Oct. 29, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.) and sophomore defender Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) have each been named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll this week, it was announced today. Both players were instrumental to a pair of shutout victories over Louisville and Cincinnati last week that enabled Villanova to clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Championship for the seventh straight year.

Loyden had five saves in a win over Louisville that wasn't complete until the Wildcats scored the game-winning goal late in the second and final overtime period. She made all five of her saves after halftime, including one in the first overtime period to keep the game scoreless against the only team in the BIG EAST with a better defensive record than Villanova. Loyden also had two saves in Sunday's win over Cincinnati to post her 36th career solo shutout and 47th career victory.

The Wildcats shutout Louisville and Cincinnati last week and have now posted shutouts in three of the last four games and five of the last seven. Eagan has been a big part of the elite defensive play, including holding Cincinnati leading scorer Erin MacDonald to just one shot in Sunday afternoon's contest. Eagan is the team's starting central defender and has led Villanova to 13 shutouts in 19 games while allowing just 5.0 shots on goal per game to the opposition.

The two victories last week helped the Wildcats qualify for the BIG EAST Championship, which begins this week when Villanova hosts the University of South Florida in a first round game on Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Wildcats have qualified for postseason play each year since 2001 and have now guaranteed themselves a ninth consecutive season with at least 10 victories and a winning record.

Entering the start of postseason play, Villanova is tied for the national lead with 13 team shutouts, a number matched only by Virginia. The team ranks seventh in the nation in goals-against average and second in shutout percentage.

Loyden earned a spot on the honor roll for the third time this season and Eagan receives her second weekly award after being named Defensive Player of the Week on September 24.