Oct. 25, 2004

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College field hockey players, Melissa McGow (Branford, Conn.) and Meredith Jones (Lake Forest, Ill.) earned BIG EAST Conference weekly honors for their performances last week in victories over Brown and Villanova. McGow was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week, while Jones garnered Defensive Player of the Week honors. The announcement was made by the BIG EAST Conference office on Monday, October 25.

McGow, a sophomore, earns the honor for the first time in her career after netting two goals and recording three assists in two games. On October 20, McGow tallied two assists in a 5-1 victory over non-conference rival Brown. On October 24, McGow scored two goals, including the eventual game winner, and added one assist in a 5-0 victory against Villanova in BIG EAST Conference action. The victory marked the Friars' first win against a league opponent since the 2002 season and kept Providence in the hunt for a berth to the BIG EAST Championship Tournament. McGow leads the BIG EAST Conference in assists (16) and is three shy of PC's single-season assist record set by two-time All-America selection Paula Wagoner in 1997. McGow ranks 14th all-time at Providence in scoring with 58 career points. She also ranks 13th all-time in career assists with 18 and is tied for 16th all-time in goals with 20. McGow became just the 17th Friar field hockey player to score 20 goals or more in a career.

McGow also was honored by WomensFieldHockey.com on October 25 as a member of their weekly honor roll. Joining McGow on the honor roll was Christina Ang (Rider), Leah Geib (Delaware), Camila Infante (American), Heather Kibbee (William & Mary), Natalie Matirosian (Princeton) and Dana Sensening (Old Dominion). WomensFieldHockey.com named Veerle Goudswaard of Michigan State the Division I Player of the Week.

Jones was named the BIG EAST's Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her four-year career at PC. Jones allowed just one goal in 140 minutes of action. She posted a 5-1 victory over Brown with seven saves on October 20. On October 24, Jones backstopped the Friars to their first victory against a BIG EAST Conference opponent since the 2002 season with a 5-0 shutout over Villanova. Jones recorded a career-high 17 saves in the win.

Providence College (10-9, 1-3 BIG EAST) will return to action on Saturday, October 30 against seventh-ranked Connecticut at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. The game marks the season finale for both teams. A Providence victory would earn the Friars a berth to the 2004 BIG EAST Conference Field Hockey Championship in Syracuse, N.Y. on November 5-7.