Villanova University

Dec. 11, 2003

VILLANOVA, PA. - The Villanova women's soccer team is ranked 15th in the nation in the final NSCAA top 25 poll released on Wednesday, Dec. 10th. That is the highest the Wildcat program has ever been ranked to end a season.

Villanova won the program's first-ever Big East Tournament Championship in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in the program's history. In addition, Villanova set a new school record for wins in a season with 15 as the `Cats ended the season with a 15-5-5 record.

Head Coach Ann Clifton guided the Wildcats to a season of milestones in 2003, but also had one of her own as she became the program's all-time career leader in coaching victories with a win over Syracuse earlier this season.

Villanova was led on the field by one of the nation's most dominant defenses. Led by All-Region defenders Michelle Biehl (first team All-Region and second team All-Big East) and Laura Koch (second team All-Region), the Wildcats finished fourth in the nation in goals against average (0.458 goal per game) and seventh in the nation in shutout percentage (0.64). The `Cats notched 16 shutouts in 25 games.

Senior goalkeeper Chrissy Dolan (third team All-Region) was also outstanding as she set a new single season record for shutouts with 16 and also set a new career mark with 30.5 shutouts. Dolan allowed just 0.46 goals a game, good enough for tops in the Big East.

Offensively, the tandem of forwards Lindsey Finnegan (8 goals/ 5 assists) and Laura Johnson (4 goals, 9 assists) led the way. Finnegan led the team in goals and finished the season tied for second in the Big East in game-winning goals with six. Johnson led the team in assists and was named to the NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region third team.