The Cowl WINTER SPORTSPREVIEW THE BOYS ARE BACK IN FRIARTOWN NINTH EDITION Men s Hockey Indoor Track Team looks to rebound after Ray Treacy leads squad of tough 2008-2009 season. seasoned veterans across miles of unconquered terrain. Page 6 Page 3 PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY^OF SPORTS INFO j 2 The Cowl WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW October 8, 2009 Injury-Free Lady Friars Primed for the New Season by John Butler '11 Women's Basketball Assistant Sports Editor 2009-10 Roster Women’s Basketball 55 Jessica Clark 6-5 Leadership, consistency, and confidence. Center These will be the three factors that 33 Emily Coumoyer 6-4 determine just how far the Providence College Women's Basketball Team will Forward go in its 2009-10 campaign. Led by 21 Brittany Dorsey 5-9 senior captains Emily Cournoyer and Chelsea Marandola, the Friars return a Guard/Forward solid nucleus of players and add three 24 Brianna Edwards 6-1 additional players to the mix, such that Forward a combination of the seasoned and the aspiring will take the floor this season 15 Mi-Khida Hankins 6-1 Providence finished in the lower half Guard/Forward of the Big East last season with a 4-12 5 Trinity Hull 5-6 conference record and a 10-20 record overall. The Big East is undoubtedly Guard one of the premier women's basketball 11 Tiffany Hurd 5-10 conferences in the nation, having earned seven NCAA tournament bids Guard last season, and six WNIT bids. Given 10 Chelsea Marandola 5-8 the high degree of competition, what Guard is Providence, a team which is self- admittedly not among the best of Big 3 Chandler McCabe 6-3 East, left to do? Forward "You try to do as well as you can in 12 Symone Roberts 5-7 non-conference and know when you go into league play that every game Guard is going to be a competitive game," 1 Miranda Tate 5-11 said Friars Head Coach Phil Seymore. Guard "The coaches on the opposing teams also know that. With us not being in 20 Lola Wells 5-6 the top of the pack, ... [but still being COURTESY OF SPORTS INFO Guard Senior Chelsea Marandola is injury-free and ready to lead the Friars on the floor this season. The competitive] anything can happen." 2 Indeed, five of the Friars' 12 guard led Providence last season with u.o points per game. Teya Wright 6-1 conference losses last season were 09 season. "And Mi-Khida [Hankins], doubt pick up some offensive slack, and decided by six points or less. And her shoulder was pretty bad. She was fill the void left by the graduation of not begin until Friday, Nov. 13, when many of those losses came when the really playing with one arm." Catherine Bove. Due to NCAA transfer Providence takes on cross-town rival Providence roster was decimated due But this season, the stars seem to be rules, junior Teya Wright and sophomore Brown on College Hill. A string of to injury or other reasons. aligned for the Friars, as Marandola Miranda Tate will sit out this season, but 13 non-conference games, including "Chelsea [Marandola] didn't start is back to tip-top shape, Hankins they will practice with the team. Big match-ups against Rhode Island and coming along for a while [after back is recovering nicely from offseason things are expected also from freshmen Duke, along with an appearance in surgery]," said Seymore of the 2008- shoulder surgery, and the rest of the Brianna Edwards and Symone Roberts the Warner-Center Marriot Classic in team is staying healthy. In the frontcourt, the focus remains Northridge, Calif., make the first half of "Health has always been a problem on getting scrappy, hard-earned baskets, the season a busy one. The Friars begin Women's Basketball for our team, for the four years that and to be a force to be reckoned with off their conference slate against Villanova 2009-10 Schedule I've been here," said Coumoyer. the boards. Cournoyer, at 6-4, assumes on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at home. From "But we have an experienced much of that responsibility. that point forward, Providence will November returning team. And we're hoping "I understand that my role is to be enjoy no respite from the rigors of the the newcomers and the transfers will a leader, and to bring my game and Big East. 13 at Brown be able to step up and help us out. We play consistently," said Cournoyer. "To "The level of competition in the Big 15 vs. Saint Joseph's really have a strong base in place for play more consistently in every game is East is awesome," said Coumoyer. really the key." "I love playing in this league. 