Dec. 28, 2007

Final NCAA Women's Soccer Statistics

VILLANOVA, Pa.-- The final statistical rankings for the 2007 season have been released and Villanova led the entire nation in a pair of defensive categories. The Wildcats rated first among 314 Division I programs this year in both team save percentage (.897) and team shutout percentage (.667). The team had never previously finished a season as the national leader in any statistical category.

The defensive play that is the trademark of the Wildcat program fueled the success in the two previously mentioned categories. Villanova allowed just 11 goals all season long and registered 14 shutouts in 21 contests. The defense permitted opponents an average of just 5.1 shots on goal per game and 96 of the 107 shots on goal were saved.

Senior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden (Vineland, N.J.) was the leader of the defensive effort for the fourth straight season. Loyden posted nearly identical marks to those that made her a first team All-American in 2006. She ranked fourth individually in the country with an .891 save percentage and 10th nationally with a 0.52 goals-against average. For her efforts, Loyden was named a second team All-Mid Atlantic Region selection by the NSCAA.

The back line that played in front of Loyden included sophomore Kelly Eagan (St. James, N.Y.) and junior Laura Sylvester (Broomall, Pa.) in the middle, flanked by seniors Kayce Blandford (Columbia, Md.) on the right side and Jenna Gordon (White Plains, N.Y.) on the left side.

Villanova had the advantage of returning its entire back line of defense from 2006. Blandford and Gordon each showed during their senior season why they were among the best in the country at their positions. Meanwhile, Sylvester flourished in her second year as a starter and Eagan joined Loyden in earning second team All-Region honors. Eagan was also named a second team All-American by Soccer Buzz Magazine.

The Wildcats matched a team record set just one year earlier by allowing only 11 goals during the season. That total is the fewest allowed in a single season in the program's 25-year varsity history. Over the past two seasons, Villanova has produced a 27-8-8 record while outscoring the opposition 72-22 and posting 30 shutouts in 43 games.

Before ending her stellar four-year career this season, Loyden set Villanova career records for shutouts, victories and minutes played. She winds up her collegiate career ranked 10th all-time in minutes and 17th all-time in goals-against average in the NCAA Division I record book. Loyden is the only player to be a three-time winner of the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The 2007 season marked the ninth consecutive season that the Wildcats had a winning record and at least 10 victories. The team qualified for the BIG EAST Championship for the seventh straight year and advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over University of South Florida. Villanova ended the campaign with an 11-4-6 overall record.