Aug. 28, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's soccer team begins its 2008 campaign against the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Friday, August 29 at 3:00 p.m. at home on Glay Field. The last meeting between these two teams resulted in a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime victory for the Friars on August 31, 2007. In the 10 total matches between these two squads, the Friars have a 9-0-1 record against Sacred Heart.

Providence returns 18 players from a team that made its third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007. The Friars are looking for their fourth-consecutive berth in 2008, while also hoping to extend their streak of winning seasons in BIG EAST play to three, a feat which has never been accomplished. Coach Chaka Daley has guided Providence to this unparalleled level of success in men's soccer in his eight seasons, and is looking to keep the winning touch during his ninth season at the helm of the Friars. Along with playing in the NCAA Tournament, major highlights of the 2007 season included competing in the BIG EAST Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons and a 1-0 road win at then No. 13/9 Boston College, who eventually was seeded No. 1 overall in the NCAA Tournament.

Senior tri-captains Ryan Maduro (Bristol, R.I.), Michael Narciso (Livingston, N.J.), and Kevin Neumen (Miller Place, N.Y.) will lead PC during the 2008 season. Maduro became the only Friar to ever earn back-to-back All-BIG EAST First Team honors and was also named to the All-NSCAA Northeast Region Second Team after leading Providence in scoring (five goals, six assists) in 2007.

The Pioneers are coming off a 2007 season where they posted a school-best 10-8-1 cumulative record and 6-3-0 Northeast Conference record. After reaching the NEC Tournament Semifinals, Sacred Heart was picked to place third in the Northeast Conference for 2008 by conference coaches in the preseason poll. Top scorer Jason Tessitore (Orange, Conn.) will lead the Pioneers in 2008, along with All-NEC honorees defender David Backman (Gothenburg, Sweden), goaltender Matthew Jones (Stoke-On-Trent, England), and midfielder Luke Gagliardi (North Branford, Conn.).