Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Villanova, Pa.
12 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Villanova
Lacrosse Opens BIG EAST Play at Villanova
03.19.26 | Women's Lacrosse
Xavier kicks off its fourth season in the BIG EAST against the Wildcats in Villanova, Pa.
CINCINNATI - The Xavier lacrosse team begins BIG EAST play on Saturday against Villanova on the road. The Musketeers ended the 2025 season with their first league win in program history.
XU joined the BIG EAST as a lacrosse program in 2023 and has never won against Villanova in their three all-time match ups. Megan Droney scored two goals against the Wildcats last season in Xavier's home finale that VU won, 18-9.
Last time the Musketeers visited Pennsylvania was earlier this season on Feb. 20 where XU came home with a 13-6 win over Mercyhurst. Redshirt junior Samantha Balara had a career-best six points on four goals and two assists.
Xavier is coming off a 15-2 loss to Vanderbilt last Saturday at Corcoran Field. Freshman goalkeeper Riley Ohrel spent a season-high 34 minutes in the cage and recorded five saves for a .417 save percentage.
First draw is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 21Â | 12:00 PM
Feb. 23 - Genevieve Hathaway - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Feb. 23 - Samantha Balara - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
March 9 - Maya Graham - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
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BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36 pts.
2. Villanova         28
3. UConn (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26
4. Georgetown            24
5. Marquette        16
6. Butler            11
7. Xavier            6
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BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
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BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
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Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Rayea Davis, A, R-Sr., UConn^
Alex Dorr, DS, R-So., Denver^
Lexi Gwaku, GK, So. Denver
Megan Klingenberg, Sr., D- Denver^
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Gracie Driggs, A, Sr., Georgetown^
Sophia Loschert, A, So., Georgetown
Kendall Steer, D, Sr., Georgetown
Hanna Bodner, M, Gr., Marquette^
Lauren Grady, M, Jr., Marquette
Tess Osburn, A, Sr., Marquette^
Mary Velner, D, Jr., Marquette
Rose Christie, M, Jr., Villanova^
Leslie Iorio, M, So., Villanova
Elena Torres, A, R-Jr., Villanova^
Emma Verhoest, DS, Jr., Villanova^
XU joined the BIG EAST as a lacrosse program in 2023 and has never won against Villanova in their three all-time match ups. Megan Droney scored two goals against the Wildcats last season in Xavier's home finale that VU won, 18-9.
Last time the Musketeers visited Pennsylvania was earlier this season on Feb. 20 where XU came home with a 13-6 win over Mercyhurst. Redshirt junior Samantha Balara had a career-best six points on four goals and two assists.
Xavier is coming off a 15-2 loss to Vanderbilt last Saturday at Corcoran Field. Freshman goalkeeper Riley Ohrel spent a season-high 34 minutes in the cage and recorded five saves for a .417 save percentage.
First draw is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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game information
SATURDAY, MARCH 21Â | 12:00 PM
- Xavier Musketeers (2-7, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Villanova Wildcats (5-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
- Villanova, Pa. // Villanova Stadium
- Watch (ESPN+)
- Live Stats
about the musketeers
- Megan Droney and Maya Graham are both tied for the team lead of 18 points. Droney has scored in four out of the Musketeers' last five games while Graham has recorded two hat tricks this season.
- Jada Brandon leads the BIG EAST and is 12th in the nation with a .496 save percentage. The senior also ranks 20th among NCAA goalies for her 8.94 goals against average and 26th with her 69 total saves.
- Colby Wasson has a team-high 28 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. The junior defender ranks 15th in the nation with 3.11 caused turnovers per game.Â
- The Musketeer defense also ranks 12th in the NCAA with a .494 save percentage, 25th for caused turnovers (10.22) and goals allowed per game (8.78) and 41st for ground balls per game (16.11).
- Head coach Brittney Morris picked up her first win as a Division I head coach on Feb. 20 in the 13-6 victory over Mercyhurst. She is in her first season at the helm of Xavier lacrosse after leading Division III St. Mary's College of Maryland to four-straight United East conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Morris retained 20 players from last year's squad with the addition of five transfers and seven newcomers.
- Samantha Balara, Catherine Gurd and Katelyn McDonnell were named the 2026 team captains.
scouting the wildcats
- Villanova is currently 5-3 on the 2026 season after dropping an 18-10 contest to No. 12 Stony Brook on Tuesday afternoon.
- The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll after a 4-2 league finish last year and an appearance in the BIG EAST Championship.
- Rose Christie, Leslie Iorio, Elena Torres and Emma Verhoest were all named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
- Verhoest leads the BIG EAST and is fourth in the nation with 11.50 draw controls per game.
- Christie leads the Wildcats with 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists. Redshirt sophomore Mary Moore has a team-high 16 goals.
- Junior Katie Clark leads the defense with 13 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers.
- Goalkeeper Makenzie Fisher has started all eight games in the cage for the Wildcats, averaging 5.00 saves per game with a .374 save percentage.
big east weekly honors
Feb. 23 - Genevieve Hathaway - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Feb. 23 - Samantha Balara - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
March 9 - Maya Graham - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
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big east preseason honors
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36 pts.
2. Villanova         28
3. UConn (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26
4. Georgetown            24
5. Marquette        16
6. Butler            11
7. Xavier            6
Â
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Â
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Â
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Rayea Davis, A, R-Sr., UConn^
Alex Dorr, DS, R-So., Denver^
Lexi Gwaku, GK, So. Denver
Megan Klingenberg, Sr., D- Denver^
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Gracie Driggs, A, Sr., Georgetown^
Sophia Loschert, A, So., Georgetown
Kendall Steer, D, Sr., Georgetown
Hanna Bodner, M, Gr., Marquette^
Lauren Grady, M, Jr., Marquette
Tess Osburn, A, Sr., Marquette^
Mary Velner, D, Jr., Marquette
Rose Christie, M, Jr., Villanova^
Leslie Iorio, M, So., Villanova
Elena Torres, A, R-Jr., Villanova^
Emma Verhoest, DS, Jr., Villanova^
Players Mentioned
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