Villanova women's soccer carries an eighth-place national ranking and two shutouts into a two-game week that brings the Wildcats home for the first time this season.

Head coach Samar Azem's squad (1-0-1) travels to Columbia on Thursday, Aug. 27, for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium in New York. Then the Wildcats host Iona at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Higgins Soccer Complex in Villanova for the program's home opener. Both games stream on ESPN+.

The Wildcats are the BIG EAST's top scoring offense at 4.50 goals per game, according to Villanova athletics. They also lead the conference in assists per game (3.50), points per game (12.50) and corner kicks per game (11.50). Villanova ranks fourth nationally in corners and is one of 18 teams that has not allowed a goal.

The scoring surge started Sunday, Aug. 16, at Lehigh, when eight different players combined for nine goals, as we reported Aug. 25. That marked the most goals in a single game for the program since 2007.

The season opened with a 0-0 draw at Syracuse on Aug. 13. Azem called her team "a very, very hungry group" after that match, noting the players adjusted well in the second half but left disappointed without a win.

Columbia (0-0-2) enters Thursday's match unbeaten in its last seven home games, going 3-0-4 at Commisso Stadium since August 2025. Lions head coach Tracey Bartholomew is in her 12th season. Villanova leads the all-time series 2-0-1, including a 1-0 win at Higgins Soccer Complex on Aug. 24, 2025.

Sunday's match against Iona is the first meeting between the two programs. The Gaels (3-0-1) bring a 9-1 scoring advantage and three clean sheets into the contest. Iona head coach Todd Plourde is in his seventh year leading the program.

Villanova's next home game after Sunday is against Penn on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 4 p.m. at Higgins Soccer Complex.