NEW YORK – Villanova forward Ava Borkowski and back Gemma Lysaght have been selected as the preseason All-BIG EAST Team, the conference announced Tuesday (Aug. 26) in its field hockey preseason poll and awards, with the Wildcats picked to finish 5^th in the coaches' poll.

Borkowski and Lysaght are no strangers to the spotlight. They both started all 17 games for the Wildcats a season ago and led the team to 10-7 record, leading both to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team.

Lysaght plays a crucial role in Villanova's back line. was a steady presence in the lineup last season, leading the Wildcats in minutes played with 964. The junior midfielder tallied two goals and a career-high eight assists, the third-most on the team. Known for her durability, she logged a season-best 69 minutes at William & Mary.

Borkowski is coming off a breakout season in which she scored a career-best 10 goals. The junior forward notched three multi-goal games, including hat tricks against Mercyhurst and Temple. She ranked second on the team in goals, points, and shots while leading the Wildcats in shot percentage among players with double-digit attempts. Borkowski also averaged a career-high 36.4 minutes per game as a key contributor for Villanova.
 
Villanova begins the 2025 season on Friday, August 29^th on the road in College Park, Md., against James Madison. Conference play opens Friday, September 19^th when the Wildcats host the reigning BIG EAST field hockey champions.

BIG EAST Preseason Field Hockey Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
UConn (6)                       48

Liberty (2)                       40

Old Dominion                 37

Temple                           34

Villanova                        26

Providence                    19

Quinnipiac                     13

Georgetown                   7