Sept. 29, 2006
Recap | Box Score | Quotes
Villanova now has the longest unbeaten streak in program history at 12 games (11-0-1). The longest previous unbeaten stretch came during the middle of the 2002 season when the Wildcats had a 9-0-2 spurt. With today's win, the team surpassed the win total of all of last season.
The Wildcats defeated Connecticut for just the second time in 19 meetings since the team's inaugural season in 1983. Villanova's only other win over the Huskies was a 1-0 decision in Storrs in the quarterfinals of the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament. Connecticut came away with a win or a tie in each of the first 15 meetings in the series. Since the Wildcats win in 2003, the Huskies claimed a 3-0 win at Villanova in 2004 and the teams played to a 1-1 tie in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament that season.
Two impressive streaks continued for Villanova with today's win. Since 1999 the Wildcats are 82-0-5 in games where they score first. In addition, since 1998 Villanova is 52-0-3 when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have scored first in all 12 games this season and have not allowed a goal in the first half.
The 11 goals scored this season by junior forward Nikki Mabery (Phoenix, Ariz.) are the most by a Villanova player since Keri Lages had 11 during the 1998 season. The team's record for goals scored in a season is 23 by Cathy Ford in 1984. Mabery needs two more goals to rank among the top five in a single-season in program history.
Junior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.) entered today's game ranked second in the nation in goals-against average and save percentage. With the six saves she made she improved her save percentage to .960 while reducing her GAA to a miniscule 0.168. Loyden now has 21 career shutouts and 32 career victories in 52 games, all starts.
The Wildcats are 10-0 in games that end in a 1-0 score since the beginning of the 2005 season. The last loss for Villanova in a 1-0 contest was at the hands of Princeton in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are 31-22 in 1-0 games in the 10-year tenure of head coach Ann Clifton.
