Photo courtesy of Villanova Athletics)
Throughout the season, Villanova has occupied a strange space. Itâs a team that typically is good for an early-season out-of-conference upset â like Maryland in 2020 and â17, Yale in â19 and â18.Â
With a Big East-only schedule for most of 2021, that wasnât an option, and the Wildcats rolled through league competition but hadnât been able to get past Top 10 teams Denver and Georgetown, despite a game against each decided by one goal.
Combine that with a one-sided season-opening loss to the Hoyas that grabbed headlines, and Villanovaâs sat somewhere toward the back of the Top 20 without much fanfare â but still talented and dangerous.