Nov. 8, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Despite moving up two positions in the national rankings, the No. 15 Wildcats (15-5, 4-1 Big East) saw an end to their record-breaking season. The team learned it was not selected for the 16-team NCAA tournament Tuesday night via the selection show on CSTV. The Wildcats posted their best record in program history with fifteen wins and first-ever national ranking. After winning the regular season, they went into the Big East Tournament with the No. 1 seed but fell to Connecticut 3-2 in overtime.

No. 10 UConn received the Big East's automatic bid into the tournament, while both `Nova and No. 12 Louisville were not included in the ten remaining at large selections. The Cardinals lost to the Huskies it the semifinals of their first Big East Tournament.

Villanova has a lot of positives coming out of this past season after being showered with awards at last Thursday's Big East Banquet. Head Coach Joanie Q. Milhous won Coach of the Year for the second time in her career on the Main Line. Junior midfielder Lauren Campanelli won Defensive Player of the Year and senior forward Rory Rogers took home Co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Louisville's Jessica Javelet. Rogers and Campanelli were both named to the Big East First team as well as the Wildcats' leading scorer, Megan Foster. Junior forward Sara Schmidt and senior back Sarah Francis both received second team accolades.

The group was picked third in the Big East Preseason Coaches poll, but moved into the national rankings and top spot in the conference after defeating UConn 4-3 on September 17th. A win over Louisville solidified the team's position in the conference as it moved on to clinch the regular season title in a win over Providence.

Next season looks bright for the Wildcats losing six seniors but retaining a good portion of the starting lineup. Rogers will be sorely missed up front, but Foster and freshman Allison Boris return as well as key reserve Julia Noorduyn. In the midfield, Stephanie Grejtak will be lost to graduation while Schmidt, Campanelli and Catherine Somits will be back. Both Sam Coveleski and Jenny Nelson spent time in the starting lineup this season and will see more in 2006. For the backs, second team member Francis, and senior captain Natalie Balthrop will be missed but sophomore Stephanie Campbell will serve as the anchor with numerous reserves competing for the two open spots. Both Alex Whalen and Erin Scott will be back in goal although the starting spot will be up in the air as it was all this season.

The Wildcats ended their season Tuesday night but now begin a new season hoping to capitalize on what was built in 2005.

2005 Villanova Field Hockey's First...

-National ranking in program history (Sep.20)

-Time it came to Big East Tournament as No. 1 seed

-Regular season Big East Championship

-Fifteen win season (old record was 14 in 1988)

-Time it beat more than one ranked team during the year (Connecticut and Louisville)

- All-Big East First Team with three VU players (Rogers, Foster, Campanelli)

-Big East Offensive Player of the Year award (Rogers)

-Defensive Player of the Year award (Campanelli)

`Nova Notables

-Took three of top four conference awards (Coach, Offense and Defense)

-Placed two players on All-Big East Second Team (Francis and Schmidt)

-Had two players in the top ten for scoring in the conference and country all season (Rogers and Foster)

-Won six Big East Player of the Week honors (most in conference)

-Recognized with ECAC DI Player of the Week honors (Campanelli, Sep. 21)

-Began season ranked third in the Big East Preseason Poll

-Moved four players into the VU all-time scoring records (Foster, Rogers, Campanelli and Schmidt)