Oct. 29, 2013

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova field hockey team (3-11, 0-6 BIG EAST) begins a three-game road stand with a short trip to Penn (11-3, 4-1 Ivy League) Wednesday at 4 p.m.

In the Wildcats' last home game of the season Sunday, Villanova fell, 6-1, to No. 14 Louisville. The Cardinals posted five straight goals before sophomore forward Heather Smillie tallied her second goal of the season at 65:18. Junior forward Jessica Swoboda earned her team-leading sixth assist on the goal.

Swoboda also leads the Wildcats in points (16) while junior back Maddy Harding holds the team lead in goals (6).

Villanova is looking to snap a five-game losing streak. In that time, the team has fallen to two ranked teams and four BIG EAST opponents, including a 3-2 loss that went to penalty strokes.

The Wildcats fell to Penn last season, 3-2. Junior forward Leah High and Swoboda scored in the game.

Villanova is 14-13-2 all-time against Penn.

Scouting the Quakers
In its last outing, Penn (11-3, 4-1 Ivy League) defeated conference rival Yale on penalty strokes. The teams remained scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods until the Quakers took a 2-1 win in strokes and a 1-0 victory. Goalkeeper Carly Sokach made 15 saves and stopped four of five penalty strokes.

Jasmine Cole has 16 goals and 35 points on the season for Penn and is tied for first nationally in goals per game (1.14). Sokach has played every minute for the Quakers in goal this season, posting a 1.96 goals against average and a .775 save percentage.

Penn is 6-1 at home this season, with the lone loss coming to Lafayette.