July 6, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College field hockey team enjoyed one of the program's most successful seasons in 2006, and looks to remain a power in the BIG EAST Conference and on the national scene during the 2007 campaign. The Friars completed the 2006 season with an 18-4 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in the BIG EAST. PC earned a share of the BIG EAST Regular-Season title with Louisville. The program also was ranked in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches' Poll for nine-consecutive weeks, including seven-straight weeks in the top-15 to finish the year. The Friars held their highest ranking in the poll during the final two weeks of the season at No. 11.

In 2007, the team is poised to meet the challenges and expectations which stand before them. The Friars return eight starters from last season's squad, including All-BIG EAST selections senior forward Abby Maguire (Southbury, Conn.), senior defender Michalagh Stoddard (Norwood, Mass.) and goalkeeper Rachel Chamberlain (Branford, Conn.). Sophomore Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine) also returns to the field as the teams leading returning scorer along with highly regarded senior midfielder Kiley Morgart (Mountaintop, Pa.) and junior midfielder/defender Jessica Lane (South Windsor, Conn.).

Sixth-year Head Coach Diane Madl is excited about her list of newcomers who are joining the roster in 2007. The list includes six freshmen field players and a junior goalkeeper who spent her first two years at Providence with the women's ice hockey team. Madl believes this year's incoming class, collectively, has the most speed and athleticism of any class she has recruited at Providence since taking over the program in 2002. She also anticipates that several of the newcomers will make an immediate impact on the field.

GOALKEEPERS

Sophomore All-American and All-BIG EAST selection Rachel Chamberlain (Branford, Conn.) headlines a solid trio of goalkeepers in 2007. As a freshman, Chamberlain posted a 16-4 record and registered a 0.800 save percentage and a 1.25 goals against average. She helped Providence finish the 2006 season ranked No. 1 in the country in overall save percentage (0.800) and ninth in the nation in goals against average (1.22). Individually, Chamberlain finished the year ranked fifth in save percentage (0.800) and seventh in goals against average (1.25). She also recorded seven shut-out victories, marking the most shutouts in a season for Providence since the 1996 campaign when the Friars also recorded seven. At season's end, Chamberlain was one of two Friars to earn All-America honors (Third Team). She also was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year.

Graduate student Kim Vesling (Pittsford, N.Y.) returns for her second season of collegiate field hockey with the Friars. In 2006, Vesling played in two games and posted a 2-0 record, including a 2-1 overtime win over cross-city rival Brown on October 18 and 3-1 victory over BIG EAST foe and 15th-ranked Villanova (3-1) on October 22. In 150 minutes of action, she registered a 0.93 goals against average and a 0.750 save percentage. Vesling made tremendous progress within the past year and will get quality playing time in her second season. She is a tenacious competitor and a great team player.

Joining the Friars in the cage for her first season of collegiate field hockey is junior Brittney Lomond (Dorchester, Mass.). Lomond played two seasons of ice hockey at Providence College before making the transition to field hockey in the spring of 2007. In just a short time with the program, she is proving to be a great addition to the goalkeeping unit. Her quickness and athleticism will be the key to her success in the cage.

DEFENSE

Leading the defensive unit in 2007 will be senior All-BIG EAST and All-Region selection Michalagh Stoddard (Norwood, Mass.). Stoddard has played all but two games in her collegiate career at defense. Last season, Stoddard also contributed on offensive corners and recorded the first points of her collegiate career on one goal and two assists. Joining Stoddard on defense will be junior Jessica Lane (South Windsor, Conn.) and sophomore Kerianne Murphy (Walpole, Mass.). Lane started all 22 games for PC a year ago and recorded one defensive save, and seven points on two goals and three assists. Lane will be looked upon to fill the void left by the graduation of three-time All-BIG EAST selection and All-American Lauren Sickel. Lane is moving from the right backfield position into the center midfield, where she will continue to utilize her defensive skills, but also will be able to create offense for the Friars. Murphy played all 22 games and made 20 appearances in the starting line up as a freshman last year and recorded one defensive save.

Sophomores Mary Catherine Ott (St. Louis, Mo.) and Sara Casey (East Greenwich, R.I.) and junior Maggie Ciarcia (Dennis, Mass.) return to the field to add depth on defense after a productive spring campaign. Freshmen Kelly Grogan (Allenwood, N.J.) and Christine Sideris (Watertown, Mass.) will join the team for their inaugural season with the Friars. Grogan has a tremendous level of versatility and will be able to help the team at a number of positions. Sideris brings a great skill level and poise to the defensive backfield and the coaching staff is excited to watch her make the transition to the collegiate game.

MIDFIELD

Senior Kiley Morgart (Mountaintop, Pa.), junior Meghan Holden (Worcester, Mass.), sophomore Adrienne Marois (Auburn, Mass.) and Lane will anchor the midfield. Morgart has started every game of her career with the Friars and is a steady force in the midfield. In 2006 she recorded one assist.

After beginning her collegiate career at forward, Holden made the transition to the midfield at the halfway mark of the 2006 season. It proved to be one of the most productive roster moves that Coach Madl has made and has reflected in the statistics. Holden finished the season with a career-high 15 points on seven goals and one assist. She was the Friars' leading scorer at the BIG EAST Championship, where she netted one goal in a 4-2 win over Villanova in the semifinals and two goals in a 4-3 loss to Connecticut in the championship game.

Marois played 18 games last season in the midfield and appeared in the starting line-up 10 times. She recorded one goal for PC. Marois is a valuable asset to the Friars because of her ability to play any position on the field. Madl has praised Marois for her game sense and intellect. Like Lane, Marois will play in the midfield and within the defensive unit. Junior Ali Kornfeld (Kingston, Pa.) will provide depth in the midfield, but is expected to see time at forward as well. She played nine games in the midfield during the 2006 season and made the move to forward during the spring season. Ott also will see time at midfield.

Freshmen Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.), Joscelyn Mahon (Shavertown, Pa.), Jamie Lipski (Dallas, Pa.) and Grogan also will see time in the midfield. Each of these four newcomers are expected to make immediate contributions. They are very athletic group and each come from successful high school programs with a winning mentality. Lipski and Mahon, who were teammates at Lake-Lehman High School (Pa.), also will see time at forward.

FORWARDS

Leading the way on the Friars' forward line will be the high scoring duo of senior Abby Maguire (Southbury, Conn.) and sophomore Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine). Maguire finished the 2006 season with 21 points on nine goals and three assists, and earned All-BIG EAST and NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Second-Team honors for the second-straight season. Poulin is the team's leading returning scorer after tallying 25 points on 10 goals and five assists during her first year with the program. Poulin led the Friars with five game-winning goals.

Sophomore Ali Shover (Camp Hill, Pa.), sophomore Megan Montecalvo (Ipswich, Mass.) and Kornfeld will see time on the Friar attack. Shover played nine games as a freshman, while Montecalvo saw action in eight games.

Lipski, Mahon and fellow incoming freshman Ashlyn Hudson (Stoughton, Mass.) will provide great speed and exciting potential on the offensive half of the field. The trio will compliment PC's fast-paced system of attack - especially in transition.