Aug. 9, 2011
Official BIG EAST Release
Release in PDF Format
PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The BIG EAST Conference today announced the results of its annual preseason poll of league head coaches and Villanova senior forward Katie Ryan (Wayne, N.J.) has earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team for the second consecutive year. In addition, the Wildcats were predicted by the head coaches to finish fifth out of eight teams in the National Division this season.
Ryan was a first team All-BIG EAST performer last season when she ranked among the top goal scorers in the conference. Ryan finished the 2010 campaign with nine goals, six assists and 24 points while ranking among the league leaders in each category. She led Villanova in goals and points while also pacing the squad with four game-winning tallies. Ryan finished the season ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in points per game, fifth in goals per game, seventh in shots per game and ninth in assists per game.
The strength of the Wildcats last season came from their potent offense and the team returns nearly all of its scoring production from a year ago. Villanova returns 15 players overall, including eight starters, and the group of returnees accounted for 88 percent of the team's goals and 92 percent of the Wildcats assists last season. Leading the offense alongside Ryan is junior forward Heidi Sabatura (Lawrenceville, N.J.), a second team All-BIG EAST selection in 2010 who teamed with Ryan to give Villanova two all-conference selections at forward in the same year for the first time ever.
During a season in which the team dealt with myriad unexpected injuries the Wildcats tied for seventh place in the National Division last season, ending the year with a 7-12 overall record and a 2-9 mark in regular season conference games. In this year's preseason poll Villanova received 67 points and finished just behind fourth place Louisville (73 points), perhaps acknowledgment from the rest of the league of last season's injury-related atypical finish for the Wildcats.
The 15 returning players on the Villanova roster are being joined by a large group of newcomers that includes nine incoming freshmen and one transfer. The freshman class is an extremely talented one made up of players who are capable of making on impact on this year's team right away.
Head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players or include their own team in their preseason ballots. Defending national champion Notre Dame received 15 first place votes and 120 points to top the National Division poll, while Georgetown (one first place vote, 103 points) was second ahead of Rutgers (91). Coming in behind the Wildcats were DePaul (54), Cincinnati (30) and Seton Hall (30).
In the American Division, West Virginia was narrowly picked as the division favorite with eight first place votes and 110 points. The Mountaineers were followed by Marquette (five first place votes, 108 points); Connecticut (three, 98); USF (76), Providence (51), St. John's (50), Syracuse (38) and Pittsburgh (37).
The other members of the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team in addition to Ryan are forwards Christine Exeter (Louisville), Jonelle Filigno (Rutgers), Melissa Henderson (Notre Dame) and Chelsea Klotz (USF); midfielders Kelly D'Ambrisi (Georgetown), Bri Rodriguez (West Virginia) and Ingrid Wells (Georgetown), defenders Kerry McBride (Marquette) and Jessica Schuveiller (Notre Dame); and goalkeeper Natalia Kulla (Marquette).
Henderson was a unanimous selection as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while McBride and Schuveiller shared Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Kulla was voted the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
Villanova begins its 2011 season with a home game against James Madison on Friday, August 19 at 4 p.m.
