May 08, 2019
Around Friartown: Hockey team reaches NCAA Frozen Four
Cementing their status as one of the nation’s top men’s hockey programs by any measure, the Friars finished 2018-19 not only with a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but a trip to the Frozen Four.
Coach Nate Leaman’s team, led by Second Team All-America forward Josh Wilkins ’20 (Raleigh, N.C.), finished second in the conference’s regular season standings, on the way to an at-large bid in the national tournament. The Friars rallied from three goals down and stunned top seed Minnesota State, 6-3, in the NCAA First Round, then blanked Cornell, 4-0, to capture the East Regional title. In the national semifinals in Buffalo, N.Y., eventual NCAA champion Minnesota Duluth broke a 1-1 third-period tie and went on to top the Friars, 4-1.
The Frozen Four appearance was the second in five seasons for the Friars, who won their first NCAA Championship in 2015. Leaman has compiled a record of 176-101-38 in eight seasons at PC, including 24-12-6 in 2018-19.
WNIT ride for women
Mullaney Gym in venerable Alumni Hall was rocking in March, as enthusiastic crowds cheered on the Friar women’s basketball team, which hosted three WNIT games. PC defeated Hartford and Penn before losing to Georgetown in the Third Round, comprising 16 teams. Under third-year coach Jim Crowley, the 19-16 Friars qualified for postseason play for the first time since 2010. Guards Jovana “YoYo” Nogic ’19 (Belgrade, Serbia) and Maddie Jolin ’19 (Rehoboth, Mass.) led the Friars, averaging 13.8 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. Forward Mary Baskerville ’22 (Enfield, Conn.) was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.
Men’s basketball advances to NIT
The Friar men’s basketball season ended in the NIT First Round with a 12-point home loss to Arkansas. This was the seventh consecutive national postseason tournament for PC under Ed Cooley. The Friars, who had only one senior and saw a promising freshman class earn substantial playing time, finished 18-16 overall, 7-11 in BIG EAST play. Guard Alpha Diallo ’20 (New York, N.Y.) led PC, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds. He was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Women skate to 24 wins
Under first-year coach Matt Kelly, the Friar women’s ice hockey team served notice that PC is back as a championship contender in Hockey East. The Friars finished 24-11-2, tying a program record for wins set in 2002-03, while earning the program’s best conference winning percentage (.630) since 2009-10. Forward Maureen Murphy ’21 (Buffalo, N.Y.) was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team while goaltender Madison Myers ’19 (Colchester, Vt.) and defender Avery Fransoo ’20 (North Battleford, Sask.) earned honorable mention.
Elsewhere in Friartown …
Add the name of Millie Paladino ’19 (Morgantown, W. Va.) to the list of Friar women’s track athletes to make a splash on a national stage. Running a tactically superb race, Paladino used a strong closing kick to finish third in the NCAA Indoor Championships’ women’s mile with a time of 4:38.44 and earned All-America honors.
One of Paladino’s legendary predecessors, Emily Sisson ’14, continues to gain accolades as one of the nation’s top distance runners. Sisson’s 1:07:30 Houston Half Marathon time in January was the second-fastest time ever for an American woman at that distance.
USA Basketball named Ed Cooley head coach of the U.S. team for the Pan American Games, scheduled for August in Peru. The Friars’ coach since 2011, Cooley called the appointment “an incredible honor.” The team will comprise players solely from BIG EAST rosters.
Redshirt senior Friar men’s soccer goaltender Colin Miller ’18 (Bel Air, Md.) signed a professional contract with Loudoun United FC following the completion of the Friar season. He was All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2018. Loudoun United FC is the affiliate of the MLS team D.C. United.
