A goalkeeper transfer from Southern California is bringing optimism to Villanova University’s women’s soccer team, writes Katie Lewis for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Hannah Dickinson currently leads the Big East in saves with 31.
“We knew when we recruited her that she was a very smart goalkeeper,” said her coach Samar Azem.
The Wildcats struggled last season against their Big East competition, winning only one conference game and ending with a 4-7-7 overall record.
Azem, now in her third season as head coach, is planning a different outcome this season.
The Wildcats sit at 3-4-1 so far. Dickinson is one reason for Azem’s enthusiasm this season.
The junior from Seattle transferred to Villanova in January and now her talent and Pac-12 experience are improving the team’s chances to compete in the Big East tournament, something they haven’t done since 2019.
The 5-foot-11-inch Dickinson was drawn to Villanova’s player-driven philosophy, academic excellence, and strong sense of community on and off the soccer field.
“It was one of my first conversations [with a head coach] that didn’t feel like a business transaction,” Dickinson said. “I felt like [Azem] was genuinely interested in me and wanted to help me make the best decision.”
Read more about Hannah Dickinson’s contributions to Villanova in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
