Head Coach:

Gina Procaccio (15th Year)

 

Last Year:

4th Big East

1st Mid-Atlantic Region

19th NCAA 

 

Probable Top Five:

SR Stephanie Schappert (4:18 1500m; 91st NCAA XC '13)

SO Angel Piccirillo (4:15 1500m; 4th Mid-Atlantic XC '13; 217th NCAA XC '13)

JR Sydney Harris (10:00 3k; 153rd NCAA XC '13)

SO Caitlin Bungo (9:45 3k; 17:32 5k; 249th NCAA XC '13)

FR Erin Jaskot (4:36 1500m; 46th NXN '13)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Siofra Cleirigh Buttner - Dublin, Ireland (2:03 800m; 4:22 1500m; 4th World Junior XC '14)

Erin Jaskot - Tappan Zee, NY (4:36 1500m; 46th NXN '13)

 

Analysis:
Last year’s 19th place at NCAA's was a big disappointment for the Mid Atlantic Region champs, and that team had the talent to be much better. Coach Gina Procaccio does not want to relive that one.

Losing Emily Lipari is painful. One of the most feared finishers in track and cross country, Lipari did her part, but two or three others had nightmare finishes.

So what makes us think that Angel Procaccio can get to the Big Dance again after losing Lipari (5th last year) and Nicky Akande (43rd)?

First of all, it is hard to imagine that sophomore Piccirillo, who was 4th in the Mid Atlantic last year as a frosh, will not improve dramatically on her 217th spot last year. She ran 4:15 as a freshman and returning senior leader Stephanie Schappert will be better as well.

Second, Villanova landed one of their all time best recruits Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner, of Dublin, Ireland, who signed with  the Lady Wildcats in late July. Siofra has never lost an Irish school's race in track or cross country. She has great speed at 2:03 for the 800m and that certainly translates to a better 1500m than her 4:22. But her focus has been on the two lap race.

What is really exciting for Coach Procaccio is Cleirigh-Buttner’s cross talent. She has won 6 straight Irish schools cross country championships. Mind you, they are not at 6k, but her competitiveness and toughness cannot be denied. She is the best Irish recruit to the women’s program since the great Sonia O’Sullivan back in the 80’s. She will have Procaccio and Assistant Coach, Sheila Reid, former NCAA champ, to guide her on the track and the grass.

Villanova will need Caitlin Bungo and Sydney Harris to be better than last year and they should be. Exciting times in the future for the Lady Wildats and 24th seems about right for 2014.

#24 Michigan Men
#25 Syracuse Women