PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women’s soccer team hosts Holy Cross and the University of Wisconsin this week. The Friars will face Holy Cross on Thursday, August 22nd at 4 p.m. before facing Wisconsin on Sunday, August 25th at 1 p.m.

STREAMING AGAINST HOLY CROSS

LINK TO LIVE STATISTICS / LIVE STREAM / FLOSPORTS SUBSCRIPTION WITH DISCOUNT

STREAMING AGAINST WISCONSIN

LINK TO LIVE STATISTICS / LIVE STREAM / FLOSPORTS SUBSCRIPTION WITH DISCOUNT

THE FRIARS INVESTIGATE… The Friars begin the week with a 1-0-0 record. Providence opened the season last week with a 1-0 win over Rhode Island.

Doctoral student Kacy Lawrence (Monroe, Connecticut) led the team with the game-winning goal against the Rams. Kayla Briggs (Toronto, Canada) and Gillian Kenney (Hanover, Mass.) are the team’s leading assisters; both recorded an assist in the Friars’ home opener.

TWO FRIARS MEMBERS QUALIFY FOR 2024 FIFA U20 WORLD CUP… Junior Ella McBride (Peterborough, Canada) and Sophomore Kayla Briggs (Toronto, Canada) has qualified the Canada U20 women’s national team for the 2024 FIFA U20 World Cup (August 19). The team will begin its group stage on Saturday, August 31, against France.

KAYLA BRIGGS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAM… Kayla Briggs (Toronto, Ontario) was honored as a member of the Preseason ALL-BIG EAST Team. The BIG EAST released its 2024 Preseason Coaches’ Poll and preseason honors on Tuesday (August 13).

BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES POLL…The Providence women’s soccer team finished fifth in the 2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 66 points. Providence finished last season with a record of 4-1-5 in conference play.

NEWCOMERS… Providence welcomes nine student-athletes to the program this season, including two graduates, two juniors and six freshmen. The graduates include Kacey Lawerence (Monroe, Conn.) and Ellie Thallman (Northville, Michigan). Junior transfers include Brooke Haarala (Framingham, Mass.) and Olivia Allen (Holland Landing, Ontario).

The new freshmen include Kelly Stepnowski (Glastonbury, Connecticut), Amaya Coffee (Warwick, Rhode Island), Stephanie Schoeley (Stuttgart, Germany), Caitlyn Gratton (Hamilton, Ontario), Lily Gibbs (Dedham, Massachusetts) and Kirstin Middaugh (Lancaster, NY).

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST HOLY CROSS…The Friars have an overall record of 17-4-3 against the Crusaders. The last time they met, the Friars won 2-0 in 2018 in Providence, RI.

WATCHING THE CRUSADERS… Holy Cross enters Thursday’s contest with a 0-2-0 record, including losses to Fairfield and New Hampshire. The Crusaders were picked last out of 10 teams in the Patriot League’s preseason coaches poll.

In 2023, Holy Cross finished the season 5-7-5 and 2-4-3 in Patriot League Conference play. The Crusaders return their second-leading scorer from last season, Sydney Baldwin, who scored six points with two goals and two assists. Nadia Cassamajor, Ava Grahm and Charlotte Hanchar have all scored two points with one goal each this season.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST WISCONSIN … The Friars enter Sunday’s contest with an overall record of 0-1-0 against the Badgers. In their last meeting, the Friars lost to Wisconsin 3-2 (OT) in 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin.

WATCHING THE BADGERS… Wisconsin enters Sunday’s game with a 0-1-0 record, coming off a 1-0 loss to third-ranked BYU. The Badgers will face UConn on Thursday before playing the Friars on Sunday. Wisconsin was ranked No. 6 in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll and is currently receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll.

In 2023, Wisconsin finished the season 14-5-4 overall and 7-2-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Returning players Hailey Baumann, Maddie Ishaug and Aryssa Mahrt were named Big Ten Players to Watch in the league’s Coaches Poll. Baumann was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team last season. Ishaug was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team in 2023.

UP NEXT…The Friars host Fairleigh Dickenson on Thursday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium in Providence, RI.

For more information about the Providence College women’s soccer team, follow @PC_WomensSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.

-LET’S GO, CITIZENS!-