:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65679279/Grillo3.0.0.jpg)
The Providence Friars are the 24th team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the third team from the Big East. Providence finished 7-9 overall in 2019 and 3-2 in Big East play. The Friars lost to Georgetown in the Big East semifinals after the Hoyas mounted a fourth quarter comeback.
Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:
Providence’s 2020 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes |
| 1/18 | Providence | Utah | Scrimmage |
| 1/25 | Providence | UMass | Scrimmage |
| 2/1 | Providence | Boston University | |
| 2/8 | Holy Cross | Providence | |
| 2/15 | Bryant | Providence | Ocean State Cup |
| 2/22 | Providence | Saint Joseph's | |
| 2/29 | Providence | Brown | Ocean State Cup |
| 3/7 | Providence | Sacred Heart | |
| 3/14 | Hofstra | Providence | |
| 3/17 | Providence | Fairfield | First meeting since 2015 |
| 3/22 | Providence | Drexel | |
| 3/28 | St. John's | Providence | Big East |
| 4/4 | Providence | Georgetown | Big East |
| 4/11 | Providence | Marquette | Big East |
| 4/18 | Denver | Providence | Big East |
| 4/25 | Providence | Villanova | Big East |
Who’s In?
- Fairfield Stags (3/17)
Who’s Out?
- Harvard Crimson (9-8 L)
- UMass Lowell River Hawks (14-4 W)
Providence’s Opponents 2019 Average Win Percentage & RPI
| Avg. overall win pct. | Avg. nonconference win pct. | Avg. conference win pct. | Avg. overall RPI | Avg. nonconference RPI | Avg. conference RPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. overall win pct. | Avg. nonconference win pct. | Avg. conference win pct. | Avg. overall RPI | Avg. nonconference RPI | Avg. conference RPI |
| .480 | .453 | .527 | 36.36 | 40.89 | 28.2 |
Circle These Dates
- 2/1 at Boston University: Providence has lost the last four meetings against the Terriers, with the last three coming by a goal. BU has been a rising program for the last few seasons with players such as Cal Dearth and Chris Gray coming through. But the Terriers lose plenty of production on offense, including James Burr. But the Friars will still need to figure out Joe McSorley, who stopped 24 shots last year.
- 2/29 at Brown: An annual late nonconference meeting with the Bears gets moved earlier in the season to the last day in February. After clinching the Ocean State Cup with their first ever win against Brown in 2018, the Bears got revenge last season thanks to a 4-0 run to end the first half. Providence kept the game close throughout, but could not solve Phil Goss in goal.
- 3/28 vs. St. John’s: Trailing by two entering the final quarter, the Friars scored three straight to take a one-goal lead before the Red Storm forced overtime. Providence won the game thanks to Matt Grillo’s second goal of the game. The Friars haven’t lost to St. John’s since 2015.
- 4/4 at Georgetown: Two tough losses for the Friars against the Hoyas last season. In the regular season matchup, Providence had a 9-5 lead at halftime before Georgetown scored nine goals in the third quarter to take a lead they would not lose. In the Big East Tournament as was already mentioned, the Friars had a lead entering the fourth quarter but saw the Hoyas come from behind and win by a goal.
- 4/25 at Villanova: One of the most thrilling finishes of the college lacrosse season happened in the Big East regular season finale. Down two to the Wildcats, Nick Hatzipetrakos converted on a last second heave from the other side of the field to force overtime as time expired. Then on the ensuing faceoff to start the extra session, Colin Keating won the draw and went down the field to win the game in a span of five seconds.