Nov. 9, 2003

Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 21 ranked Villanova women's soccer team won its first-ever Big East Championship title on Sunday, Nov. 9th, at Yurchak Field in Piscataway, N.J., defeating the 18th ranked Boston College Eagles on penalty kicks. The game was tied 1-1 after two overtimes, and headed to a second set of penalty kicks after the first shootout ended in a 4-4 tie. Wildcat junior midfielder Erica Stewart tallied the game-winning penalty kick as Villanova (14-5-3) edged BC in the shootout, 7-6. This was the second straight tournament game that the Wildcats took by way of penalty kicks, and the first Big East title game decided on a shootout.

Villanova advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 quarterfinal win at defending champion UConn and a 0-0 (5-4 PK) edging of No. 10 West Virginia on Friday in the semifinals.

The `Cats took control from the opening kick. Just one minute into the game, Villanova forward Laura Johnson blasted a shot from the top right of the box. The low liner was bobbled by Eagles' sophomore goalkeeper Kate Taylor, but eventually gobbled up for the game's first save.

At the 33:05 mark, 11:55 into the half, the Wildcats again nearly notched the contest's first score. Johnson lobbed a short crossing pass to the front of the net which sophomore forward Lindsey Finnegan popped over the goal just missing a scoring chance.

In the 19th minute of the match (at the 18:30 mark), Johnson sent Finnegan a lead pass. Taylor came out of her net to try to beat Finnegan to the ball. Finnegan got to the ball just ahead of the BC keeper and tried to get a shot off, but Taylor blocked the attempt. The ball was deflected backwards to Wildcat forward Janessa Jeltema, who dribbled to her right and lofted a shot over Taylor's head into the net to give Villanova the early 1-0 lead.

Boston College attempted to rally but had little luck against the strong Villanova defense. With just under 20 minutes remaining in the half, Eagles' senior forward Beth Totman got ahead of the Wildcat defense and blasted a shot from the top left of the box. The Totman shot went just high of the Villanova net as the Wildcats maintained the 1-0 advantage.

Boston College (15-2-3) had another opportunity with 12 minutes left before intermission but a shot by Eagle midfielder Sarah Rahko was eaten up by Villanova goalkeeper Chrissy Dolan.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead into intermission, out-shooting Boston College by a 6-4 margin. Dolan had one save in the first half for the `Cats, while Taylor had three saves for the Eagles.

The Boston College offense came out firing in the second half. Just 8:19 into the second half, BC midfielder Heather Ferron got open at the top of the box and hammered a shot to the top right of the box which Dolan jumped for and just knocked over the net for a spectacular save.

At the 57:35 mark, the Eagles offense got another opportunity. Rahko shot the ball at the Villanova net from point blank range, but Dolan made the save to maintain the 1-0 lead.

The Eagles finally converted in the 60th minute (59:32). BC forward Laina Ceddia crushed a shot towards the net, which hit the cross bar. The ball deflected up in the air towards Totman who headed the ball into the top left of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

With 33:15 remaining in the game, the Villanova offense made a run at the net trying to put the game away. Johnson found Farmer with a lead pass ahead of the BC defense. Farmer got a quick shot off, which was saved by Taylor, but the ball deflected back towards Farmer. The Wildcats' fleet-footed forward released another shot, which was saved again by Taylor again keeping the score at 1-1.

The defenses took over down the stretch as the contest headed into overtime tied at 1-1.

With 5:45 left in the first overtime, Finnegan led senior midfielder Candice MacDonald towards the top of the box. MacDonald's shot sailed high of the net keeping the game deadlocked.

Off a corner kick with just over one minute remaining, the ball made its way to MacDonald whose shot went just wide of the goal.

The game remained 1-1 at the end of the first 10-minute overtime period, and headed into a second overtime.

Farron had a shot at the 3:05 mark of the second overtime for the Eagles but it went just wide of the net keeping the game at 1-1. The second overtime would end as it started sending the contest into penalty kicks.

With BC up 1-0 on penalty kicks, Taylor saved Villanova's first attempt by defender Kristin Anderson. The Eagles went up 2-0 on a kick by Rebecca Brooke, but Finnegan cut the gap to 2-1 on the Wildcats' next attempt. Penalty kicks by BC's Ferron and Villanova's Johnson made the score 3-2, but a save by Dolan on an attempt by Molly Dane gave the `Cats the chance to tie. Villanova did just that as freshman Valerie Grow found the net to tie it at 3-3. Kicks by Mary Schneck of the Eagles and MacDonald of the Wildcats sent the game to a second set of penalty kicks tied at four.

Boston College took the first lead on a PK by Jenny Maurer, but sophomore forward Kelly Bresline tied it up at 5-5. Scores by Totman and the Wildcats' Regina Villari made the score 6-6. Forward Katie McGregor had the next attempt for the Eagles, but sent the shot just wide left of the net giving Villanova the chance to win the Big East title with its next try. Wildcat midfielder Erica Stewart sent a liner into the right of the net past Taylor to give Villanova and head coach Ann Clifton its first-ever Big East title.

The celebration began as the Wildcat players and coaches piled on the field celebrating a Big East title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament's field of 64.

Villanova defender Laura Koch was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Performer.

Dolan made three saves in net for the Wildcats, while Taylor had six in goal for the Eagles.

NCAA rules state that any Conference and NCAA Tournament contest, other than the NCAA Championship Game, decided by a shootout is counted as a draw for both teams. Thus Villanova is 14-5-3 following Sunday's Big East Championship, while BC is 15-2-3.

Villanova will now await its NCAA destination, as the tournament pairing are announced on Monday, Nov. 10th, at approximately 4:00 p.m. on ESPNews.

Big East Most Outstanding Defensive Performer: Laura Koch, Villanova

Shots: VU - 13 BC - 15

Saves: VU - Dolan, 3 BC - Taylor, 6

Penalty Kicks (Round 1): BC - Rahko, good VU - Anderson, saved BC - Brooke, good VU - Finnegan, good BC - Ferron, good VU - Johnson, good BC - Dane, saved VU - Grow, good BC - Schneck, good VU - MacDonald, good

Penalty Kicks (Round 2): BC - Maurer, good VU - Breslin, good BC - Totman, good VU - Villari, good BC - McGregor, wide VU - Stewart, good (game-winner)