NEW YORK — Villanova field hockey collected two weekly awards from the BIG EAST following the opening weekend of matches. Back Gemma Lysaght was named the Offensive Player of the Week while goalkeeper Maddi Sears was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday afternoon. 

Lysaght and Sears mark the seventh pair of Wildcats in program history to win Offensive and Defensive player of the Week in the same week. The most recent pair was Ava Borkowski and Sears on October 29, 2024.  

The nomination marks the fourth individual weekly award Lysaght has received in her career. Being previously named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week twice in 2023 and a part of BIG East Weekly Honor Roll on September 17, 2024. As for Sears, this marks her second selection as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and her sixth selection as a Weekly Award winner, having four selections to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.  

Across the two games this weekend, Lysaght put up four goals and three assists to total 11 points in total. In Friday's season opener against Delaware, she tallied an assist in route to a 2-1 victory. Lysaght then went off for a 10 point performance during the 'Cats 7-0 victory over LaSalle. The senior was involved in six of the seven goals scored by Villanova which included four goals of her own and two assists. Additionally, she exits the weekend with a .583 shot on goal percentage in her 12 total shots. 

As for Sears, she played every minute for the Wildcats this past weekend and helped lead VU to a 2-0 record to start the season. In Friday's action against Delaware, Sears collected nine saves on 10 shots faced in the victory. She held the Blue Hens to three shutout quarters and earned a .900 save percentage. On Sunday, Sears collected her first shutout of the season and stopped all six shots that she faced against the Explorers. She leaves the opening action with a 2-0 record as well as a .938 save percentage. 

Both Sears and Lysaght along with the entire Villanova field hockey team will continue the regular season as the team heads up to State College to face off against Penn State on Friday, September 4 at 3 p.m..