Sept. 17, 2001
Series Information
Tonight's game against the No. 11 ranked Penn St. Nittany Lions marks the first match-up ever between the two teams. The game was added to Villanova's schedule following the cancelation of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge originally scheduled for Sept. 15-16.
Two Games Rescheduled
On Friday, Sept. 14, Villanova announced that two field hockey games that were canceled last week due to the tragic events that occurred throughout the United States on Tuesday, Sept. 11, have been rescheduled. In addition to tonight's game with Penn St., the Wildcats have rescheduled the game versus Pennsylvania initially scheduled for Sept. 12. The Wildcats and Quakers will face-off on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
One Win Away
In her seventh seasons at Villanova, head coach Joanie Q. Milhous has posted a 58-68 record and is just one win away from becoming the All-Time Winningest field hockey coach at Villanova. Her resume also includes leading the Wildcats to three consecutive post-season tournament appearances and being voted 1999 Big East Coach of the Year. Her 58 wins at Villanova ties her for the top spot on the All-Time wins list, tied with coach Cheryl Massaro (1983-89).
Spreading The Wealth
Three games into the 2001 season, Villanova's offense has manufactured eight goal, with six different players scoring. Nine players for the 'Cats have recorded at least one point. SeniorKrissy Malchitsky (Perkiomenville, Pa.) andKristen Strocen (Philadelphia, Pa.) lead Villanova with two goals and four points apiece. Dating back to the final two regular season games in 2000, Strocen has tallied six goals in five regular season game.
Between The Pipes
Goalkeeper Meghan Helwig (Basking Ridge, N.J.) has picked up right where she left off last season. At the end of the 2000 season, she ranked among the NCAA leaders in saves (216) and save percentage (0.859). So far this season she has allowed only three goals in 222 minutes making 26 saves. Her shutout versus Ursinus was the 12th of her career. Helwig, a junior, has started every game since her arrival to the Main Line. Entering the weekend she has the lowest goals against average of all Big East goalkeepers She enters today's contest with a 0.95 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.
Making An Immediate Impact
Entering the 2001 season coach Milhous knew that she had one of her best recruiting classes since her arrival on the Main Line. One of the standouts among the class of 2005 is Vanessa Pizzulli (Oceanport, N.J.), a high school All-American following her senior season. Three games into her rookie season Pizzulli has already made an impact tallying her first three career points in a Wildcat uniform. Pizzulli has assisted on three goals this season all as a result of penalty corners. Milhous and the 'Cats will look to Pizzulli to make her presence felt both defensively and offensively throughout the season.
Strength Of Schedule
The Wildcats 2001 schedule currently consists of four opponents ranked in the top 20 of the most recent STX/NFHCA poll: #8 Duke, #11 Penn St., #13 William & Mary, #14 Connecticut. In addition to those four teams, six other teams Villanova will play this year also received votes in the poll: Holy Cross, West Chester, Drexel, Syracuse, Boston College, and Providence. Last season the Wildcats played four ranked opponents and were 0-4 against those teams, losing three of the games by one goal.
Up Next...
Following this tonight's contest, the Wildcats to action on Wednesday, Sept. 19, when they host West Chester at Villanova Stadium. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. West Chester leads the all-time series 8-10-0.
