Oct. 20, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men's soccer team will host fourth-ranked West Virginia on Saturday, October 21 at Glay Field. Prior to the start of the match, Providence College will honor seniors Michael King (Ashland, Mass.), Scott Hankard (Glastonbury, Conn.), Joseph Weill (Merrick, N.Y.) and Chris Konopka (Toms River, N.J.).

The Friars (11-4, 7-3 BIG EAST), ranked 25th in this week's College Soccer News National Poll, enter Saturday's match after a crucial 1-0 BIG EAST victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday, October 18 in Newark, N.J. With the win, the Friars earned their seventh BIG EAST triumph of the season, setting a school record for most conference wins. In addition, it was PC's first win at Seton Hall since 1983. Junior Alex Bury (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored the lone goal of the match in the 22nd minute when he fired a 25-yard shot that found the upper right corner of the net to give the Friars their 11th win of the season, the most since 1984. Classmate Michael Narciso (Livingston, N.J.) assisted on the lone goal of the match, while Konopka made four saves to earn his 11th career shutout and the fifth this season.

With a 7-3 mark in the BIG EAST, the Friars have clinched home field for the BIG EAST Tournament First Round against an opponent yet to be determined. PC's first round match will be played at Glay Field on Wednesday, October 25.

Providence is 4-6 all-time against West Virginia. Last season, the Mountaineers defeated the Friars, 1-0, in Morgantown as Jarrod Smith scored the lone goal of the match in the 59th minute. PC's last victory over WVU was on September 24, 2003, a 1-0 road triumph.

The Mountaineers (13-1-2, 8-0-1), ranked fourth in this week's NSCAA Poll, are in first-place of the BIG EAST Blue Division and have won their last seven matches. Most recently, West Virginia defeated sixth-ranked Notre Dame, 2-1, in Morgantown on Wednesday, October 18. The Mountaineers rallied from an early 1-0 deficit as Dan Stratford scored the equalizer in the 17th minute and Andy Wright tallied the winner in the 56th minute. In goal, Nick Noble made seven saves for West Virginia, whose last defeat came on September 19 (a 2-1 overtime loss at then No. 1 Virginia) . Jarrod Smith leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and Wright is second with five tallies.