Nov. 14, 2002

Villanova women's soccer tournament notes for the Wildcats' NCAA first round game against Yale. The `Cats and the Bulldogs will square off on Friday, Nov. 15 at 11:00 am, at the Villanova Soccer Complex. Click on the pdf link inside for a complete version of the game notes.

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2002 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships

Tournament Notes

No. 20 Villanova Wildcats (14-2-4 Overall, 4-1-1 Big East)

NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds

November 15 & 17, 2002

Villanova Soccer Complex * Villanova, Pa.

NCAA First Round

Friday, November 15, 2002

Yale vs. Villanova - 11:00 a.m.

Hartford vs. Nebraska - 1:30 p.m.

NCAA Second Round

Winner of Yale/Villanova vs.

Winner of Hartford/Nebraska

1:00 p.m.

Media Information

Interview Requests- All Interview requests should be directed towards Jonathan Gust, Assistant Director of Media Relations at (610) 519-4122 or via email at jonathan.gust@villanova.edu.

On the Web- Villanova's recently re-designed web-page can be found at: www.villanova.com

Hotline- Get up-to-date scores on all your favorite Wildcat sports on the official hotline: (888) 400-NOVA

NCAA Tournament History

2001 NCAA Championships

First Round - Nov. 16, 2001

Villanova 2, Pennsylvania 0

Second Round - Nov. 18, 2001

#10 Penn State 3, Villanova 0

Villanova News & Notes

Villanova versus Yale, Nebraska & Hartford: Villanova has never faced its first round opponent Yale or possible second round opponent Nebraska. The Wildcats have played Hartford three times during the program's history with the series currently tied at 1-1-1.

`Cats Earn First Big East Tourney Win: In the Quarterfinals of the 2002 Big East Conference Women's Soccer Championships on Sunday, Nov. 3, the Villanova Wildcats shutout the Boston College Eagles, 1-0, to record the first-ever Big East Tournament victory in the program's history. The Wildcats earned a home game for the Big East Quarterfinal round as the No. 2 seed in the Big East Mid-Atlantic Division finishing the conference regular season with a 4-1-1 record. Boston College came in as the No. 3 seed in the Northeast Division. With the game still scoreless at the 49:22 mark of the second half, the Wildcat offense struck for the game's first and only goal. Junior Candice MacDonald crossed the ball into the center of the box to sophomore forward Laura Johnson. Johnson headed the ball to freshman Brittany Hunsaker who headed the ball past Eagle keeper Kate Taylor into the left of the net to give Villanova a 1-0 lead. The Villanova defense held the Eagles in check down the stretch as the Wildcats went on for the 1-0 win. Getting the win in net was the `Cats was Dolan, who saved a game-high six shots.

PROGRAM EARNS 200TH VICTORY: Earlier this season on Oct. 13, at Miami, the Villanova women's soccer program won its 200th game in school history. The Wildcats came into the season 10 wins shy of reaching the 200-win milestone. Villanova's varsity women's soccer history dates back to 1983, when it went 12-6 in its first season at the varsity ranks. Nearly 20 years later, the Wildcats now own a 204-148-33 record.

CLIFTON CONTINUES MAIN LINE SUCCESS: From the moment head coach Ann Clifton arrived at Villanova in 1997 she began turning the Wildcat program around. In five-plus seasons at the school, Clifton has a 69-41-9 overall record. After two .500 seasons in her first two years, she led the `Cats to a school record 14 wins in 1999 and the program's second ECAC title in school history. Two years later in 2001, Villanova won 13 games and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the school's history. After receiving an at-large bid to the field of 64, the Wildcats went out and shutout Penn, 2-0, for Villanova's first NCAA win ever. Clifton has continued that success in 2002, helping lead the `Cats to a 14-2-4 record and their highest ever national ranking at No. 14 (Soccer America).

DOLAN, DOLAN, DOLAN...KEEPS THOSE HONORS ROLL'N: Replacing one of Villanova's best goalkeepers ever in Janel Schillig seemed like a large task for junior keeper Chrissy Dolan heading into her first season as the team's starter in 2002. But the New Hope, Pa., native has brought the `Cats new hope that she will help lead the program further in 2002 that it has ever gone before. Thus far in 2002, Dolan has earned Big East Goalkeeper of the Week honors four times, Soccer Buzz Elite Feet National Team of the Week and Soccer America National Goalkeeper of the Week accolades one time apiece. In 20 games this season, Dolan has nine shutouts, 133 saves and a microscopic 0.58 goals against average. She currently ranks first in the conference in both shutouts and goals against average.

SOPHOMORE SENSATION JOHNSON LEADS `CATS OFFENSE: Sophomore forward Laura Johnson had an outstanding rookie campaign in 2001, posting eight goals and four assists for 20 points and earning Big East All-Rookie Team honors. She has followed that with an even better season in 2002. Johnson currently leads the `Cats in goals (9), assists (9), and points (27). Last week, she was named to the All-Big East first team, marking the program's first All-Big East first team performer sincee goalkeeper Janel Schillig earned that distinction in 1999.

THE REAL BIEHL: Sophomore defender Michelle Biehl in less than two seasons has already elevated herself to the status of one of the Big East's and the nation's top defenders. Prior to what was supposed to be her freshman season in 2000, Biehl tore her ACL and missed the entire year. She came back last season and immediately took the Big East by storm. She was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team, the NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region third team, the Soccer Buzz Freshmen All-America second team, the Soccer Buzz All-Mid Atlantic Region second team and the Soccer Buzz All-Freshmen first team. Just last week, Biehl was named to the All-Big East second team.