Sept. 10, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, PA. -The Villanova women's soccer team dropped its first game of the 2004 season on Friday, Sept. 10th, falling to the 20th ranked Princeton Tigers, 1-0, in the first game of the UPenn Invitational in Philadelphia. The contest was a rematch of the team's 2003 NCAA Tournament first round game that saw the Wildcats defeat the Tigers 2-1.

With Villanova's loss on Friday, the Wildcats fell to 4-1-0 overall on the season. Princeton improved to 2-0-0 with the victory.

Just 10 minutes into the game, the `Cats nearly took the first lead of the contest, but a shot by sophomore midfielder Jamie Weist sailed just wide of the net.

At the 12:30 mark, the Tigers got their first good opportunity of the game. Off a free kick, Princeton put a hard shot on the right side of the Villanova net, but freshman defender Kayce Blandford was there to make the timely defensive save.

A spectacular save by Wildcat sophomore keeper Jillian Loyden at the 20:20 mark kept the game scoreless. Princeton forward Maija Garnaas blasted a shot towards the net, but Loyden jumped up and knocked the ball just over the goal for the save.

Neither team was able to find back of the net in the first half sending the game into intermission scoreless.

The contest remained scoreless until the 65:23 mark when the Tigers caught a break. Diana Matheson took a pass from Maura Gallagher and sent a low bouncer to the left side of the Wildcat net. Loyden got her hands on the ball, but was unable to control it, as the ball rolled into the goal to give Princeton the 1-0 lead.

The Tigers defense would not budge down the stretch, as Princeton took the 1-0 victory over Villanova.

Maleleine Jackson notched the shutout win in net for the Tigers, stopping four shots on the afternoon.

Loyden saved a game-high six shots in goal for the Wildcats.

Villanova will get back into action on Sunday, Sept. 12th taking on the University of Pennsylvania Quakers at 2:30 p.m. in Philadelphia.