20 vs. Hartford a good team." Junior Trinity Hull and sophomore But consistency has not been a You're playing with the best in the 24 vs. Quinnipiac Lola Wells, along with Marandola problem for the forward in years nation, and it just makes you want 27 vs. Pepperdine and Hankins, will be calling the ?ast. She posted 10.0 points per game to compete, and for me to say that I 28 vs. Northern Colorado shots in the backcourt this season. ast season, and started all 30 games. play in the Big East is a real honor." Marandola led the Friars last season Moreover, her .467 field goal percentage An honor it is, but Coach Seymore December by averaging 12.0 points per game, and .333 three-point percentage made recognizes as well the intensity of the 2 vs. Buffalo and Hankins was not far off with her a threat to all opposing defenses. league, and the necessary adjustments that a team like Providence must make 5 at Rhode Island 9.6 points per game. All the guards She averaged 6.4 rebounds per game last seem to feel comfortable with a quick season, second only to Shantee Darrian, for conference play. 8 at Hofstra tempo of offense which will likely who graduated last year. Cournoyer "When you get into the Big East 11 at Massachusetts characterize the team this season. will look to dominate the basket, along season, [the tempo of the game] slows 21 vs. Vermont "I'm counting on [the guards] to with senior center Jessica Clark, and down a little bit because it becomes lead the backcourt and take care of the senior Brittany Dorsey, who splits her more of a grind type of game," he 31 vs. Fordham ball, to make sure the ball gets to the time between the guard and forward said. "Obviously with our offense January right people at the right time," said positions. Both Clark and Dorsey were kicking up, we'll be scoring more reliable assets for the Friars last season. joints, putting more points on the 3 at Duke Coach Seymore. "A lot of it starts with your point guard.. .The less turnovers It is still early in the basketball Board, and hopefully our forwards 6 vs. Villanova* we have, the more opportunities we'll calendar, as the regular season does will be scoring." 9 at Louisville* have to score." True, the season is more than one 12 at Georgetown* And putting up points will be a month away, but they are already major priority for Providence as they raring to go in the Mullaney Gym, as if 16 vs. Seton Hall* engage the offensively potent squads game day were tomorrow. 19 vs. Syracuse* of the Big East. By all accounts, the "Everybody can't wait to put on the jersey," said Cournoyer. "We're 23 vs. Pittsburgh* Friars are up to the challenge. "The goal is to win games," said definitely all fired up and looking 27 at Notre Dame* Coumoyer. "We have been improving forward to that first game, but there's 30 at Saint John's* every year I've been here. We just have definitely a lot of work to be done February to go out there and prove ourselves. between now and then." We know we have the talent to get to And once that season begins, 3 vs. DePaul* the Big East Tournament ...We have anything is possible. For this Friar team 6 vs. West Virginia* to make sure we get things together that has so much heart, it is evident 13 at Marquette* in practice [between now and the that goals which might have seemed start of the season]. The newcomers too lofty just two or three seasons ago 16 vs. Cincinnati* and transfers are learning the plays, now appear to be in reach. 20 at Connecticut* and we're getting things cleaned up." "Maybe you've got seven wins," 23 at South Florida* Truly, the five new players seem to said Coach Seymore. "And if you're be picking up the plays and learning lucky, seven wins can get you into the 27 vs. Rutgers* the Providence style nicely. Of the tournament. It seems far, maybe, but March three transfers, only junior Tiffany we're not that far away. We just have to COURTESY OF SPORTS INFO be more consistent and confident every 1 at Villanova Hurd will be eligible to play. Coach Seymore characterizes the guard as Senior-forward Emily Coumoyer has been a men­ day we step out on the court." *= Big East Opponent an outstanding shooter, who will no ace to other teams off the boards for the Friars. October 8, 2009 WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW The Cowl 3 Swimming and Diving Ready for 2009-10 Campaign by John Sessions '12 Swimming & Diving Sports Staff 2009-2010 Schedule Swimming & Diving October 17 vs.