Previewing Villanova’s 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule

The Villanova Wildcats are the 31st team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the fourth team from the Big East. Villanova finished 8-7 overall in 2019 and 3-2 in Big East play. The Wildcats knocked off Yale and Denver in the regular season, but fell to the Pioneers in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament in May.

Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:

Who’s In?

• NA

Who’s Out?

• NA

Circle These Dates

• 2/15 vs. Yale: For the past two seasons, Villanova has gotten the best of one of the best teams in the country in overtime. Last year, the Wildcats scored the upset victory in New Haven after Yale tied the game up in the fourth quarter. This year, the game goes to the Main Line and Villanova better be ready for what the Bulldogs offer. Again.
• 3/6 at Penn (at the Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic): The Wildcats have a very difficult nonconference schedule. They take on three of last year’s top five RPI teams in their first six games of the season and four of the top 10 RPI teams in that same stretch. The Quakers had a strong start in last year’s meeting, which began a long winning streak for Penn that lasted until May.
• 3/24 vs. Brown: Outside of getting walloped in their first of their four straight meetings back in 2016, this game has been decided by three goals or less, with the margin going down in each of the next games. Last year, Villanova won by a goal as the Bears attempted a fourth quarter comeback but failed to get it done late in the game.
• 4/4 vs. Denver: Villanova was the team that gave Denver their first ever Big East loss in regular season play last year. That was also at Denver. But the Pioneers got revenge in the Big East semifinals with a 12-goal first half for a six-goal win. It was a down season for Bill Tierney’s group, but the Pios should be in the NCAA Tournament talk once again come the start of conference play.
• 4/11 vs. Georgetown: Even though Denver made the last two Big East Championship games, it was Georgetown who took home the conference’s automatic bid. The Hoyas have defeated the Wildcats in their last three meetings, including a 16-13 win last year in Washington, D.C. thanks to five goals and two assists from Jake Carraway.