Friars were earned 13 penalty corners, compared to the Bears' three opportunities. Rice claimed the shut-out victory with two saves, while current sophomore defender Amanda Collins (San Diego, Calif.) added a defensive save.  Katie Hammaker was credited with six saves before the Bears pulled her in favor of an extra attacking player in the closing minutes.

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE COLLEGE:
• Providence posted a 1-1 record after opening the season against a pair of nationally-ranked opponents. On Aug. 30, the Friars fell to 13^th-ranked Boston College, 2-1, in Providence, R.I. On Sept. 1, the Friars picked up a 5-4 overtime victory against 24^th-ranked Maine in Orono, Maine.

• Providence's overtime victory against No. 24 Maine marked the team's first win over a ranked opponent since Aug. 25, 2017.  On that day, the Friars also defeated No. 24 Maine, 1-0, in Providence, R.I.

• Olivia Ward (Havelock North, New Zealand) scored a goal in each of the Friars' first two games and leads the Friars in points (four). Seven differentFriars have recorded at least one point through two games, including five different goal scorers.

• Lydia Rice (Carle Place, N.Y.) recorded a total of 12 saves last weekend, including a season-high seven stops in the victory over Maine. Additionally, Rice was credited with a save on a penalty-stroke opportunity against the Black Bears.  She earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll recognition on Sept. 2 and Synapse Sport Division I Honor Roll accolades on Sept. 3.

• With the Friars' latest overtime victory against Maine on Sept. 1, the Friars have improved to 9-3 in overtime matches dating back to the 2016 campaign.  Last year, Providence compiled a 3-0 record in overtime.

• The Friars were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on Aug. 23.

• Providence finished the 2018 campaign with an 11-8 overall record, including a 4-3 mark in the BIG EAST, which was good for third place.

• In 2019, Providence returns 14 letter winners from last year's team, including nine members of the starting line-up and five players who earned All-BIG EAST First or Second-Team recognition. The Friars have added six newcomers to the roster.

• Graduate student Corinne Kenney (Warrington, Pa.) and senior Mary O'Reilly (Longmeadow, Mass.) were named to the 2019 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. The duo earned All-BIG EAST First and Second-Team honors, respectively, in 2018. Also earning All-BIG EAST honors last season were Rice, Maddie Babineau (Milton, Ontario) and Izzy Mendez (Cedar Grove, N.J.). All three were selected to the Second Team.

SCOUTING BRYANT UNIVERSITY:
• Bryant enters the weekend with an 0-1 record, having lost its season opener to Lock Haven, 1-0, on Aug. 30. Lock Haven held a 16-3 edge in shots during the game.  Two of the three shots came during the final five minutes of regulation. Marijn Jaarsma recorded seven saves in the cage for Bryant.

• The Bulldogs finished the 2018 season with a 3-15 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

• Bryant lost six members of the its starting line-up and three of its top-four offensive threats from 2018. Junior Ally Burdick is the Bulldog's leading returning scorer. Last season, she finished ranked second among her teammates with six points on three goals.

• Jaarsma enjoyed a solid rookie season in the cage during the 2018 campaign. She finished among the top-10 in the country in both save percentage (.770) and saves per game (7.47). Jaarsma was a three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week selection.

SCOUTING BROWN UNIVERSITY:
• Brown opens the 2019 season on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Bryant (4:00 p.m.) before making its way to Lennon Family Field on Sunday to face the Friars.

• Brown finished the 2018 season with a 7-10 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Ivy League action.

• Brown lost its leading scorer from a year ago in Rachel Lanouette, who posted 18 points on five goals and a team-best eight assists.  However, the Bears return the bulk of their offense, including two players who reached double-digit points in 2018.  Danielle van Rootselaar returns for her second season at Brown after tallying 16 points on five goals and six assists. Gina Openshaw also recorded 16 points for the Bears on a team-best eight goals.

• Brown also Katie Hammaker, who was a four-year starter in goal.  In 68 career games, she recorded a 0.702 save percentage and a 2.95 goals against average.  Allee Ayles is the only goalkeeper on the roster with collegiate experience, having played in eight games over the course of the previous three seasons.  She owns a career 0.842 save percentage and a 4.81 goals against average. A pair of freshmen will join Ayles in the goalkeeping unit this season.

WHAT'S NEXT:
• The Friars return to action on Friday, Sept. 13 against non-conference foe Lafayette. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Easton, Pa. Providence College returns home for its BIG EAST Conference opener on Sept. 20 against Old Dominion (6:00 p.m.).

2019 Providence College Field Hockey Honors & Awards

Corinne Kenney
Preseason All-BIG EAST

Mary O'Reilly
Preseason All-BIG EAST

Lydia Rice
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (Sept. 2)
Synapse Sports Division I Honor Roll (Sept. 3)

- GO FRIARS! -

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Players Mentioned

Maddie Babineau

Amanda Collins

Corinne Kenney

Izzy Mendez

Mary O'Reilly

Allyson Parker

Lydia Rice

Olivia Ward