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Sept. 27, 2004

VILLANOVA, PA. - Fresh off two BIG EAST Conference shutout victories, including one at 9th ranked West Virginia University, the Villanova women's soccer team vaulted to No. 18 in the latest NSCAA national top 25 poll and No. 19 in the Soccer America poll. The Wildcats are currently 9-1-0 overall on the season and a perfect 3-0-0 in BIG EAST Conference play.

This past week, Villanova shutout the 9th ranked West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0) on Friday in Morgantown, W.V., and blanked the Seton Hall Pirates (1-0) on Sunday in South Orange, N.J. The Wildcats currently own a five-game winning streak and a shutout streak of four consecutive contests.

In 10 games thus far in 2004, Villanova has shutout its opponents seven times. The Wildcats also have 23 shutouts in their last 35 games dating back to last season.

Leading the way for a dominant Villanova defense is senior All-American Michelle Biehl and junior defender Laura Koch. Biehl has garnered All-America honors in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first Wildcat women's soccer player to ever accomplish that feat. Koch was named the BIG EAST Conference Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Performer in 2003 and is causing havoc for opposing offenses once again in 2004.

In goal for the `Cats is sophomore Jillian Loyden, who has been named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week in three of the last four weeks. Loyden has six shutouts in net thus far and has registered a 0.40 goals against average.

On offense for Villanova, senior forward Laura Johnson leads the way with 10 points (3 goals/4 assists). Sophomore Valerie Grow (3 goals/1 assist) and freshman Nikki Mabery (3 goals/1 assist) each have seven points on the year.

The Wildcats will get back into action on Friday, Oct. 1, hosting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 4:00 p.m., at the Villanova Soccer Complex.

RANK/TEAM (RECORD) LAST WEEK 
1. Notre Dame (10-0-0) 1
2. North Carolina (9-0-1) 2
3. Virginia (9-0-0) 3
4. Washington (8-0-0) 4
5. Penn State (7-1-1) 5
6. Portland (8-2-0) 6
7. Santa Clara (6-2-1) 9
8. UCLA (6-2-0) 10
9. Florida (7-2-1) 7
10. Florida State (7-2-0) 8
11. Texas A&M (7-3-0) 14
12. Stanford (7-2-0) 16
13. California (7-1-1) 17
14. Michigan (7-2-1) 18
15. Clemson (6-3-0) 20
16. Tennessee (5-2-2) 21
17. Nebraska (8-3-0) NR
18. Princeton (6-1-0) 25
19. Villanova (9-1-0) NR 
20. West Virginia (8-2-0) 11
21. Illinois (8-2-0) 12
22. Kansas (9-2-0) 13
23. Colorado (7-2-1) 22
24. Pepperdine (6-2-1) 24
25. Auburn (7-2-0) NR