Dec. 4, 2014 Villanova, Pa. -
The Villanova women's lacrosse team announced its schedule for the fast approaching 2015 season. The spring schedule of 16 matches consists of three matches against IWLCA ranked teams from the conclusion of last season and two games against new BIG EAST competitors. Head Coach Julie Young begins her fourth season guiding the Wildcats with a brand new coaching staff and a team ready to play.
With the addition of Caitlin Powderly, Princess Livingston and Nicole Flego to her coaching staff, Young will also have seven new Wildcat newcomers on her field this spring.
The Wildcats start 2015 with a strong February schedule with back-to-back BIG TEN competitor games with a scrimmage against Penn State on February 7th and a Valentine's Day match against ex-BIG EAST member, Rutgers. Young and her squad will travel to Annapolis to take on Navy on February 25th then quickly return to the Main Line for their season home opener against Bucknell on the 28th.
The month of March begins on the 7th with one of the Wildcats toughest competitors, Stony Brook, who finished the 2014 season ranked No. 11 after losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
On March 11, Villanova will host Delaware before taking on local competitors Drexel and St. Joseph's on March 18th and 21st, respectively. The Wildcats host their last pair of non-conference matches against High Point on the 21st and Lafayette on the 25th.
The 'Cats wrap up the month with their first conference match of 2015 on the road at Marquette on the 28th. The Golden Eagles finished 2014 after a disappointing overall record of 5-12 overall and 1-6 in BIG EAST play.
April is filled with tough BIG EAST competition for the Wildcats. The second conference contest of the year will take place on the Main Line as the Wildcats take on the Cincinnati Bearcats on the 4th of the month.
Following Cinncinati, the Wildcats will host the Hoyas in Villanova Stadium. Georgetown was ranked in the top-20 in IWLCA poll at the conclusion of last season, and will look to continue to be a powerhouse in the BIG EAST this season. The Hoyas travel to Philadelphia to take on the Wildcats on April 8th.
Villanova will then make an April 11th trip to Gainesville to take on first year BIG EAST member the Florida Gators. Entering their sixth season of women's lacrosse, the Gators have quickly become a powerhouse in the league making it all the way to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Florida is coming off an 18-3 season in which they claimed the American Lacrosse Conference regular and tournament top spots. Florida made its fourth consecutive trip the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual Final Four squad Northwestern in overtime in the Quarterfinals. The Gators advanced to the Final Four in 2012, and finished 2014 ranked sixth in the IWLCA Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the Brine Media Poll.
After a mid-April match against Temple on the 15th in Center City, the Wildcats go against another new BIG EAST foe, Vanderbilt. Coming off a 5-12 campaign in 2014, the Commodores are entering their 18th season of women's lacrosse. Vanderbilt has advanced to six NCAA Tournaments, the most recent one in 2010. Vanderbilt is also coming from the American Lacrosse Conference. The Wildcats will go head to head against the Commodores on April 19th.
To round out the regular season, Villanova will take on the UCONN Huskers on April 25th.
The Wildcats (8-8, 3-4 BIG EAST) finished the season with their best overall record since 2010, and the most BIG EAST wins in a season since joining the conference for women's lacrosse in 2010. Young and her staff are returning 25 letter winners and seven new 'Cats to the pact including junior midfielder Chelsey Henderson and senior attack Jessica Mucci who were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
