Facing Off:  The No. 21 Villanova Wildcats will travel to the No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions this Saturday for the season opener.  First faceoff is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. in State College, Pa. 
Series History:  This marks the second straight season the Wildcats have opened on the road at Penn State.  Last season the Wildcats rallied back to defeat the Nittany Lions in overtime 17-16.  All time Penn State leads the Wildcats winning 17 of the previous 24 meetings.

A Look at Villanova:  The Wildcats are coming off one of their best seasons in program history that saw them qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history.  This season the Wildcats are returning seven starters, including all of three defensive starters and goalkeeper.

Villanova's Offense: 2018 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Keegan Khan is the Wildcats lone attack starter returning from last season.  Returning from injury and moving to attack will be senior Joey Froccaro, who previous played midfield and took faceoff for the Wildcats during his freshman and sophomore seasons.  Sophomore Corey McManus and freshman Patrick Daly will be the other two players who round out the Wildcats attack line.

BIG EAST Preseason Teams selection Connor Kirst and sophomore Colin Crowley are Villanova's two returning starting midfielder.  Last season Kirst also earned First Team All-BIG EAST honors after contributing 34 points during his sophomore season.  Crowley had his rookie season cut short due to injury in the middle of conference play will be a staple on the midfield line again this season.  Sophomore Eric Overbay and freshman Matt Campbell will also play meaningful minutes on midfield for the Wildcats this season.   

Villanova's Defense:  The Wildcats are returning all of their starting defenseman in Zachary Kryza, Matthew Webster, and Owen Prybylski and returning Patrick Kennedy.  Kennedy, who starting during the 2017 season missed all the 2018 season.  One Villanova's strongest positions this season will be their short stick defense midfielders in TJ Comizio, Chris Donovan, Brendan Quigley, and Chet Comizio.  In goal will be three-year starter Nick Testa, who currently ranks 10^th all-time in career saves.

A Look at Penn State:  Last season the Nittany Lions went 8-6 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play.  In the conference preseason poll, they were projected to finish third.  Senior Chris Sabia, redshirt junior Grant Ament, and juniors Gerard Arceri and Colby Kneese all earned a spot-on Inside Lacrosse's Preseason All-American teams. 

BIG EAST Preseason: The Wildcats were selected to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Coaches' Preseason Poll; receiving 15 points.  Senior SSDM TJ Comizio and junior midfielder Connor Kirst both earned spots on the Preseason Team.