Sept. 8, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second time in the first three weeks of the 2009 season, freshman forward Heidi Sabatura (Lawrenceville, N.J.) has been named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week, it was announced on Monday afternoon. Sabatura contributed a goal and two assists to a pair of Villanova road wins this past weekend.

In a 4-1 victory at Davidson on Friday evening, Sabatura tallied a goal and an assist. Her assist came on the third Wildcat goal in a span of just five minutes in the first half which put the game out of reach of Davidson. In the second half, Sabatura scored her third goal of the season midway through the period.

On Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats took on a powerful regional opponent in Charlotte and came away with a 3-2 victory. Sabatura assisted on the game's first goal in the opening half, extending the team's streak of scoring in the first period of every game this season. Villanova has outscored its opponents 8-0 before halftime through the first five games of the season.

A big part of the Wildcats undefeated (4-0-1) start so far this season has been the production of the offense, which has come up with 15 goals in the first five games. Sabatura leads the team with three assists and his second on the squad with three goals and nine points. Her nine points are tied for second most among all BIG EAST players.

Sabatura also earned Rookie of the Week honors on August 24 after she scored a pair of goals and had an assist in a 4-0, season-opening win over Temple.

Villanova returns to action this Friday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Vermont at the West Campus Soccer Complex.