Providence College Celebrates 2019-20 Athletic Seasons During 59th Annual All-Sports Gala

Despite the need to host its 59^th Annual All-Sports Gala online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Providence College Athletics Department celebrated the 2019-20 academic year, honoring team and individual achievements with a premier event on YouTube and Facebook. Six major individual award winners were announced, while the entire Class of 2020 was recognized as Providence College's Athletes of the Year.

Graduate student Lydia Rice (Carle Place, N.Y.) of the field hockey team was the winner of the Paul Connolly Award as the female athlete who has distinguished herself among her peers through sportsmanship, courage and honor. Graduate student Emmitt Holt (Rochester, N.Y.) of the men's basketball team was the recipient of the Mal Brown Award. The Mal Brown Award is given annually to the male athlete whose career of intercollegiate competition portrayed sportsmanship, courage and honor.

The Sine Qua Non Awards, given annually to the male and female athletes, who have distinguished themselves among their peers without receiving proper recognition, were presented to senior men's basketball player Kalif Young (Vaughan, Ontario) and senior Avery Fransoo (North Battleford, Saskatchewan) of the women's ice hockey team. Senior women's ice hockey player Clare Minnerath (Sartell, Minn.) was the recipient of the Jane Thompson Award, which is presented to the male or female senior student-athlete who personifies all that is good about being a student-athlete at Providence College and exhibits selflessness, dedication, loyalty, courage and perseverance.

Red-shirt senior Joao Serrano (Evora, Portugal) of the men's soccer team was the recipient of the Rev. Robert A. Morris, O.P. '46 Memorial Award, which is given annually to a student-athlete who has had a profound impact on Providence College during their career, as selected by the Athletic Director and the senior administrative staff. The inaugural award was given out in 2015 and the previous winners are LaDontae Henton '15 (men's basketball), Kris Dunn '16 (men's basketball), Kyron Cartwright '18 (men's basketball), Colin Miller '18 (men's soccer) and Maddie Jolin '19 (women's basketball).

Rice started all 19 games in goal for the field hockey team, logging 1,199 minutes of action in the cage. She compiled a 12-7 overall record, including six shut-out victories. Her six shutouts marked the most by a Friar goalkeeper since 2007. She also posted a 2-1 record in games decided in a penalty shootout as the team's primary goalkeeper. Rice was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team for the second-straight season and represented Providence College as a BIG EAST All-Tournament Team selection. During the 2019 campaign, Rice was a three-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selection and also was tabbed BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28. Rice also excelled in the classroom as she was selected to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad, in addition to being named a NFHCA Division I Scholar of Distinction.

Holt's journey through college basketball was far from traditional. He transferred to Providence in 2016. Holt had a strong first season with the Friars in 2016-17, averaging 12.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg. In his final game of the 2017 season, he registered 18 points and 11 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament versus USC. Unfortunately, he suffered an abdominal injury prior to the start of the 2017-18 season. Holt missed almost two full seasons of action due to abdominal surgery and returned for a sixth season of eligibility in 2019-20. In his final season, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He scored a season-best 12 points in a win at DePaul on January 4. He saw action in 27 of the team's 31 games. For his career, Holt scored 641 points and grabbed 359 rebounds in 94 games. He averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg. On March 9, Holt became the first Friar ever to earn the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award. In April, he earned the team's Unsung Hero Award.

Young, who served as one of the team captains this season, helped lead the men's basketball squad to a 19-12 mark. The team won six straight and eight of 10 games to close the regular season with a NET ranking of 37 and a team record 12 BIG EAST wins (12-6). The squad finished fourth in league standings. The Friars were projected to be a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Young posted career highs this season in points per game (5.0) and rebounds per game (4.9). He led the squad in field goal percentage at 52.0 percent (64-123). The senior center was second on the team in blocks (19) and rebounds (153). Young played in all 31 of the team's games and recorded 19 starts. In April, he earned the team's Marvin Barnes Defensive Player Award. Young finished his career ranked third all-time at Providence in games played with 132.

Fransoo, a Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention selection in 2018-19 and captain of this year's team, finished her career at Providence College tied for fourth all-time in career games played (145). She totaled 64 points in her career and posted eight multi-point performances. This season, she recorded two goals and added 12 assists for 14 points. Through her four years with the program, she accumulated 228 blocked shots as a defenseman. Fransoo earned the team's Unsung Hero award in consecutive seasons to open her career in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before being inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Prior to captaining the team this season, she was named an assistant captain through the 2018-19 season.

Minnerath played in a career-high 18 games this season after earning the starting goaltender duties to open the season. She finished her career with a total of 1,333 minutes played between the pipes, a 2.25 goals against average, .901 save percentage. She also recorded 456 saves and three shutouts. Minnerath earned 12 wins throughout her career, including a career-high nine victories during the 2019-20 season. She was the recipient of the program's Academic Award for consecutive seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Additionally, she was named an assistant captain for her senior campaign. Minnerath also was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society at the conclusion of her junior season.

Serrano, a second-year captain, had a tremendous senior season leading the men's soccer team to a 16-7 overall record. The Friars' 16 victories tied the program record for most wins in a single season. The squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen and BIG EAST Tournament Championship game. In his senior campaign, Serrano led the team in assists (nine) and also recorded four goals to finish the year with 17 points. Each of his offensive totals marked career highs. The defender started 22 games for the Friars and played 1,954 minutes in the backfield. At the end of the season, he was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team, Division I Scholar All-East Region First Team and earned the program's Father William Folsey Champion of Character Award. Serrano finished his career tied for eighth in career assists (17).

- GO FRIARS! -

Providence College Athletics

Providence College Celebrates 2019-20 Athletic Seasons During 59th Annual All-Sports Gala

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