Sept. 5, 2007

NSCAA/adidas National Top 25
NSCAA/adidas Regional Rankings
Soccer Buzz Top 30
Soccer Buzz Regional Rankings
Soccer America Top 25
Soccer Times Top 25

VILLANOVA, Pa.-- One week into the regular season, the Villanova women's soccer team is ranked or receiving votes in four different national polls. In the NSCAA/adidas poll, voted on by head coaches, the Wildcats moved into the rankings at No. 25 after a pair of shutout wins to open the season. The NSCAA poll and the Soccer America poll, where the Wildcats are receiving votes, are considered to be the two "official" national rankings for women's soccer.

Villanova opened the season by hosting its own home tournament, posting identical 3-0 victories over Lafayette and Virginia Commonwealth. The Wildcats limited their opponents to just five total shots on goal in the two games and owned an overall edge of 29-10 in shots taken.

After a record-setting season in 2006, Villanova returned 18 letterwinners and all but one starter to this year's team. While the team has a veteran presence on the field it also is receiving significant contributions from a class of freshmen that ranked as the No. 25 recruiting class in the nation (Soccer Buzz Magazine).

By moving into the top 25 in the NSCAA poll, the Wildcats have now earned a national ranking in six of the last seven seasons. Although national polls are not one of the criteria used for NCAA Tournament selections, Villanova has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the other five years it had a national ranking at some point during the season. The Wildcats received votes in the preseason NSCAA poll prior to moving into the top 25 this week.

In addition to this week's NSCAA poll, Villanova is also ranked No. 20 in the Soccer Buzz Magazine National Top 30 and is receiving votes in polls released by Soccer America and Soccer Times. The Wildcats are ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region by both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz.

Next up on the schedule for Villanova is the team's first road game of the season. The Wildcats visit Princeton this Friday at 7 p.m. at Princeton Stadium. The game is being played in the Princeton football stadium due to the school renovating its soccer complex.

NOTES: Villanova is one of five BIG EAST teams ranked in this week's NSCAA poll ... The others are Notre Dame (No. 2), Rutgers (No. 12), Connecticut (No. 17) and West Virginia (No. 23) ... Only the ACC has as many as five teams in the national poll ... BIG EAST schools Marquette, Louisville and St. John's are among the teams receiving votes in this week's poll.