Nov. 3, 2007

Final Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Providence College field hockey team advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game for the second-straight season with a 2-0 victory over 11th-ranked Louisville on November 3 in Syracuse, N.Y. The Friars entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, while Louisville began play as the No. 2 seed. Providence improves to 14-7 on the year, while the Cardinals drop to 14-6 overall.

"We're very excited about advancing to the BIG EAST Championship game," said sixth-year Friar Head Coach Diane Madl. "Louisville is an exceptional team that we have the utmost respect for. I'm proud of our team gutted it out in the second half."

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie (0-0) in the first half. PC held a 5-3 advantage in shots through the first 35 minutes, while Louisville held a 3-2 edge in penalty corners. Providence's two penalty corners in the first half came in the closing seconds, but the Cardinals were able to hold the Friars off the board.

Senior All-BIG EAST First-Team performer Abby Maguire (Southbury, Conn.) managed to get the Friars on the board for a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute of play as sophomore Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine) dumped the ball into the circle on a breakaway that developed from midfield. Poulin was credited with the assist.

Maguire scored her second goal of the afternoon at 65:53 to give Providence a 2-0 advantage. Freshman Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.) passed the ball into the circle toward the left post where Maguire tipped it into the back of the cage.

The Friars held a 6-5 advantage in shots in the second half. PC also held the edge in penalty corners in the half, 4-0.

Two-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Rachel Chamberlain (Branford, Conn.) earned her fifth shut-out victory of the season with four saves. Marie-Claire Heller registered five saves for Louisville.

Providence (14-7) will face the winner of the second semifinal game between top-seeded Connecticut and No. 4 seed Syracuse. Last season, the Friars advanced to the championship game and fell to Connecticut, 4-3, in Louisville, Ky. This year's championship game is slated to be played at Noon in Syracuse, N.Y. The winner will earn the league's automatic berth to the 2007 NCAA Field Hockey Championship.