We can learn two things from Villanova’s softball team this year. First, it loses to every top 25 team. Second the ‘Cats cream every other team.

This past weekend the Wildcats lost twice to 21st ranked UMass, but sandwiched the defeats with two victories over Temple leaving them two games below .500 at 4-6. The women also played St. Francis (Pa.) in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

The first game against Temple was tight, but the women pulled out the 6-5 victory. The ‘Cats were led by Sarah Wall who had a two run single. There would be no such luck against UMass. The Minutemen beat the Wildcats a combined 7-0 in two games, snapping the women’s three game win streak. The women then exacted a little revenge, blowing Temple out in the finale 6-0.

The big story of the weekend was pitcher Theresa Hornick’s no-hitter against Temple on Sunday. The senior threw her fourth no-hitter in here illustrious career at Villanova, striking out four Owls and walking four. Afterwards, Hornick was eager to share the achievement with her teammates.

“The no hitter was a team effort,” Hornick said. “I was not conscious of the fact that I had no hits, but I was conscious of the fact that my team was playing flawlessdefense and offense.”

Flawless may be a bitof an exaggeration, but the ‘Cats certainly exploded after scoring no runs the past two games. Sarah Carlson, Wall and Ricci Lugo each had two hits in the game to back up the stellar pitching. Catcher Kriste Romano went 0 for 3, but her contribution came elsewhere.

“Kriste having caught every game of the weekend did a wonderful job behind the plate and that goes for each and every one of my teammates,” Hornick said.

Even with these impressive wins, added to the wins over St. Francis, that the ladies record to 6-6, one has to wonder when will Villanova be able to beat a top 25 team, and earn the coveted birth in the NCAA tournament? However, it will be quite difficult for them to do so, with their current schedule, the ‘Cats have no more scheduled games against the current top 25. Hopefully the women can get on a roll against a few of their weaker opponents, and just blow through the Big East tournament forcing the committee to select them.

“We are happy we are finally playing those caliber of teams,” Hornick said. “Because it has raised our level of confidence as a whole knowing we can compete with them.”

The women take the field in a doubleheader against Seton Hall Saturday to start Big East play. The women will most likely need to win all the games for a berth.