Nov. 2, 2006
Ranking among the Best
Villanova has an overall record of 15-3-2, including a 7-2-2 record in regular season BIG EAST games.
Records - Home (9-1-1), Away (4-2-1), Neutral (2-0-0)
Villanova is ranked No. 19 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
Villanova has defeated Louisville on the road (No. 23 RPI), Connecticut at home (No. 27 RPI) and LSU at a neutral site (No. 74 RPI).
Villanova's only losses this season have come to Notre Dame at home (No. 2 RPI), Marquette on the road (No. 25 RPI) and West Virginia on the road (No. 26 RPI).
Villanova has a record of 1-2-1 against the top 25 of the RPI, a record of 3-3-1 against the RPI top 50 and a mark of 4-3-1 against the RPI top 100.
National stat rankings: 7th (goals-against average), t-5th (shutout percentage), 18th (winning percentage), 2nd (save percentage)
Three of the nation's top four defensive teams (through end of regular season) occupied the top three spots in the BIG EAST National Division. Villanova was third in the division and fourth in the nation defensively. Ahead of the Wildcats was Notre Dame and Rutgers.
Three of the eight non-conference opponents that Villanova played advanced to at least the semifinals of their conference tournaments. Those teams included Colgate (Patriot League), Hartford (America East) and Butler (Horizon League). Colgate and Hartford are each playing in their league's championship games this weekend.
Team Accomplishments
15 wins ties single-season school record, seven conference wins are new team record
Villanova has 15 shutouts on season and needs one more to tie team's single-season record
Best start in team history (13-0-2) and longest winning streak in team history (10 games)
Set team record with seven consecutive shutouts early in the season (shutout streak of 769:52)
Win over No. 19 Louisville on October 6 was first over a ranked team since 2004
Individual Accomplishments
Junior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden had shutout streak of 736:24 (15th longest ever)
Loyden leads the nation in minutes played (1,826), ranks second in save percentaege (.916) and eighth in goals-against average (0.394)
Junior forward Nikki Mabery led nation in goals scored through games of September 29
Jillian Loyden became the second player ever to repeat as winner of BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year. She earned the award for the second straight season and was also a first team All-BIG EAST peformer.
Freshman defender Kelly Eagan joined Loyden on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Eagan becomes the first freshman in team history to earn first team All-Conference accolades.
Nikki Mabery (second team) and junior midfielder Melissa Murowski (third team) also earned All-BIG EAST selections.
Villanova had 14 players get weekly honors from the BIG EASt this season (second most in the conference behind the 15 weekly awards for Notre Dame)
Kelly Eagan was the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and was selected to the Soccer Buzz National Team of the Week for the week of October 2-8
Top Players
Jillian Loyden ranks second in school history in goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts, victories and winning percentage. She is also fourth in minutes played and sixth in saves.
Nikki Mabery is tied for third all-time at Villanova with five game-winning goals this season. She is just two away from tying the team's single-season record.
Senior forward Lindsey Finnegan is fourth all-time at Villanova with 11 career game-winning goals, including one this season.
History of Success
2006 is eighth straight season with 10+ wins and a winning record for Villanova
Wildcats have had at least a .500 record in all 10 seasons under head coach Ann Clifton
Villanova has had 10+ wins and a winning record 16 times in 24 years as a varsity sport
Villanova reached the NCAA Tournament each year from 2001-04, advancing at least to the second round three times
2003 BIG EAST champions and 2003 NCAA Sweet 16
