In the Jake Nevin House, Christen Pennington's picture hangs alongside 23 other athletes, representing field hockey as one of Villanova's 24 varsity sports.

Pennington is a team captain, having earned the position by being voted by her team at the end of last season.

The senior defender from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, leads the team with her co-captain, junior Riley Dolan.

"I'm really honored to be a captain this year and that my teammates view me as a leader on and off the field," Christen said. "I really like being there for my teammates as much as I can and just supporting them on the field."

Although it is a team decision, the coaches OK the choice and make sure they think the two girls selected as captains will fill their roles well.

Head coach Joanie Milhous said that she feels Christen brings a lot of great things to the position.

"She brings leadership qualities by leading by example as well as showing what the expectations are in her work rate," Joanie said. "She truly cares about her teammates." 

Her co-captain agrees.

"Christen is a very talented field hockey player, an excellent teammate and an even better co-captain," Riley said. "I'm very fortunate to have her by my side this year as it's super fun to work together as we and the rest of the team strive toward success each day."

Christen brings nearly 17 years of field hockey experience with her.

The senior started playing the sport when she was three years old at a camp run by her mom, Lisa.

Lisa, a former Temple University field hockey player, was also Christen's coach at Neshaminy High School, where's she's the assistant principal.

Christen's dad, Michael, is a police officer.

The three of them are very close, and those relationships helped make her decision to go to Villanova easy.

Christen's home is only 31 miles away from campus, a 45-minute drive without traffic.

"I didn't want to go super far," she said. "I wanted my parents to come to as many games and events as they could."

And her parents have taken advantage of their close proximity.

They are in the stands at almost every one of Villanova's home games at The Proving Grounds and also travel to away games.

"It's really great knowing that they care as much about field hockey as I do," Christen said. "They have helped me so much to get to this point, so it's great that they continue to support me."

Christen's mom is always there to lend some advice to her daughter after one of her games.

"She's the first person after a game to not only commend me on things I did well, but she's always the first person to point out things that I didn't do so great and that I need to work on," Christen said.

Her mom also pushes her to be a better player on and off the field.

"My advice is always 'you need to work hard and be a team player and lead'," Lisa said. "Even if you're having a rough day out there, you need to hustle and give it everything you have."

Christen may be the only returning defender from last season, but she already has two goals, which matches her season-total from a year ago.

"I think being the only returning defender is a lot of pressure, but its something I'm trying to rise to and be as consistent as I can be back there," Christen said.

She has also started every game for Villanova this season.

During the 61 games she's played as a Wildcat, she's racked up a total of 8 goals and 8 assists and in 2018 she was named to All-BIG EAST Second Team.

As one of the team's captains this season, she relies on her teammates and her coaches for support as she helps lead them through the ups and downs of the season.

"She has become a role model and a leader who the team looks up to," Joanie said. "She is accountable and is so determined to have this team succeed together. She is a great person and genuine as can be."

Christen still has 11 regular season games, as well as potential BIG EAST Championship games, left in her Villanova playing career.

And through almost four years as a student-athlete, Christen's family and coaches have seen her grow on and off the field.

"It's been very exciting to see her grow as a player and a person on the field and just to really step up and learn from her coaches and her teammates and enjoy her time with Villanova," Lisa said.

With two big road tests at No. 13 Liberty and Penn State in front of her and the team this weekend, Christen is ready to get back onto the field and play.

"This week I think everyone has a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, and we're ready to come out on fire and get some wins this weekend," she said.