Oct. 28, 2001
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. --- On Sunday, Oct. 28, Villanova concluded the 2001 regular season with a 6-0 shutout over the visiting La Salle Explorers in a non-conference field hockey match-up. The Wildcats exploded for five second half goals led by senior co-captain Stephanie Vrettos (West Long Branch, N.J.) who tallied two goals. Villanova improves to 11-7 on the season, as La Salle falls to 3-16 overall.
Villanova dominated play, both offensively and defensively, as the Wildcats outshot La Salle 36-1 with the Explorers only shot coming with less than three minutes to play in the game.
Villanova led 1-0 at intermission on a goal by sophomore Christina Lugones (Oceanport, N.J.) just over two minutes into the contest. Classmate Leah Lisausky (Morrisville, Pa.) assisted on Lugones' eighth goal of the season.
The Wildcat offense set the tempo early in the second half, scoring the first of five second half goals less than five minutes after play resumed. Senior Krissy Malchitsky (Perkiomenville, Pa.) tallied her eighth goal of the season off a penalty corner to give Villanova a 2-0 lead. Freshman Vanessa Pizzulli (Oceanport, N.J.) and Lugones assisted on the goal.
At the 14:36 mark of the second half, freshman Kelly Driscoll (Bridgeton, N.J.) scored from point blank range off a pass from sophomore Colleen Helms (Broomall, Pa.). It was Driscoll's third goal in the last two games.
Senior co-captains Brooke Bergmann (Fallsington, Pa.) and Vrettos accounted for the next two Wildcat goals. Vrettos scored her first goal of the afternoon with 13:24 remaining in the contest when Vrettos deflected Bergmann's pass past the La Salle goalkeeper. Just over two minutes later, Bergmann fired a pass from outside the circle and Vrettos tipped the ball into the cage for her eighth goal of the season. Bergmann assisted on both goals.
Sophomore Lauren McCarthy (Flourtown, Pa.) capped the Wildcats' offensive attack recording her second goal of the season with 5:26 left to play. Driscoll assisted on the Wildcats six and final goal.
Villanova goalkeepers Meghan Helwig (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and Becky Stanchina (Medford Lakes, N.J.) combined for the Wildcats fifth shutout this season.
The game not only marked the final regular season game for Villanova, but was also the final home game for six seniors - Jennifer Banzhof (Allentown, Pa.), Bergmann, Claire Grabowski (Freehold, N.J.), Heather Lucyk (Conyngham, Pa.), Malchitsky and Vrettos. All six seniors started the contest.
Villanova will travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass. on the Nov. 3-4 and compete in the 2001 Big East Championships on the campus of Boston College. Villanova enters the tournament as the number three seed and will play the Boston College Eagles in the opening round.
For more information contact Kevin Fischer at (610) 519-6460 in the Villanova Media Relations Department or visit Villanova's official web site at www.villanova.com.
