Villanova, Pa. – The Villanova women's lacrosse program enters the 2022 season under the guidance of new head coach
Jill Batcheller. She takes over the program after Julie Young resigned in June, having led Villanova for 10 seasons.
"I am really looking forward to my first season with this team," said Batcheller. "It has been so rewarding witnessing the team's improvement on the field and confidence over these last five months. Off the field, we have been working on positive mindsets and team chemistry. This team is passionate, determined and ready for our challenging schedule ahead."
Batcheller comes to Villanova after coaching at Drexel University for the last three seasons. She compiled a 24-15 record with the Dragons, guiding the team to a berth in the CAA championship game, an at large NCAA Tournament bid and the program's first-ever top-10 national ranking. Before Drexel, she spent six years as the head coach at Bryant University leading them to a 77-33 record.
Villanova's new head coach also remarked on her coaching staff for this upcoming season.
"I'm thankful for our amazing staff, assistant coaches
Maddy Lesher and
Kelsea Donnelly and volunteer assistant
Jamie DePetris, for all the hard work and dedication they have put into this offseason to help prepare our Wildcats for a big 2022 season."
The Wildcats return a strong senior class which includes the team's three captains: defender
Sydney Frank, midfielder
Libby McKenna and goalkeeper
Alexa Moro. The trio started all 17 games for the Wildcats last season and bring a wealth of experience to a team that welcomed 15 newcomers to the program in 2022.
"We have an amazing senior class of nine student-athletes this season. Each one has their own role on the team and everyone has been integral to our team's growth and energy," Batcheller stated. "Our three captains set the standard for this program both on and off the field. Their relentlessness and hunger to succeed has been infectious to the rest of our program."
A trio of Villanova players were recognized in the BIG EAST preseason awards. Frank was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, voted on by opposing coaches in the conference. Last season, she became Villanova's all-time leader in career caused turnovers (71). She also led the team in ground balls (40) and caused turnovers (25) in 2021. This is the first time in program history that a Villanova player has garnered this award.
Fellow seniors, McKenna and
Alexa Tsahalis join Frank on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. The pair of midfielders finished third and fourth last season in points scored for Villanova. Both will be tasked with larger roles this season with
Katie Comerford and
Brittany Bruno, the teams leading point scorers in 2021, graduating.
The preseason BIG EAST coaches poll saw Villanova ranked fourth, finishing with 13 points. Results of the poll had Denver finishing first with 25 points (5 first place), UConn second totaling 21 points (1 first place), Georgetown in third with 17, Villanova fourth, followed by Marquette in fifth with 9 and Butler to round things out in sixth with five.
The 'Cats will open the season against William & Mary on Saturday February 12. The two programs last played during the shortened 2020 season, when Villanova came out victorious, by a final score of 16-12. The all-time series is split 1-1, with the Tribe's victory coming in 1992.
