Aug. 28, 2008

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (0-0, 0-0 BIG EAST): The Providence College field hockey program opens the 2008 season with two games in Charlottesville, Va. against William & Mary (August 30, 2:00 p.m.) and 11th-ranked Virginia (August 31, 3:30 p.m.). The Friars are coming off of a 14-8 season in 2007, including a 4-2 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. The Friars have made back-to-back appearances in the BIG EAST Championship game during each of the last two seasons, and have finished among the top-20 each year in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches' Poll. This season, the Friars sit just outside of the top-20, having received 60 votes in the NFHCA Division I Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on August 26.

Providence boasts an experienced line-up in 2008, which returns 73.4-percent of its offensive production, including four of the five members of the 2007 team which scored 20-or-more points. Junior Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine), senior Meghan Holden (Worcester, Mass.), sophomore Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.) and senior Jessica Lane (South Windsor, Conn.) combined to score 84 of the Friars' 154 points last season. Poulin and Ruggieri finished the year with the team lead in goals scored (nine), while Lane and Holden posted team-best totals in assists with 18 and 10, respectively. Lane's 18 assists were one shy of PC's single-season assist mark (19), set by Paula Wagoner in 1997. In all, 11 of the 13 Friars who cracked the scoring column a year ago will return to the field in 2008.

The defense returns to the field in good shape as well, anchored by two-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and 2006 NFHCA All-America selection Rachel Chamberlain (Branford, Conn.). In 2007, Chamberlain posted a 0.794 save percentage and a 1.25 goals against average. Five of her 14 victories came in the form of a shutout. Flanking Chamberlain in the defense will be juniors Kerianne Murphy (Walpole, Mass.) and Adrienne Marois (Auburn, Mass.). Lane also plays a critical role in the defense for the Friars from the midfield position.

After Providence's two-game stint in Virginia, the squad heads to Boston, Mass. to take on regional foe Northeastern on Thursday, September 4 at 3:00 p.m. The Friars will host Yale in their home opener on Sunday, September 7 at the Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in Providence, R.I. at 1:00 p.m.

WILLIAM & MARY (0-0, 0-0 CAA): The William & Mary field hockey program completed the 2007 season with a 9-10 overall record and a 2-6 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Tribe lost their top three scorers to graduation in Kim Hedley (19 points), Jessica Kacerek (13 points) and Laura Kastelic (11 points). Jenna Cinalli and Lauren Giles are the only returning players for William & Mary who reached double-digits in the points column. Cinalli netted five goals for 10 points, while Giles recorded 10 points on three goals and four assists.

The Tribe also lost starting goalkeeper, Gwen Hunter, to graduation. Hunter started 19 games a year ago and posted a 1.80 goals against average and a 0.732 save percentage in 1281 minutes of action. Returning goalkeeper Carrie Thompson enters her sophomore season for the Tribe after making five appearances on the year for a total of 49 minutes as a rookie. Thompson did not allow a goal while manning the cage and made four saves.

The Tribe open the season on Friday, August 29 against 11th-ranked Virginia. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va. William & Mary received two votes in the NFHCA Division I Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on August 26.

NO. 11 VIRGINIA (0-0, 0-0 ACC): The University of Virginia field hockey team finished the 2007 season with an 11-10 record, including a 1-4 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers were one of five ACC teams to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2007, where UVa dropped a first round decision to Penn State (3-2) on November 10.

The Cavaliers return their top four scoring threats from a year ago, including Traci Ragukas (28 points) and Inge Kaars Sijpesteij (23 points). Additionally, Virginia will be experienced in goal with the return of Amy Desjadon and Devon Burnley. The duo split time in the goal last season. Desjadon posted a 1.91 goals against average and a 0.732 save percentage, while Burnley checked in with a 2.17 goals against average and a 0.700 save percentage.

Virginia opens the season against William & Mary on August 29 at 2:00 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va.

- GO FRIARS! -