Brown, URI Football Grab the Spotlight
Friday, September 30, 2011
Under the lights, and in the spotlight – just where they belong.
Brown and URI stage the battle for the Governor’s Cup for the 96th time in the history of the two schools Saturday night at Brown Stadium in Providence – a game made even more significant by the fact that it will be just the second night game ever played on the East Side. More than 17,000 fans attended the first night game last season against Harvard, and with the stadium lights shining brightly again this year, a similar crowd is expected.
In this “You Tube” day and age when it takes quite a bit of novelty to get noticed – even in our own local sports marketplace – it is significant to note this series between the two programs began in 1909, and in more than 100 years of history, they’ve never faced each other in Providence under the lights. The Bears have had their way in the matchup over the years, winning 67 times, but as is usually the case when bragging rights are on the line…emotions are strong.
It’s the “state championship.” Records matter little.
For the record, URI won last year’s game in Kingston 27-24 in overtime. The Bears are 1-1 on the season, having dropped their Ivy League opener at Harvard last Friday night 24-7. Five turnovers against the Crimson certainly contributed to the cause. URI is 1-2, getting their first win of the year by defeating Fordham 21-17 at Meade Stadium. The Rams had three 100-yard rushing performances against Fordham, led by Anthony Baskerville’s 119 yards on just 12 carries. Bears’ quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero threw for 269 yards in the losing cause at Harvard…so it certainly seems like whichever team can impose its will on the other, could win.
But then again, it’s the state championship. Statistics usually matter less than the records.
Brown:
Brown women’s soccer got their only goal from sophomore Emily Wingrove in a 1-0 win over URI on Wednesday night in Kingston. The win is the second straight for the Bears, who improve to 6-2-1 on the season, and their 5th shutout of the year. The Bears also beat Dartmouth for the first time in three years 1-0 in overtime on Sunday in their Ivy opener…the Brown golf team finished 9th out of 17 teams participating in the Hartford Hawk Invitational, with freshman Justin Miller placing 11th individually…women’s golf placed second at the Princeton Invitational…13th ranked Boston College beat the Brown men’s soccer team 2-0 Tuesday night at Stevenson Field. The loss snapped a 17-game unbeaten streak at home for the Bears, dating back to last season. Brown opens Ivy play Saturday at Columbia…both tennis teams opened play for the season last week, with the men winning three singles and four doubles flights at the USTA Collegiate Invitational in Flushing, NY…
University of Rhode Island:
URI volleyball swept by Providence 3-0 Wednesday night for their fourth straight win. Senior Kayla Wilson led the way with a .500 attack percentage and 20 kills, the highest posted by any Ram player this season. URI earns the state “sweep” this year, having also beaten Brown during non-conference play…the women’s tennis team was leading Providence, 2-1, before darkness forced the match to be suspended Wednesday night in Kingston. The Rams captured the doubles point - with wins at the second and third positions - before play was halted during singles competition. The two teams will resume action on Oct. 12, beginning at 3 p.m…some big news on the basketball front this past week, as the Atlantic-10 announced their post season basketball tournament will move to Brooklyn, NY – head coach Jim Baron’s hometown – at the brand new Barclays Center starting in 2013. The Barclays Center will be home to the NBA’s New Jersey Nets…
Providence College:
The 9th-ranked PC women’s hockey team opens their regular season with two games in northern Minnesota this weekend, facing Bemidji State on Friday and Saturday nights. Coach Bob Deraney has a veteran team with seven seniors leading the way, and the last time there was this much experience on the roster, the Friars won the Hockey East title in 2005…men’s and women’s cross country continue to gain national exposure and notoriety, even though neither team raced this past week. Women’s runners are currently ranked #3 in the nation by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while the men are ranked 17th. Both teams are participating in the Paul Short Invitational this weekend in Bethlehem, PA…men’s soccer is ranked #29 nationally in the College Soccer News national Top 30, after a 2-0 win over Cincinnati in their Big East opener last week. The Friars are on the road to face USF Saturday, and freshman midfielder Marcos Ugarte (Providence) was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week, scoring both goals in the win over Cincinnati…volleyball plays New Hampshire at home Friday night, while softball hosts Alumni Weekend against URI and Boston College…
Bryant:
