Field Hockey Game Preview

Oct. 8, 2009

Providence, R.I. - PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (4-7, 1-2 BIG EAST): The Providence College field hockey team travels to Piscataway, N.J. to take on BIG EAST Conference opponent Rutgers on Friday, October 9 at 3:00 p.m. The Friars are coming off a 4-2 defeat against then-No. 10 Boston College on October 5. This will be the second of four-consecutive road games for the Friars, who enter the matchup with a 4-7 overall record and a 1-2 mark in BIG EAST Conference play.

Ali Shover (Camp Hill, Pa.) and Julie Ruggieri (Barrington, R.I.) each scored goals in the Friar's loss to Boston College. Senior Nellie Poulin (Oakland, Maine) provided the assist for Shover's goal. Poulin has 17 points this season on eight goals and one assist. She currently sits ninth on the Friars all time points list with 97 and seventh on the all times goals list with 43. Ruggieri and fellow junior Ashlyn Hudson (Stoughton, Mass.) are tied for second on the team in points with seven. Both players have tallied three goals and one assist.

The Friars have already played six of the top-ten teams in the country and according to fieldhockeycorner.com have the toughest schedule in the nation. Both fieldhockeycorner.com and the NCAA have Providence No. 10 in the RPI. The team is receiving points in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll and is the first team out of the top-20 ranking.

Under the guidance of head coach Diane Madl, the Friars are 5-2 against Rutgers. The Friars have won the past four meetings against the Scarlet Knights including a 2-0 shutout victory at home last year. After this game, the Friars' next two matchups will be played in Louisville, Ky. The Friars face No. 15 Louisville on Friday, October 16 at 2:00 p.m. and No. 4 Wake Forest on Saturday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be played at Trager Stadium, home of the Louisville Cardinals field hockey team.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (1-11, 0-3 BIG EAST): The Rutgers field hockey team enters the match coming off a 5-0 defeat against Michigan State on Saturday, October 3. The game was played at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Rutgers is led by seniors Jessika Hoh and Brittany Bybel. Hoh leads the team with 18 points on nine goals. Despite being outscored 50-26 on the season Rutgers has been able to get off a comparable amount of shots, trailing opponents 182-181. They also hold the advantage in penalty corners against opponents 81-74.

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Georgetown on September 26, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Hofstra on September 28, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Field Hockey at Connecticut on October 3, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3

Completed Event: Field Hockey at Vermont on October 5, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 1 , (OT)

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Quinnipiac on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 2

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Sacred Heart on October 12, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Field Hockey at #7 Liberty on October 17, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2

Completed Event: Field Hockey at Villanova on October 24, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 4

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus #19 Brown on October 26, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 5

Completed Event: Field Hockey versus Temple on October 31, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3 , (OT)

Providence College Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Ashlyn Hudson

Nellie Poulin

Julie Ruggieri

Ali Shover

Related Videos