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As Coach Milhous embarks on her 15th season as head field hockey coach at Villanova University, the future looks bright as her Wildcats seek to defend their reputation as one of the most dominate and respected programs in the BIG EAST and in the country. Milhous enters the 2009 season with a 152-126 all-time record at Villanova after finishing the 2008 season 12-7, good for a 5th place finish in the BIG EAST Conference and an overall record of 174-166-4 in 18 career seasons. With 15 letterwinners and 9 starters returning for the 2009 year, experience will dominate the field at Villanova Stadium this fall. The 2008 season continued the tradition of success for Villanova field hockey and marked the 11th consecutive season the Wildcats finished with a winning record. The year proved to be a great defensive effort; the Wildcats ranked 12th nationally in shutouts per game and goalie Maura McCormick finished the season ranked 15th nationally in save percentage. Having one of the toughest RPI's in the country, Milhous and her team played against 6 season-ending ranked opponents, including #16 Drexel, #13 Louisville, #9 Princeton, #5 UConn, #4 James Madison and #3 Syracuse. In addition to their solid performances on the field, Coach Milhous once again guided several team members to national recognition for their academic and athletic talents. Juniors Lauren Wuzzardo and Dana Ramsden garnered several post-season accolades including being named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region Second Team and the All-Philadelphia Team. Junior Maura McCormick was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Goalie of the Week twice during the season and sophomore Abby Sordoni was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll the week of October 20th, 2008. In the classroom, Mallary Kile, Ally Smith and Meghan Ryan were named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and Emily Donaldson, Samantha Haas, Mallary Kile, Jordan Lynn, Dana Ramsden, Meghan Ryan, Meredith Sabatini, Samantha Serpe and Ally Smith were all named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team. The accomplishments of the 2007 season mirrored that of 2008; the Wildcats put together a winning streak of seven games which tied a school record. Their run included national recognition with a No. 20 ranking and an upset of No.3 Connecticut. The team also stood out in the BIG EAST; 2007 was the ninth straight year Villanova had multiple all-conference selections. The Wildcats finished the season ranked 3rd in assists per game (2.38) and 5th in the nation in goals per game (3.27) and scoring average (3.28). TheWildcats achieved a great amount during the 2006 season. Milhous led the program to its second consecutive year ranked on the national level, where they remained throughout the season. The road to a national ranking was filled with excitement as the Wildcats knocked off two top-20 teams as they defeated then No. 14 Iowa on Sept. 9 and No. 9 Connecticut just one week later on Sept. 17. The 2006 team broke five records while receiving recognition from the BIG EAST Conference for their outstanding play. In addition, the Wildcats catapulted themselves on to the national scene as they ranked in the top-12 in three separate categories. Villanova's highest ranking was seventh in the nation in Assists per Game (2.57), followed by 11th in Points per Game (8.67) and 12th in Scoring Average (3.04). In a milestone 2005 season, the Wildcats made their fifth consecutive trip to the BIG EAST Championship earning a No. 1 seed following a first-place 4-1 season in conference play. Despite finishing the season with a first-ever national ranking, the No. 15 Wildcats fell to Connecticut 3-2 in overtime of the championship game. Milhous won the 2005 BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the second time in her career by producing a season of firsts for Villanova. On Sept. 20, the Wildcats received their first national ranking, won their first regular season title and tallied 15 wins on the season. Its No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament was the first ever, and the Wildcats beat two ranked teams (Louisville and Connecticut) in the same season for the first time. Villanova had its most-ever selections to the first team All-Conference (three) and won the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the first time in program history as well. In addition to these accomplishments, the 2005 team ranked second in the conference in goals (70), assists (54), points (194), goals against (39) and shutouts (4). The `Cats also out-scored opponents 70-39 en route to the 15-5 season. In May of 1995, Milhous arrived at Villanova University after a four-year coaching stint at nearby Cabrini College. In just four years, Milhous completely turned the program around. After recording only one win in her first season, Milhous closed her career at Cabrini with an 11-win season in 1994, earning her 1994 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors. Milhous' accomplishments at Villanova have followed a similar trend. Prior to entering this upcoming season, her teams have posted ten consecutive winning records dating back to 1998 totaling 122 victories. These past ten seasons have been highlighted by seven BIG EAST Tournament appearances, with three of those leading to the BIG EAST Championship game. In addition to her role as the head field hockey coach, Milhous served as the women's lacrosse head coach from 1997-00. During her three seasons directing the women's lacrosse program the Wildcats posted a 10-38 record. At the end of the 2000 season she stepped down from her position in order to concentrate entirely on field hockey. Milhous graduated in 1991 from the College of William & Mary where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. While attending William & Mary she was a standout for both the field hockey and women's lacrosse programs. In field hockey Milhous was a two-time Regional All-American and two-time All-Conference selection, as well as being chosen team captain for her senior season. She ended her career as the seventh leading scorer in Tribe history. In addition to her success in field hockey, she earned equal rewards for her play on the lacrosse pitch. After being named team captain, she also received Regional All-American and All-Conference honors. In each of her four seasons playing lacrosse, the Tribe was nationally ranked. She was voted to participate in the North/South Senior All-Star game in both field hockey and lacrosse. Milhous served as President of the BIG EAST Conference Field Hockey Site Committee in 1998 and was also a board member of the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association from 1998-2000, representing the Philadelphia area colleges. A native of Wynnewood, Pa., Milhous and her husband Stowe reside in Gulph Mills, Pa. with their three children, Stowe Jr. and twins Tucker and Madison. Coaching Experience: 174-166-4 (18 years) Villanova University (1995-Present) 152-126-0 (14 years) 2008 12-7 2007 11-7-0 2006 13-8-0 2005 15-5-0 2004 11-8-0 2003 11-7-0 2002 11-9-0 2001 11-9-0 2000 11-9-0 1999 13-8-0 1998 13-9-0 1997 7-13-0 1996 7-13-0 1995 5-15-0 Cabrini College (1991-95) 22-40-4 (four years) 1994 11-6-0 1993 6-9-3 1992 4-11-1 1991 1-14-0 Coaching Honors & Achievements 1999, 2005 BIG EAST Coach of the Year 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 BIG EAST Tournament Appearances 1994 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 2 ECAC Tournament Appearances 17 Mid-Atlantic Regional All-Americans 91 BIG EAST All-Academic selections 9 All-BIG EAST First Team selections 18 All-BIG EAST Second Team selections 6 All-BIG EAST Rookie Team selections |
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