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Aug. 3, 2004

Providence, R.I. - On Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, the Big East Conference released it 2004 Women's Soccer Preseason Poll and All-Conference first team. To decide the preseason team rankings, each Big East head coach voted for every team except his or her own, with 12 points for a first-place vote and 11 points for a second-place vote. The All-Conference Team is also decided upon by a vote of the league's head coaches, with coaches unable to vote for their own players. Villanova was picked to finish tied for fourth in the 2004 Big East Preseason Poll. Wildcat senior Michelle Biehl (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was the team's lone preseason honoree, as she was chosen as a Big East Preseason first team defender.

Biehl piled up the post-season honors as a junior one season ago. She was named to M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy Watch List prior to last season and proved why with an outstanding `03 campaign. The M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy is college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy and represents the highest level of individual achievement in the sport. Biehl was the first player in the history of the Wildcat women's soccer program to receive All-America accolades two consecutive years. Her post-season honors in 2003 included: Soccer Buzz Second Team All-America honors, NSCAA Third Team All-American accolades, Soccer Buzz All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team honors, NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team accolades and All-Big East Second Team status.

Notre Dame edged out Connecticut as the team selected to win the Big East women's soccer regular season title in the 2004 preseason poll as voted by the league coaches. This is the first season since 1998 that Big East soccer play will not be divided into two divisions.

Rounding out the top five behind Notre Dame (118 points) and Connecticut (112 points) were West Virginia (98) in third place and Villanova (86 points) and Boston College (86 points) tied for fourth. Winding down the standings were Rutgers, Syracuse, St. John's, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and Providence.

Conference play begins on Friday, September 17 when Boston College hosts Villanova at 1:00 p.m. Regular season play begins on August 27 when Navy visits Connecticut at 1:00 p.m. A team's Big East standing is determined by it's conference record. The top eight teams will qualify for the Big East Championship. Quarterfinal games will be held at campus sites on October 30 and 31. The Championship semifinals and final will be held at Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn. On November 5 and 7.

The Wildcats will attempt to earn their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and defend their Big East Tournament Championship in 2004. Villanova won the program's first-ever Big East title in 2003, advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, and set a school record for wins in a season (15-5-5) in the process.

2004 BIG EAST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM AND POLL

Offensive Player of the Year
Kristen Graczyk, Connecticut, Sr., F

Defensive Player of the Year
Melissa Tancredi, Notre Dame, Sr., D

Goalkeeper of the Year
Kate Taylor, Boston College, Jr., GK

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Michelle Biehl, Villanova, Sr., D
Jen Buczkowski, Notre Dame, So., F
Jessica Gjertsen, Connecticut, Sr., M/F
Kristen Graczyk, Connecticut, Sr., F
Laura Kane, West Virginia, Sr., F
Carli Lloyd, Rutgers, Sr., MF
Katie McGregor, Boston College, Jr., F
Kaitlin Schmidt, St. John's, Jr., M/F
Meghan Schnur, Connecticut, So., M/F
Melissa Tancredi, Notre Dame, Sr., D
Kate Taylor, Boston College, Jr., GK

Points
1. Notre Dame (9) 118
2. Connecticut (3) 112
3. West Virginia 98
4. Boston College 86
Villanova 86
6. Rutgers 76
7. Syracuse 50
8. St. John's 49
9. Georgetown 41
10. Seton Hall 33
11. Pittsburgh 23
12. Providence 20