Sept. 24, 2009

Providence, R.I. - PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (3-4, 0-1 BIG EAST): The Providence College field hockey team enters this weekend's matchups with a 3-4 overall record and a 0-1 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. The Friars cracked the top-20 for the first time in two weeks after their 2-1 defeat of previously unbeaten and then-No. 4 Princeton. The team travels to New York this weekend to face No. 6 Syracuse on Saturday, September 26 at 12:00 p.m., followed by Albany on Sunday, September 27 at 2:30 p.m. The game against No. 6 Syracuse will be held at Coyne Field in Syracuse, N.Y., while the game against Albany will be held at Alumni Field in Albany, N.Y.

The Friars are coming off a 2-1 victory against then-No. 4 Princeton on Sunday, September 20. Trailing 1-0 entering the second half, junior Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.) knotted the game, 1-1, when she scored on a reverse stick shot that went into the upper right corner of the cage. Freshman Nicole Fernandez (Tewksbury, Mass.) recorded her first career goal later in the second half, that proved to be the game winner.

Rachel Chamberlain (Branford, Conn.) anchored the Friar defense as she recorded a season-high 12 saves in the game. Despite Princeton holding a 22-7 advantage in shots and a 19-5 edge in corners, the Friars' defense kept coming up with big plays when they needed them.

Senior Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine) leads the Friars in goals this season with six. She also tops the team in points with 12. Ruggieri, along with fellow junior Ashlyn Hudson (Stoughton, Mass) each have five points, which is tied for second on the team. Each are credited with two goals and one assist on the season. Chamberlain has seen the majority of time in the cage for the Friars and has earned BIG EAST weekly honors on two occasions. She currently has a 2.12 goals against average with a .776 save percentage in six games.

The Friars played Syracuse twice last season and were defeated in both games. In the last meeting between the two teams, the Friars 2008 season came to an end after falling 3-1 to the Orange in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. Providence has faced Albany three times since Diane Madl became head coach in 2002. Since that time the Friars hold a 2-1 series advantage. The last meeting occurred in 2004 where Albany defeated the Friars, 2-1.

The Friars look to get their first BIG EAST Conference win of the 2009 season against No. 6 Syracuse. A day later the Friars face non-conference opponent Albany who is not currently ranked in the top-20 but is receiving votes in the national poll.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (7-1, 1-0 BIG EAST): The Syracuse field hockey team opens a six-game homestand September 26 against the Friars. The Orange enter Saturday's matchup with a 7-1 record and 1-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. Syracuse's most recent match was a 2-1 overtime victory over the University of Michigan in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, September 19. Freshman Amy Kee scored the game-winning goal 14:43 into overtime to give the Orange the victory. Freshman goalkeeper Leann Stiver recorded four saves in her first complete game for the Orange. Kee leads Syracuse with 12 points on the season, having recorded three goals and six assists. Junior Lindsey Conrad is the teams top goal-scorer with six. Time in goal has been split between grad student Ashleigh McGowan and Stiver. McGowan who has started five games and has a 2.55 goals against average with a .733 save percentage. Although Stiver has only started three games she has seen more minutes in the cage. She has a 1.41 goals against average with a .815 save percentage on the season.

ALBANY (6-2, 0-0 AMERICA EAST): The Albany Great Danes have opened the season with a 6-2 record. Their most recent win came in a 3-1 victory over Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y. on Wednesday, September 23. The game winning goal was scored by senior Nicole Savage. Albany outshot Colgate 30-7 and held a 12-4 advantage in penalty corners. For the season, the Great Danes have outscored opponents 17-4. Tegan Brown leads Albany with five goals. The squad's two goalkeepers Christiene Hoffman and Kristi Troch have each played 280 minutes in the cage and share five shutouts. Hoffman has a 0.25 goals against average with a .941 save percentage while Troch has a 0.75 goals against average and a .750 save percentage.