Villanova, Pa.- For the first time in 15 years the Villanova Wildcats are heading to the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.  The Wildcats are the #4 seed in the 2019 conference tournament and will take on the #1 Xavier Musketeers Thursday at 6:00 P.M. ET.  This year Creighton University is the host school for the semifinal and final rounds.

On Sunday in the first-round game the #4 Wildcats hosted the #5 DePaul Blue Demons for the second time at Higgins Soccer Complex this season.  A goal by Shannon Casey in the 30^th minute would prove to be the game winner, to make the final 1-0.

On Monday afternoon the All-BIG EAST Teams were announced, and three Villanova student-athletes earned spots on the teams.  Brice McInroy was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team; she is the first Wildcats since 2011 to be named to the First Team.  Senior captain Kristin Barbour earned Second Team honors for the second year and Jane Olcott was named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team. 

McInroy leads the Wildcat with 20 points this season on nine goals and two assists while fellow sophomore Chloe O'Neill has a team high seven assists along with four goals for 15 points.  Sam Rosette is the third Wildcat who has earned double digit points this season, the grad student has 11 on four goals and three assists. 

Between the posts for Villanova has been Rebecca Gartner.  The keeper has played over 1259 minutes in goal this season and has a 1.42 goals against average, .750 save percentage, and a total of 60 saves.  Gartner has recorded three straight shutouts and has a total of five on the year. 

A Look at Xavier:  The Musketeers locked up the #1 seed after defeating Butler 2-0 to earn their first BIG EAST Regular Season title.  Xavier had a bye in the first round and will play their first match of the conference tournament on Thursday evening.  Xavier won their final four games of the regular season and are 14-3-2 overall. 

Samantha Dewey and Grace Bahr were both named to the All-BIG EAST First Team on Monday.  Dewey leads the Musketeers with 29 points this season on 13 goals and three assists while Bahr has 11 on a pair of goal and seven assists.  Brooke Sroka and Carrie Lewis also have contributed double digit points this season. 

Toni Bizzarro and Oliva Jenkins have split time in goal this season for Xavier.  Bizzarro has played just under 935 minutes in goal and has a 0.48 goals against average, 0.844 save percentage, and 27 saves.  Jenkins has please just over 845 minutes and boasts a 0.96 goals against average and .667 save percentage in nine games. 

9/29/19:  The Wildcats and Musketeers met at Higgins Soccer Complex in the conference opener on Sunday, September 29^th.  It was McInroy who would net the game winner in the 57^th minute when she broke away down field and went one on one with Bizzarro.  Gartner had five saves on the day and picked up a shut out during the Wildcats 1-0 victory.