June 10, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Head coach Joanie Milhous announced the captains for the 2005 team today, naming senior back Natalie Balthrop (Chicago, Ill.) and senior forward Rory Rogers (Rosemont, Pa.) her captains. Both players have been three-year members of the program and will lead Villanova into the 2005 season.

Last season, Balthrop was one of the keys to a Wildcat defense that surrendered less than two goals per game to the opposition. Villanova allowed zero or one goals in 10 of its 19 games, including four shutouts. On the other end of the field, Rogers ranked second on the team in goals scored with 10 and was third on the squad with 26 points (10 goals, six assists). Three of her goals were game-winners for a Villanova team that went 11-8.

Each of the captains has demonstrated their ability to be leaders on and off the field. Through their first three years on the Main Line, the Wildcats have won 33 games and advanced to the Big East Tournament in all three seasons. In addition, Villanova has gone 10-5 in regular season Big East games in the past three years, and advanced to the championship game of the conference tournament in 2003.

Rory Rogers ranked second on the team with 10 goals last season.

In 2004, the Wildcats won 11 games and earned one of four berths to the Big East Championship. There, they came up against top-seeded Connecticut and were defeated 2-1. The 2005 squad will be trying to advance to the conference tournament for the fifth straight season, and sixth time in the last seven years.

This season's 17-game regular season schedule begins with a home game against Bucknell on September 2 at 7 p.m.