Villanova's field hockey team rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat Providence 2-1 on Oct. 23.

The Wildcats topped Wagner 3-1 on Oct. 25, improving to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in Big East play. They close out their Big East regular season when they host No. 12 Liberty at noon Friday, Oct. 30. A Villanova athletics department update published Oct. 28 described the team as "on the cusp of clinching a spot in the BIG EAST Championship" heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Big East Championship is scheduled for Nov. 6-8 at Temple's Howarth Field, according to a Temple athletics game guide. The top four teams advance.

Late comeback stuns Providence

The Oct. 23 game at Providence stayed scoreless through three quarters. Providence's Martu Torre Festa broke through at the 49:16 mark, according to The Villanovan.

Villanova answered fast.

Junior Molly Zimmerman scored off a penalty corner with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter for her second goal of the season. Just 66 seconds later, senior Colleen Finnan buried the winner off an assist from Aimee Largoza. It was Finnan's ninth goal of the season.

Providence outshot Villanova 13-9 and held a 9-6 edge in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Maddi Sears made six saves. Zimmerman and senior Gemma Lysaght each added a defensive save.

Head coach Joanie Milhous praised the team's penalty-corner execution and Sears' play in goal, according to The Villanovan.

Wildcats control Wagner

Villanova carried that momentum into the Oct. 25 matchup against Wagner. The Wildcats hit the post three times before junior Evangeline Minnella scored midway through the first quarter off an assist from freshman Katharina Balks. It was Minnella's first goal of the season.

Balks doubled the lead at 19:18, scoring off an assist from senior Jane Bresnahan. Wagner's Floortje Leunisse cut it to 2-1 just before halftime. Freshman Adie Minnella restored the two-goal cushion with an assist from fellow rookie Emma Foscari to make it 3-1.

Villanova's defense shut Wagner out after halftime, allowing no shots or penalty corners. The Wildcats finished with an 11-4 shot advantage, and Sears recorded three saves.

Balks earns weekly honor

Villanova athletics named Balks its field hockey performer of the week for Oct. 19-25. The freshman from Berlin, Germany, tied her career high with three points against Wagner, tallying one goal and one assist.

The Wildcats have surpassed last season's win total, according to the athletic director's update. Friday's noon matchup against Liberty is Villanova's final Big East regular-season game.