No. 1 Connecticut will play at No. 10 Syracuse on Sunday in a Top 10 matchup.
#BIGEASTfh Minute: Two Top 10 Opponents On Tap For The Weekend
NEW YORK – After three weekends of play, the BIG EAST has three of its eight teams ranked in the national top 25 as combined, the teams have only lost 11 games. Top-ranked Connecticut is at the top of the league standings with a 4-0 record, having defeated three ranked teams along the way. Georgetown and Old Dominion are also unbeaten through four games this season.
In addition to Connecticut, Georgetown and Old Dominion, eight other teams are undefeated nationally.
Liberty is 3-1 with its only loss of the season at then-No. 3 Duke, 4-3, in overtime. Villanova has only lost one game as well.
Movin’ On Up
While undefeated Connecticut remained No. 1 in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll with 28 votes, Liberty had the biggest jump in the poll from No. 23 to no. 15 after three wins, one over a ranked opponent. BIG EAST Field Hockey boasted three teams in the national top 25 with Old Dominion checking in at No. 21. The Monarchs opened the season with a four-game winning streak, three of which were shutouts. ODU has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 10-3. At No. 16, Liberty has received its highest ranking since checking in at No. 13 in the NFHCA preseason national poll on Aug. 23, 2016.
Top 10 Test On The Horizon
BIG EAST teams will face four teams ranked in the NFHCA Top 25 this weekend, highlighted by a top 10 matchup between No. 1 Connecticut Huskies and No. 10 Syracuse. Quinnipiac and Providence will host ranked opponents this weekend as the Bobcats host No. 19 Maine and the Friars host No. 14 Iowa. Both No. 21 Old Dominion will play at No. 8 Virginia on Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup, at the same time as top-ranked Connecticut plays at No. 10 Syracuse. The Orange is the fourth ranked opponent the Huskies have faced this season. Old Dominion defeated two ranked opponents last week, topping then-No. 22 William & Mary, 4-3, in overtime and then-No. 17 James Madison, 3-0. For the full poll, click
here.
Top 25 Matchups This Weekend
No. 19 Maine at QUINNIPIAC (Sept. 8 at 12 p.m.)
No. 14 Iowa at PROVIDENCE (Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.)
No. 21 OLD DOMINION at No. 8 Virginia (Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.)
No. 1 CONNECTICUT at No. 10 Syracuse (Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.)
National Recognition
The BIG EAST had two players earn national honorable mention by the NFHCA this week with Liberty’s Agueda Moroni and Old Dominion’s Ilse Westera. Moroni repeated as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and she scored five goals over a 2-0 weekend for Liberty. Moroni averages 6.00 goals per game through four games played. Westera was the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week as she scored twice in the win over then-No. 22 William & Mary and recorded the eventual game-winning goal, and an assist against then-No. 17 James Madison.
In the National Statistical Rankings
Liberty ranks second in the country in scoring average with 4.47 points per game and 4.50 goals per game. Georgetown ranks second in save percentage (0.920) and third in goals against average (0.50). Connecticut ranks third in assists per game (4.00). Temple ranks third in defensive saves (4).
Upcoming #BIGEASTfh Schedule
Friday, Sept. 7
PROVIDENCE at New Hampshire, 2 p.m.
LIU Brooklyn at GEORGETOWN, 2 p.m.
No. 21 Old Dominion at RICHMOND, 3 p.m.
Penn at VILLANOVA, 4 p.m.
No. 1 CONNECTICUT at Massachusetts, 6 p.m.
TEMPLE at Lafayette, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 8
No. 19 Maine at QUINNIPIAC, 12 p.m.
No. 14 Iowa at PROVIDENCE, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 9
VILLANOVA at Sacred Heart, 12 p.m.
No. 21 OLD DOMINION at No. 8 Virginia, 1 p.m.
No. 1 CONNECTICUT at No. 10 Syracuse, 1 p.m.
Kent State at TEMPLE, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Longwood at No. 16 LIBERTY, 5 p.m.
All times eastern.
BIG EAST teams in ALL CAPS