Oct. 31, 2007

VILLANOVA, Pa. - For the second time this season the Villanova women's soccer team has received a pair of national honors. Sophomore defender Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) was named to the Soccer Buzz Magazine Elite Feet Team of the Week and senior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.) was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.

Villanova is preparing to play in the BIG EAST Championship for the seventh consecutive season after posting shutout victories over Louisville and Cincinnati last week. The Wildcats are now guaranteed a ninth consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and a winning record.

Loyden totaled seven saves in last week's victories, including five in a double-overtime triumph over Louisville. All five of her saves came after halftime in a contest that remained scoreless until Villanova netted the game-winner in the 108th minute. Loyden also had two saves in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati to notch her 11th solo shutout of the season and 36th of her career.

Eagan helped the Wildcats post their 12th and 13th team shutouts of the season. Villanova is tied for the most shutouts in the nation with Virginia and Eagan was in top form in the two most recent victories. She held Cincinnati leading scorer Erin MacDonald to just one shot in Sunday's game and also helped limit Louisville to only five shots on goal in the second half and overtime periods.

The performances of Loyden and Eagan this past weekend were particularly impressive given that Villanova had its back against the wall with regards to clinching a postseason berth. The Wildcats needed at least one win in the two games in order to finish among the top five in the National Division. With the two victories, Villanova finished in sole possession of fourth place and will play a home game in the first round of the conference tournament.

Loyden ranks among the nation's top goalkeepers for the fourth consecutive season and has moved up to 12th all-time in NCAA Division I history with 7,362 minutes played. She is currently 10th in the nation with an .888 save percentage and 11th with a 0.52 goals-against average.

Eagan also earned Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer Buzz Magazine honors earlier this season on September 24. Those honors came on the heels of her game-winning goal in a 1-0 win at Georgetown in the regular season conference opener.

Villanova plays host to the University of South Florida on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship. The winner advances to the quarterfinals and will play at West Virginia this Sunday at 1 p.m.