Football is on the road in Pittsburgh this weekend, as the Bulldogs face Duquesne with a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs are 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the NEC after a 30-28 win over Wagner at home last Saturday. Junior running back Jordan Brown is second nationally among FCS teams averaging 149.8 yards rushing per game, and he leads all NEC players with more than 233 all purpose yards per game. Bryant dropped a 37-29 decision at home last year to the Dukes, but they’ve fared pretty well overall against teams from Pennsylvania – 8-1 all time, and 4-0 on the road…10 different Bryant athletic teams were honored by the NCAA in September with public recognition awards. The awards are given to athletic teams who place in the top 10 percent of the Academic Progress Rate for all squads in their respective sports…volleyball earned its first NEC win with a 3-0 shutout over Quinnipiac on Wednesday night…field hockey is at home against LaSalle on Saturday, while volleyball hosts Sacred Heart and St. Francis (NY) Saturday and Sunday…
CCRI:
Men’s soccer defeated Holyoke Community College 4-2 on Tuesday, scoring three goals in the first 25 minutes. Two of the goals were scored by Emmanuel Ridore (Warwick) and John Natareno (Providence)…women’s soccer is ranked 13th nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association, and traveled to Springfield, MA to shut out Springfield Technical Community College 6-0 this week – despite missing four starters due to injury. Freshman midfielder Jessica Sandin (Warwick) scored her 8th goal of the season in the win…the Lady Knights volleyball team went 8-2 during the round-robin Holyoke Invitational, as they improve to 15-4 overall on the season…cross country hosts the Tri-State Invitational on the CCRI campus in Lincoln on Saturday, with the men beginning at 10 am, and the women’s race starting at 11 am…
Rhode Island College:
The RIC men’s soccer team got a pair of first half goals from senior forward Bruno Costa (Pawtucket) to beat Framingham State 4-1 on Wednesday night. The win is the third straight for men’s soccer, as they improve to 5-4 on the year. Senior goalkeeper Nick Clark and sophomore midfielder Ignacio Cespedes were both named Little East players of the week, and the Anchormen host UMass-Dartmouth Saturday at 1 pm…women’s soccer lost to Framingham State 6-0, and they will travel to UMD Saturday afternoon…sophomore Tim Leigh placed 4th overall with a 77, as the RIC golfers finished third at the Elms College Invitational Wednesday afternoon…women’s volleyball defeated Emmanuel 3-1 on the road in Boston Tuesday night. Junior outside hitter Breanna Boyer (West Greenwich) had 21 kills and 11 digs in the win…junior Conor McCloskey (Wakefield) was named the Little East Conference Men’s Cross Country runner of the week after taking first place overall in a field of 64 at the Elms College Invitational last weekend. RIC took 3rd place as a team…
Roger Williams University:
Men’s soccer got a goal from senior Trevor Hoxsie with 2:17 left in regulation to beat Wheaton 2-1 Wednesday afternoon. The goal was Hoxsie’s 5th game-winner of the year, and he was named CCC and ECAC offensive player of the week. The Hawks remain perfect (9-0-1) on the season and host Curry Saturday at 1 pm…the sailing team qualified for the ICSA Match Race National Championships for the first time since 2006…women’s volleyball stretched its winning streak to six straight matches with a 3-0 sweep over Emerson on Tuesday night. They will next host Gordon and the Coast Guard on Saturday. RWU is now 15-3 on the year, as they snapped a five-match winning streak for Emerson in the process. Sophomore middle hitter Holly Hancock was named Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Week, the straight Hawk to win the honor…women’s tennis shut out Eastern Nazarene 9-0 on Tuesday, to improve to 4-3 on the year…
Salve Regina University:
Football fell to 2-2 on the season, as they dropped a 24-17 decision to Endicott last Saturday in Beverly, MA. The Seahawks forced 4 turnovers in the losing effort, including three interceptions. Linebacker AJ Albert had one interception and led the defense with 14 total tackles, and Salve will host Western New England for homecoming weekend Saturday at 1 pm…women’s volleyball beat Western New England 3-2 on Wednesday night to stay unbeaten in Commonwealth Coast Conference play at 3-0, and improve to 7-6 overall. Freshman Taylor Violet (Tiverton) had 37 assists, to go with 10 digs, five kills and four blocks overall. Next up is the University of New England at home Saturday at 2 pm…women’s tennis shut out Wentworth 9-0 on Tuesday, while women’s soccer got two goals from junior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope) – including a game-winner in overtime – to beat Bridgewater State 3-2 on the road Tuesday. The Seahawks will host Endicott Saturday at 1 pm…
Johnson & Wales:
Men’s soccer defeated Anna Maria 2-0 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference game at Pierce Field in East Providence Wednesday afternoon. It’s their first GNAC win on the season, and at 3-6 overall, they will next face Lasell at Pierce Field Saturday at 3 pm…women’s soccer earned its sixth straight win as they defeated Emerson 2-1 on the road Wednesday night. They stay unbeaten in the GNAC at 5-0, and will host Emmanuel Saturday at 1 pm, prior to the men’s match…women’s volleyball posted a 3-0 shut out over Albertus Magnus on the road Tuesday night. It’s the first conference win for the volleyball team, and they’ll host the JWU Invitational this weekend, starting at 4 pm Friday…it is the 3rd annual Alumni Weekend at Johnson & Wales, with several athletic events taking place on Friday and Saturday. Click here for the schedule of events…
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