Oct. 15, 2004

#17 SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY (9-5, 2-1 BIG EAST): After starting the season with a 1-4 record, the Syracuse Orange have catapulted themselves into the national rankings. The Orange have posted an 8-1 mark over their last nine games, including victories over three nationally ranked opponents. Entering Friday's game against Providence College, the Orange hold an overall record of 9-5 and are ranked 15th in the latest STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll. Syracuse is 2-1 in BIG EAST Conference action, having beaten Rutgers (3-1) and ninth-ranked Boston College (2-1 OT). Syracuse's only loss in the BIG EAST was against Villanova (3-1). Five members of the team have reached double-digits in scoring, led by Brittany Carriero. Carriero has amassed 15 points on six goals and three assists. Paige Sullivan is second on the team in scoring with 13 points on six goal and one assist, followed by Joanne Lombard (12 points), Lindsay Peirson (11 points) and Meredith Gettel (10 points). Betsy Wagner has played the majority of minutes in goal for Syracuse. She owns a 1.37 goals against average, a 0.826 save percentage and three shutouts on the season.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (7-8, 0-2 BIG EAST): The Providence College field hockey enters Friday's BIG EAST Conference match-up against 17th-ranked Syracuse with a 7-8 overall record and an 0-2 mark in league action. After starting the season, 0-3, the Friars have won seven of their last 12 games. Sophomore Melissa McGow (Branford, Conn.) leads the Friars in scoring with 26 points on seven goals and 12 assists. She leads all BIG EAST Conference players in overall assist this season, through 15 games. McGow is the first player since Erica Hebert '99 to score 20-or more points in back-to-back seasons. McGow currently has 46 career points as sophomore and ranks 19th on PC's all-time scoring list. McGow also leads the team in defensive saves, with four. Senior Amy Phillips (Worcester, Mass.) is second on the team in scoring with 17 points on eight goals and one assist. Phillips eight goals and 17 points mark personal single-season career highs. She has moved into a tie for 21st all-time on PC's career scoring list with 42 career points on 19 goals and four assists. Junior Kati Lary (Canaan, N.H.) is currently third on the team in scoring with 15 points (six goals, three assists).

Senior goalkeeper Meredith Jones (Lake Forest, Ill.) has played every minute in the cage for Providence this season. She has a 2.96 goals against average, a 0.708 save percentage and one shutout.