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Saturday, February 21
Providence, RI
12 p.m.
Brown University
at
Providence College
Photo by: Kayleigh Halasz
Men's Lacrosse Kicks Off Ocean State Cup Against Providence, Hosts UMass
2/20/2026 12:01:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown Bears (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League) return to action to take on the Providence College Friars (2-1, 0-0 Big East) on Saturday before welcoming UMass (2-1, 0-0 CAA) to Stevenson-Pincince Field on Tuesday.
Saturday's game at Providence is scheduled to begin at noon and will stream on Friars.com. Tuesday's game against the Minutemen is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Saturday's game at Providence is scheduled to begin at noon and will stream on Friars.com. Tuesday's game against the Minutemen is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
- Brown enters the weekend with a 1-0 overall record after taking a 10-8 road win over Fairfield last weekend. The Bears are receiving votes in both the USILA Coaches Poll and the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
- Brown's offense tallied 10 goals behind a four-goal effort from Jeremy Hopsicker. Marcus Wertheim and Jameson Steele both chipped in a goal and an assist.
- Brown found the back of the net on its lone EMO opportunity of the game last weekend.
- Defensively, the Bears allowed only eight goals with Connor Foley recording 14 saves in the win.
- Brown went 3-for-4 (.750) in man-down situations in the opener against the Stags.
- Henry Brayer posted a career performance against Fairfield, winning 11-of-18 faceoffs with eight ground balls.
- The Friars enter the weekend with a 2-1 overall record in 2026 with wins over Holy Cross and Bryant. PC most recently fell at 12th-ranked Harvard, 10-4.
- Offensively, PC averages 11.67 goals per game. Rhett Chambers leads the team in goals (9), assists (8), and points (17).
- The Friars are 4-for-16 (.250) in man-up situations. Sam Brazell leads the team with a pair of man-up goals.
- Defensively, PC allows 10.33 goals per game. Cam Sterritt has started all three games for Providence and holds a .563 save percentage and a 10.38 goals against average.
- PC has allowed six man-up goals in 10 opportunities (.400).
- Chris Esposito has taken half of the faceoffs and holds a .563 win-rate (22-for-38). Jack Cooper has won half of his faceoffs (19-for-38).
- As a team, the Friars average 27.00 ground balls per game and 8.67 caused turnovers per game.
- Saturday marks the 30th meeting between Brown and Providence College in a series dating back to 1989.
- Brown owns a 26-3 overall record in the series and an 11-1 road record.
- All three of PC's wins have come in the last decade and in overtime.
- UMass enters the weekend with a 2-1 overall record. The Minutemen opened the season with a loss at Army before taking wins over Merrimack and Quinnipiac.
- UMass travels to take on NJIT on Saturday (Feb. 21).
- Offensively, UMass averages 13.33 goals per game to rank 20th in the NCAA.
- Jack Turowsky leads the team with eight goals and 13 points. His five assists are tied for the team lead with Robbie Granara.
- UMass has four EMO goals in 11 attempts (.364). Charles Kurtz has two man-up goals to lead the team.
- Defensively, UMass allows 9.00 goals per game to rank 20th in the nation.
- Owen Salanger has started all three games and holds a .571 save percentage and 9.35 goals against average.
- The man-down defense clicks at .615 (8-for-13).
- UMass has won 40.8% of its faceoffs to rank 64th nationally. TJ Casey leads the squad at .417 (25-for-60).
- Tuesday marks the 57th meeting between Brown and UMass in a longstanding regional rivalry.
- Brown holds a 30-26 record in the series and a 14-13 home mark.
- Both teams have won five of the last 10 meetings and10 of the last 20 meetings.
- Brown picked up a 10-8 non-conference win over Fairfield to open the 2026 season.
- Jeremy Hopsicker led the Bears offensively with four goals. Marcus Wertheim and Jameson Steele both added two goals and an assist. Ben Scandone chipped in two assists.
- Connor Foley finished the afternoon with 14 saves.
- Foley picked up the victory against Fairfield with a 14-save effort.
- Through one game, Foley's .636 save percentage ranks fifth in the NCAA. His 8.00 goals against average ranks 13th in the nation.
- Hopsicker recorded his fourth career hat trick and second career four-goal game in the opener.
- The captain also added three ground balls in the victory.
- Junior Henry Brayer recorded several career highs in the opener against Fairfield.
- He recorded 11 faceoff wins, 18 faceoffs taken, and eight ground balls - all career bests.
- Through the first game, his .611 faceoff percentage is 23rd nationally and his 8.00 ground balls per game is tied for 10th in the NCAA.
- Brown saw contributions from a number of newcomers against Fairfield.
- Jameson Steele recorded two goals and an assist in his collegiate debut. Baden Brown added a goal and an assist.
- Matt Egan recorded three ground balls and three caused turnovers in his debut.
- Ryan Mauer went 2-for-3 on faceoffs with a pair of ground balls.
- Brown captured its first Ocean State Cup since 2022 and eighth in program history with wins over Providence College and Bryant in 2025.
- The Bears will look to hoist the in-state rivalry cup for the ninth time in 2026.
- Brown takes on Providence College on the road tomorrow afternoon before hosting the Bulldogs on Saturday, February 28.
- Providence can win its third Ocean State Cup with a win on Saturday against the Bears. PC took a 16-11 win over Bryant earlier this month.
- Brown won the Cup in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2025.
- Bryant has won six Ocean State Cups with the most recent in 2024. PC has won the Cup twice, most recently in 2020.
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today's Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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