PROVIDENCE COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH
SAM LOPES SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION
Lopes guided the Friars to the 2015 BIG EAST
Championship game and a program-best 13 victories.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College Athletics Director Bob Driscoll announced today [Feb. 2, 2016] that women’s soccer Head Coach Sam Lopes signed a contract extension through the 2021 season. Lopes, who was appointed the ninth head coach in the history of the program on April 10, 2014, has guided the Friars to back-to-back appearances in the BIG EAST Tournament (2014, 2015) and advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game in 2015.
“We are pleased to extend the contract of Coach Lopes,” Driscoll said. “Since his arrival in 2014, he has helped transform the program in a short period of time and continues to build a culture of excellence. Sam’s passion for the game and his enthusiasm toward mentoring his student-athletes to reach a championship level is unmatched.”
In two seasons as the Friars’ head coach, Lopes has posted a 22-16-3 record (0.573), including a 10-8 mark during BIG EAST regular-season play (0.556). In his first season as head coach at Providence College (2014), the program enjoyed its first winning season since 2010, finishing the year with a 9-8-2 mark (5-4 BIG EAST). Additionally, the Friars earned a berth to the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 2011.
During the 2015 campaign, Lopes and the Friars set a program record for victories in a season, finishing the year with a 13-8-1 mark (5-4 BIG EAST). The team’s 13 victories marked the first double-digit win season since 1993 and the fifth double-digit win season in program history.
In 2015, the team earned a berth to the BIG EAST Tournament for the second-consecutive season, marking just the second time in program history that the team qualified for the league tournament in back-to-back seasons. Lopes also became the first coach in program history to lead the team to consecutive BIG EAST Tournament appearances to start his career (2014, 2015).
The Friars entered the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament as the No. 6 seed and defeated No. 3 seed DePaul, 1-0, in Chicago, Ill. It was the program’s first road victory in BIG EAST Tournament play all-time.
Providence advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game for just the second time in program history after claiming victory against No. 2 seed Georgetown in penalty kicks (4-2) on Nov. 7 in Omaha, Neb. The Friars’ impressive season came to an end in the BIG EAST final, with a 1-0 loss to Butler on Nov. 9.
“I am humbled and thankful to Mr. Driscoll, Father Shanley and the entire Providence College community for their continued belief and trust in me to remain the leader of our program for years to come,” Lopes said. It’s an honor to be part of Mr. Driscoll’s team and be the head women’s soccer coach in Friartown. I also would like to thank my staff and all of our extraordinary student-athletes over the last year and a half. Their commitment, trust and belief in the process for our program on and off the field, is why success is possible and I’m afforded this incredible opportunity. Without their efforts, none of this is possible. I am beyond grateful to be part of their journey, as they are my motivation daily.”
Lopes spent one season as the head coach at New Hampshire during the 2013 campaign. He coached and mentored three Wildcat players who earned America East post-season honors.
Prior to his term at UNH, Lopes spent two years as an assistant coach at Providence College (2011-2012). In his first season with the Friars, Lopes assisted Providence to their first BIG EAST Tournament game since 1994. Providence then defeated Rutgers, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinals. He also helped develop and mentor Jenna Roncarati to her third-consecutive All-BIG EAST honor. As the assistant at Providence, Lopes handled recruiting, scouting, travel and budgeting, as well as monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes and planning team training and individual workouts.
Lopes was the head assistant women’s coach at Southern Connecticut State University from 2005-2011. He was highly involved in recruiting, planning off-season training and helped establish the Freshman Athletic Scholastic Training (F.A.S.T.) academic program.
Lopes, a 2002 graduate of Quinnipiac University, received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. He was a four-year member of the soccer team and was a captain during his senior season. After playing at Quinnipiac, Lopes went on to play in the United States Soccer League for the Connecticut Wolves and the Westchester Flames.
He began his coaching career in 2002 as an assistant at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn. Additionally, Lopes served as an assistant coach with the Boston Breakers (2010-11), Quickstrike Lady Blues (2009) and New England Mutiny (2007-08).
Lopes and his wife, Lisa [Wasser], were married in 2015. Wasser is the associate head coach of the field hockey team at Providence College.
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