Aug. 31, 1999

PROVIDENCE, RI - The Providence Field Hockey season will open the 1999 season on Wednesday, September 1 vs. the University of New Hampshire. Game time is 3:00 pm on Hendricken Field in Providence, RI.

Nine starters return for second year head coach Bill Davidson and five of those are seniors.

The Friars are coming off a disappointing 5-15 season a year ago. Although, of those five wins two were very memorable victories. Providence defeated 15th ranked Boston University, 3-2, for the first time in the history of the program and also defeated #16 Rutgers University, 2-1.

Headlining the attack will be senior Erica Hebert of Enfield, CT who will look to add more awards to her resume. Not only will she look to repeat as a BIG EAST First Teamer, she will also be amongst the best to compete for Player of the Year honors as well as All-America honors. She is currently seventh all-time in career scoring at Providence with 78 total points. Last season was her most productive as she tallied a season high 14 goals and 32 points. Hebert is an excellent athlete who has a tenacity for finding the net.

Senior forwards Carrie Leoncavallo and Kristen Lane will also add some punch to the offensive power around the net. From Bellingham, Mass., Leoncavallo has good speed and is an exciting player to watch. She has proven to be consistent as she has started all but four games in her career. A co-captain this season, Leoncavallo looks to have an explosive final campaign. Lane earned her role last season as she played in all 20 games and started six. She has steadily progressed for the Friars and has an outstanding work ethic and desire.

Junior forward Jamie Lerch is the quickest athlete on the squad and is always looking to make things happen on the field. She scored three goals as a sophomore including a goal in the overtime win against Villanova. She has solid ball skills and should look to make great contributions offensively. Junior Hillary Wirtz and sophomore Maggie Hoffman will also add depth to the Friar attack. In the midfield, junior Amy DePietro has two solid years of playing behind her. From Southbury, Connecticut, DePietro is an aggressive athlete who has the potential to be a go-to player for the next two seasons.

Defensively, the Friars are the strongest. A three-year starter between the posts, senior co-captain Andrea Weyl look work hard to keep herself healthy for her senior campaign. She has started 29 of 33 games played and has recorded a career 1.92 goals against average. Junior Heather Tattersall will push the senior co-captain for starting duty. Tattersall earned minutes last season after Weyl was sidelined for the second straight season with a knee injury.

Junior Breanne Wojnarowicz is probably the strongest back on the field. A two-year starter, she is an All-BIG EAST candidate for the Friars and will be a key to the PC transition game. Senior back Mindy Austin started all 20 games a year ago and junior Meg Landry also has solid minutes under her belt. Junior Julie Tanguay and sophomore Katie Willett will also earn starting duty on the field either in the back position or midfield.

The Friars are looking forward to a productive 1999 season and will look toward another trip to the BIG EAST Tournament on November 5-7 held at Syracuse University.