Sept. 1, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior Laura Sylvester (Broomall, Pa.) has been named to the weekly BIG EAST Honor Roll, it was announced today. This is the second time in her career that Sylvester has earned weekly recognition from the conference.

Sylvester helped lead the Villanova defensive effort this past weekend at the TD Banknorth Classic, where the Wildcats defeated New Hampshire and Vermont to claim the team championship. In the two games, Villanova owned a 36-16 shot edge in shots over its opponents and the back line permitted just seven total shots on goal.

With the tournament title on the line against the host Catamounts on Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats were engaged in a defensive battle during a contest that would stay scoreless until late in the 77th minute. The defense for Villanova allowed just one shot on goal in the entire game and kept Vermont at bay until the Wildcats could score three times in the last 13 minutes to put the game away.

Although its defense has long been a strong point for Villanova, the back line has a different look this season with a new goalkeeper and two new starters at the outside spots. Sylvester and fellow returnee Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) have helped to solidify the new-look defense and the Wildcats have outscored the opposition 12-1 through the first three games.

Sylvester has been a mainstay on the Villanova defense, starting 46 consecutive games and 48 of 61 played in her career. Since Sylvester became a defensive starter at the beginning of the 2006 season, the Wildcats own an 84-23 scoring edge over their opponents.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Villanova has had three different players earn recognition from the BIG EAST Conference. Senior Erin Hardiman (Galloway, N.J.) and freshman Megan Verdeur (Levittown, Pa.) both were cited with weekly awards last week.

The Wildcats return to action this coming Friday when they host San Diego State in the first game of the Villanova Classic. La Salle and Loyola (Md.) will also appear at the tournament, which includes games being played on Friday and Sunday afternoons.