March 19, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College field hockey coach Diane Madl announced on Monday, March 19 that five student-athletes will be joining the program as newcomers in the fall of 2007. Kelly Grogan (Allenwood, N.J.), Jaime Lipski (Dallas, Pa.), Joscelyn Mahon (Shavertown, Pa.), Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.) and Christine Sideris (Watertown, Mass.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent and comprise the Providence College field hockey class of 2011.

Grogan, a midfielder, played her high school field hockey at Wall Township (N.J.). She is a two-time All-Central Jersey selection and has earned All-Shore, All-Monmouth County and All-Division honors three times during her career (2004-06). She is a member of Elite Futures and has participated in the National Futures Tournament each of the last three years.

Lipski, a midfielder, played scholastically for Lake-Lehman High School (Pa.) where she was a three-year starter. Lipski earned First-Team Pennsylvania All-State Honors in 2005 and 2006. As a sophomore in 2004, she was named Second-Team All-State. She also is a two-time Citizens' Voice First-Team All-Star and earned the Lake-Lehman Field Hockey Edna Johnson Leadership Award in 2006. In 2005, Lipski was honored with the Lake-Lehman Field Hockey Buddy Boris Underclassmen Award. She helped guide Lake-Lehman to a 67-13 record during her career. Lipski also is a member of the District Champion and State Qualifying 4x400 relay team at Lake-Lehman (2006). She holds school records at Lake-Lehman in the 400 meters and as a member of the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Mahon, a forward/midfielder, also played her high school field hockey at Lake-Lehman along with Lipski. Mahon earned a total of 10 varsity letters at Lake-Lehman in field hockey (three), basketball (three) and softball (four). As a three-year starter at forward, Mahon totaled 119 career points on 43 goals and 33 assists. She helped guide Lake-Lehman to a 67-13 record during her career. As a senior in 2006, she led the team in scoring with 48 points on 14 goals and 20 assists. Her 20 assists led the Wyoming Valley Conference. Mahon is a 2006 Pennsylvania All-State honorable mention selection and was named NFHCA Academic All-American (2006). In her final two seasons of field hockey at Lake-Lehman, she scored at least one point in 36 of 42 games. Mahon and Lipski were involved in 65% of Lake-Lehman's goals in 2006 as seniors.

Ruggieri, a midfielder, is a local Rhode Island product from Barrington High School, where she led her team to two-straight Division I Rhode Island State Championships in 2005 and 2006. Ruggieri is a three-time First-Team All-State and All-Division selection (2004-06). She also is a two-time Regional All-American (North Region) and was named the MVP of the Rhode Island State Championship in 2005 and 2006. Ruggieri led the State of Rhode Island in scoring as a junior with 51 points on 20 goals and 11 assists. She achieved the feat for a second-straight season as a senior in 2006 with 59 points on 21 goals and 17 assists. In 2007, she earned Words Unlimited School Girl Athlete of the Year, was featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces In the Crowd and was named Rhode Island Interscholastic League Female Athlete of the Year. Ruggieri has participated in Futures each of the last two years. Aside from field hockey, she also is a stand-out lacrosse player. She is a two-time All-State selection and earned All-America honors at the conclusion of her junior campaign. Ruggieri also helped Barrington win the State Championship in basketball during her senior campaign.

Sideris, a defender, played at Watertown High School where she led her team to Middlesex League titles in 2005 and 2006. She capped off her senior season by helping Watertown win the Division II North title. She earned nine varsity letters in all at Watertown in field hockey (two), softball (three) and ice hockey (four). Sideris is a Daily News Tribune All-Star (2006) and participated at the National Futures Tournament in 2006. In 2007, she is a member of the Futures Elite program. She helped her team "Mass-public" win goal medals at the Cape Cod Classic Tournament in 2005 and 2006 and was named an All-Star at the New England Premier Recruiting Showcase.

These five student-athletes join a Friar Field Hockey team that finished the 2006 season with an 18-4 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. Providence claimed a share of the BIG EAST Regular-Season title and advanced to the final game of the BIG EAST Field

Hockey Championship in Louisville, Ky. on November 4-5. The Friars were ranked in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches' Poll for nine-consecutive weeks during the 2006 season, including seven-straight weeks in the top-15. Providence was ranked 11th (its highest ranking of the year) during the final two weeks of the season, including the final poll released by the NFHCA on November 7. The Friars posted a 5-3 record against nationally ranked teams in 2006.

- FRIARS -