April 21, 2008

RICHMOND, Va. - Freshman John Lade (Randolph, N.J.) has been named the CAA Rookie of the Week, it was announced today. Lade was a key part of a stifling defensive effort that allowed Villanova to knock off Towson 7-4 last Friday night and clinch a berth in the conference tournament later this month.

In the win over Towson, the Villanova defense did an effective job of stopping the Tigers attack. Although Towson did take 35 shots in the game, only 16 of them were on goal and the Wildcats pulled away from a 4-4 tie with three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.

Lade totaled three caused turnovers in the win over the Tigers, picked up four ground balls and won a face-off as Villanova beat Towson for the first time ever to snap an 0-16 record against its longtime rival. After the Wildcats scored to take a 6-4 lead with 5:29 remaining in the game, Lade won the ensuing face-off and Villanova eventually scored on the possession to put the game out of reach at 7-4 with 4:17 to play.

The Wildcats are returning to the conference tournament after a one-year absence and their defensive play of late has been pivotal to achieving the goal of the team reaching the playoffs. Since a 1-7 start, Villanova has won four of its last five games and allowed just 29 goals in the five-game stretch. Lade has started every game on the back line for the Wildcats.

Through the first 13 games of his collegiate career, Lade leads the team with 48 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Villanova has allowed six or fewer goals to the opposition six times this season, and four of those instances have come in the last five games.

The final game of the regular season for the Wildcats is at home on Saturday night against Drexel at 7 p.m. Villanova can finish as a #2, #3 or #4 seed in the CAA playoffs depending upon the outcome of the games played this week that wrap up the regular season schedule.