VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova Field Hockey team opens its season up at home against Sacred Heart this Sunday at 12 p.m. From there it starts the season-long goal of contending for the BIG East Title.
The Wildcats are coming off a 9-10 2018 season where it went 4-3 in conference play. The season came to an end in the BIG East Semifinals at the hands of No. 4 UConn on Nov. 12.
Although the team fell short of its goal a year ago, it does return an experienced core group of players who will all be able to contribute this season and help them return to the post-season.
Villanova is led by co-captains
Christen Pennington and
Riley Dolan. Pennington enters her final season after a successful junior campaign where she scored four goals and was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Dolan, a junior, was recently named to the 2019 All BIG EAST Preseason team. She has started all but one game in her two-year career at Villanova and will be a presence again this season for the team in the midfield.
The Wildcats also return seniors
Lydia Sydnor and
Abby Siana who were both offensive powerhouses last season. Syndor scored eight goals and had five assists in 2018, while Siana had eight goals and three assists.
The last time the Pioneers and the Wildcats faced off was last season in New Haven, Conn. SHU secured a win with a 2-1 victory behind two second-half goals. The team from Havertown, Pa., has won the last four matchups against Villanova, a streak the Wildcats are hoping to break.
Sacred Heart finished last season with an 8-12 record and went 2-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the MAAC,conference play. This season the Pioneers were picked to finish fourth in the MAAC.
Villanova was picked to finish fifth in the Big East.
After its matchup with the Pioneers, the Wildcats will have a week off before continuing its three-game home stand to start the season. Villanova hosts Monmouth University on Sept. 8.
Broadcast Information:
You can watch Sunday's game live on Nova Nation All Access:
https://villanova.com/watch/?Live=111&type=Live
