Oct. 16, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- After a long five game road trip, the Providence College women’s soccer team (5-5-3, 0-4-3 BIG EAST) will return to Glay Field this weekend for two BIG EAST matches. On Friday, October 17 the Friars will battle #1/1 Notre Dame at 3:00 p.m. and then will take on the DePaul Blue Demons on Sunday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m.

The Friars return to campus after a 0-2-0 weekend. PC battled #15 West Virginia on Friday, October 10 in Morgantown and fell, 3-0. PC then traveled to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers on Sunday, October 12. Though senior Victoria Neff (Fairfield, Conn.) scored the game tying goal in the second half, Pitt was able to take the game in overtime, 2-1. Providence has been led this season by the impressive play of junior Jill Camburn (Doylestown, Pa.). Camburn is part of a four-way tie for the team lead in goals with three and also leads the squad in assists with three. Senior Kelly Pettersen (Massapequa, N.Y.), junior Tara Ricciardi (Wayne, N.J.) and freshman Courtney Collins (North Wales, Pa.) join Camburn with three goals.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jill Schott (Windham, N.H.) has been strong in front of the net for PC in her first full season. She currently is third in the BIG EAST with 66 saves in 12 games, fifth in the conference with a .835 save percentage and second in saves per game with 5.50. She has recorded 10 saves in a game twice in conference play as well.

Notre Dame (14-0-0, 7-0-0 BIG EAST) comes into Glay Field as the #1 ranked team in the country by both the NSCAA and Soccer America. The Irish are led by a pair of seniors who both garnered preseason accolades. Forwards Brittany Bock and Kerri Hanks were both named Soccer America Preseason All-Americans. Hanks currently leads the BIG EAST in goals with 14 and points with 32. The Irish defeated Georgetown, 3-1 on Friday, October 10 and then beat Villanova in overtime , 3-2 on Sunday, October 12.

DePaul (2-13-0, 0-7-0 BIG EAST) has struggled so far this season. The Blue Demons are led by Michelle Scandora who has amassed three goals on the season. She is joined by Tara Strickland who has two goals and three assists so far. DePaul fell to Villanova, 3-0 on Friday, October 10 in Philadelphia, then fell to Georgetown, 4-0 on Sunday, October 12.