Aug. 14, 2008

Providence, R.I. - Villanova was selected to have a fifth place finish in the BIG EAST Preseason coach's poll for the 2008 season. The team ended 2007 tied for fourth place and earned 16 points in the poll.

The Wildcats will be returning 13 letterwinners, including six starters, to their squad and welcoming six newcomers. They will look to sophomores Lauren Wuzzardo (Bridgeton, N.J.) and Meg Ryan (Wayne, Pa.) to continue their offensive success as they combined for 21 goals in 2007.

Also returning is sophomore goalkeeper Maura McCormick (Forty Fort, Pa.) who played all 1276 minutes in goal for the Wildcats. She recorded 94 saves and three shutouts while only allowing opponents to score 41 times.

The BIG EAST defending champions Connecticut were picked to finish first in the conference. They received six of the seven first place votes. Syracuse, which finished 2007 tied for fourth with Villanova, was selected second with 27 total votes and one first place vote. Louisville and Providence rounded out the top four receiving 26 and 25 votes respectively. Finishing behind the Wildcats were Rutgers and Georgetown in sixth and seventh place.

The BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was senior Amy Lewis from Rutgers. Lewis was a 2007 All-BIG EAST First Team selection and led the nation with 20 goals on the year. Senior Jennifer Kleinhans from Connecticut was voted the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. She has been a big factor in the Huskies averaging only 0.98 goals allowed per game over the last two seasons.

BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Amy Lewis, Sr., F/M, Rutgers
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jennifer Klienhans, Sr., B, Connecticut

All-BIG EAST Preseason Team
*Lauren Aird, F, Sr., Connecticut
Maggie Befort, B, So., Syracuse
Rachel Chamberlain, GK, Jr., Providence
Melissa Gonzalez, F, So., Connecticut
Jennifer Kleinhans, B, Sr., Connecticut
*Jessica Lane, B/M, Sr., Providence
*Amy Lewis, M, Sr., Rutgers
Nellie Poulin, F, Jr., Providence
*Lauren Schaefer, B/M, Sr., Louisville
Meghan Wheeler, M, Sr., Connecticut
*Nicole Youman, M/B, So., Louisville
* - unanimous selection







BIG EAST Field Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
BIG EAST
Connecticut (6 first place votes, 36)
Syracuse (1 first place vote, 27)
Louisville 2(6)
Providence (25)
Villanova (16)
Rutgers (11)
Georgetown (6)