New York, N.Y.- The BIG EAST Conference Announced on Thursday afternoon the graduate student attack Katie Comerford, junior defender Sydney Frank, junior goalkeeper Alexa Moro, and graduate student attack Liz Trojan were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.  The Wildcats were also selected third in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 15 points.

Comerford, who is the Villanova's career point leader, has returned for her fifth season at attack.  Last season in eight games she recorded a team high 20 goals and dished out six assists for 26 points.  Comerford last season broke the school record against Navy and now has 197 points off 115 goals and 82 assists.  This is the second time she has been named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team; she earned the honor in 2019.

Frank, started in all eight games on defense last season and had a team high 15 caused turnovers, which was a conference best. She also had 15 ground balls and 12 draw controls in 2020.  In 2019 Frank was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and had 31 caused turnovers, which is the second most in a single season at Villanova. 

Moro has been the Wildcats starting goalkeeper over the last two seasons.  In 2020 she made 86 saves and had a .434 save percentage.  Moro was named BIG EAST Defender of the Week and IWLCA National Player of the Week after the Wildcats defeated No. 16 Navy where she made 12 saves and limited Navy to nine goals.  Against Princeton she had a season-high 18 saves.  In 2019 Moro was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week four-times, and Defender of the Week once. 

Trojan is returning this season for her fifth at attack.  Last season she started in all eight games and finished with 14 points on 10 goals and four assists.  Also, during the 2020 season Trojan netted her 100^th career goal.  In 2019 she was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the Wildcats with 34 goals. 

The Wildcats will open their season on Sunday, February 21^st against Wager.  Game time is scheduled for 5:00 P.M.

BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Denver           25 (5 first-place votes)
2. Georgetown    21 (1)
3. Villanova        15
4. UConn            13
5. Marquette     11
6. Butler             5
 
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Denver, Sr., A*
 
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Molly Little, Denver, Grad., D
 
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Lia LaPrise, UConn, Jr., A            
Sydney Watson, UConn, Sr., M*
Bea Behrins, Denver, Sr., A        
Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Denver, Sr., A*
Hannah Liddy, Denver, Sr., A
Molly Little, Denver, Grad., D*
Caroline Weisman, Denver, Sr., M
Eliza Radochonski, Denver, Sr., A*
Katie Hudson, Georgetown, Grad., D*
Michaela Bruno, Georgetown, Grad., A*
Natalia Lynch, Georgetown, Grad., M*
Mollie Miller, Georgetown, Sr., D
Lydia Foust, Marquette, Jr., M
Jocelyn Miller, Marquette, Sr., D
Sydney Frank, Villanova, Jr., D
Alexa Moro, Villanova, Jr., GK
Liz Trojan, Villanova, Grad., A
Katie Comerford, Villanova, Grad., A*
 
*unanimous selection
^due to a tie in voting, extra players were added