Oct. 5, 2006

Providence, R.I. -- The Providence College women's soccer team (3-3-5, 0-3-2 BIG EAST) hopes to extend its two-game unbeaten streak in BIG EAST play when it hosts Syracuse (1-9-3, 0-4-1 BIG EAST) on Friday, October 6, and St. John's (6-2-3, 2-1-2 BIG EAST) on Sunday, October 8, at Glay Field. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Red Storm will play at Connecticut on Friday night prior to its Sunday matinee with the Friars which will feature a pre-game ceremony honoring Providence seniors Leah Vieira (Rochester, N.Y.) and Erin Mastrodonato (Rochester, N.Y.).

The Friars are coming off an exciting, 0-0, double-overtime draw with No. 13 Villanova on Sunday, October 1. Providence was the first team this season to hold the Wildcats without a goal. Junior goalkeeper Laura Elfers made eight saves to record her fifth shutout of the season. She is now just two shutouts shy of the single season record of seven set by Jennifer Mead in 1993 and tied by Caroline Haines in 2003. Offensively, junior Ashley Amaral leads the Friars with two goals - both of which have been gamewinners. Freshman Nicole Benko also has four points on one goal and two assists. Freshman Jill Camburn and sophomore Christie Gent each have one goal and one assist. Currently, the Friars rank 15th in the Northeast region in the latest Soccer Buzz poll.

The Friars and Orange have met 10 times with Syracuse holding a 6-3-1 advantage in the series. After losing the first six meeting in the series, however, PC, has gone 3-0-1 in the last four meetings. The Orange's last win came in Syracuse on September 28, 2001, when it defeated the Friars, 2-0. Providence's last win came last season when it blanked the Orange, 1-0, in Syracuse. The last time the team's played at Glay Field - October 22, 2004 - Providence won, 1-0. In the last four meetings, PC has posted three shutouts and outscored Syracuse, 5-1.

The Friars and Red Storm have met 19 times with PC holding a 10-8-1 edge in the series. Providence won the first eight meetings in the series and 10 of the first 12, but St. John's has responded by going 6-0-1 in the last seven matches. Providence's last win in the series came back on September 18, 1998, when it downed St. John's, 2-1, at Glay Field. St. John's last victory came in 2004, a 2-1 win at Glay Field. Last season, the two sides played to a 2-2 tie in New York.