Oct. 13, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior goalkeeper Molly Williams (Hinsdale, Ill.) has been named to the weekly BIG EAST Honor Roll, it was announced this afternoon. Williams receives a weekly honor for the first time in her career after continuing her strong play of late in two games last week.
Williams totaled 16 saves in last week's contests against DePaul and No. 1 Notre Dame, including making a career-high 12 stops against the top-ranked Fighting Irish. The 12 saves were the most by a Villanova goalkeeper in more than six years and are the most by any BIG EAST keeper in a game this season.
The game against Notre Dame provided an opportunity for Williams to demonstrate her improved command of the back four defenders and of possessions inside Wildcat territory. After the Fighting Irish scored two goals in the first 7:56 of the contest - one on a penalty kick - Williams kept them off the scoreboard for more than 89 minutes and made all 12 of her saves in that span. Her play allowed Villanova to get back in the game and the Wildcats eventually tied the score in the second half to force overtime, becoming the first opponent to take the Fighting Irish to an extra period this season.
Earlier in the week, Williams had four saves in a 3-0 shutout over DePaul. It was the fourth straight shutout and sixth of the season for Williams, who extended her personal shutout streak to 385:59 before the first Notre Dame goal of the game on Sunday.
In her first year in a starting role, Williams owns a 1.41 goals-against average and .756 save percentage this season while compiling an 11-3 record as a starter. Her recent play has been even better than those marks, as Williams has recorded a 0.59 goals-against average and .900 save percentage over the last five games. In that stretch she has made 27 stops while surrendering just three goals.
This week marks the fourth time this season that Villanova has had a player selected for the weekly honor roll. The Wildcats have also earned five major weekly awards and have had at least one player receive recognition in six of the first eight weeks of the season.
Villanova is currently 11-4 overall this year and 4-3 in BIG EAST play. The Wildcats are guaranteed their 10th consecutive season with more than 10 victories and a winning record. This will be the 12th straight campaign with at least a .500 record for the program.
Next up on the schedule for Villanova is a Friday night game at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. at Founders Field in Indianola, Pa.
