Nov. 4, 2004

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Providence College field hockey players Melissa McGow (Branford, Conn.) and Lauren Sickel (Plaistow, N.H.) have been named to the 2004 All-BIG EAST Second Team. The announcement was made by the league office at the BIG EAST Championship banquet in Syracuse, N.Y. on November 4. It marks the first time McGow and Sickel have earned BIG EAST post-season honors during their careers at PC.

McGow, a forward, led the Friars in scoring this season with 38 points on 11 goals and 16 assists. McGow led the BIG EAST Conference in assists during the regular-season schedule with 16 assists. McGow also ranks among the national leaders in five categories according to the latest NCAA Division I national statistics, released on November 2, 2004. She is tied for third in the nation in assists (16), tied for fourth in defensive saves (seven), eighth in defensive saves per game (.350 dspg), ninth in assists per game (.800 apg) and 20th in scoring (38 points). McGow became the first player since 1999 to score 30 or more points in a single-season. After just two years with the Friar field hockey program (39 games), McGow ranks 14th all-time at PC in career scoring (58 points), 13th in career assists (18) and is tied for 16th in career goals (20). She became the 17th player in Providence field hockey history to score 20 or more goals in a career.

Sickel, also in her second year with the Friar field hockey program, helped anchor the midfield and defensive units in 2004. She scored five goals and registered two assists for 12 points and posted one defensive save. She scored the first goal of her collegiate career in a 3-2 victory over New Hampshire on September 24 and was credited with her first collegiate assist in a loss to California on August 30. Sickel recorded a season-high four points on two goals in a 5-1 win over Brown on October 20.

Twenty-two players in Providence College field hockey history, including McGow and Sickel, have earned BIG EAST Conference post-season honors a total of 44 times. The program boasts 13 All-BIG EAST First-Team selections and 20 Second-Team honorees and seven players named to the All-Rookie team. There also has been one BIG EAST Player of the Year, one Offensive Player of the Year and one Rookie of the Year.

Providence College completed the 2004 season with a 10-10 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. The Friars finished in a tie for fifth place in the league standings.

2004 BIG EAST CONFERENCE FIELD HOCKEY AWARDS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Lauren Henderson, Connecticut
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Abby Ostruzka, Connecticut
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR:  Betsy Wagner, Syracuse
COACH OF THE YEAR:  Nancy Stevens, Connecticut

ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
* Betsy Wagner, Syracuse, GK
* Sabrina Lazzari, Boston College, F
* Lauren Henderson, Connecticut, F
Laura Puddle, Connecticut, F/M
* Kerri Doherty, Boston College, M
Becky Helwig, Connecticut, M
Joanne Lombard, Syracuse, M
* Kristen Madden, Boston College, B
Bronwen Kelly, Boston College, B
* Abby Ostruzka, Connecticut, B
Vanessa Pizzulli, Villanova, B
* - denotes unanimous selection

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Jillian Savoy, Boston Collge, GK
Sara York, Boston College, F
Melissa McGow, Providence, F/M
Brittany Carriero, Syracuse, F
Megan Foster, Villanova, F
Meg Hoffman, Connecticut, M/F
Lizzy Peijs, Connecticut, M
Lindsay Peirson, Syracuse, M
April Cornell, Connecticut, B
Lauren Sickel, Providence, B
Lindsay Kocher, Syracuse, B