Oct. 24, 2004

Box Score

HARTFORD, CONN. - The Providence College field hockey team defeated Villanova, 5-0, in BIG EAST Conference action on Sunday, October 24 in Hartford, Conn. The victory marked the first for PC in league play since 2002, and improved the Friars' record to 10-9 overall and 1-3 in the BIG EAST. It also marked the first time Providence has defeated the Wildcats since the 1998 season when the PC prevailed, 4-3, in overtime. Villanova falls to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the conference.

Both teams were scoreless until 1:59 left in the first half as sophomore Melissa McGow (Branford, Conn.) scored unassisted on a reverse stick shot from the left side of the cage to give PC a 1-0 lead. The Friars would hold the 1-0 advantage into halftime.

In the second half, senior Amy Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) scored two-straight goals to give Providence a 3-0 lead. Phillips scored her first goal 5:35 into the second half, unassisted, on a chip shot into the upper right hand corner of the cage. She scored her second goal just four minutes and 34 seconds later off a direct shot on a penalty corner assisted by McGow and junior Kati Lary (Canaan, N.H.).

McGow struck again for her second goal of the game at the 57:25 mark as she took a hard shot from the left that deflected off Villanova's goalkeeper and into the back of the cage, unassisted. With a 4-0 lead, PC's Abby Maguire (Southbury, Conn.) netted the game's final goal off an assist from Lary with 10:36 remaining in the game.

Senior goalkeeper Meredith Jones (Lake Forest, Ill.) made a career-high 17 saves in the victory and earned her second shutout of the season and third-consecutive win for the Friars.

Villanova outshot Providence, 24-14, and held the advantage on penalty corners, 13-6. Erin Scott started the game in goal for the Wildcats and played 51:16 minutes. Scott made two saves and allowed three goals. She was replaced by Alex Whalen, who allowed two goals. Whalen did not make a save.

Providence College (10-9, 1-3 BIG EAST) will face seventh-ranked Connecticut in the team's season finale on Saturday, October 30. Connecticut clinched the regular-season league crown and holds the No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. A win against the Huskies would clinch a berth in the 2004 BIG EAST Conference Tournament held in Syracuse, N.Y. on November 5-7. The Friars have not made an appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament since the 2000 season.