April 22, 2006
Box Score
Newark, Del. - Delaware (10-4, 2-3 Colonial Athletic Association) took an early 5-2 lead and the Blue Hens held off repeated Wildcat (5-8, 3-3 CAA) attempts to take the lead, as the Hens defeated Villanova 17-12 at Rullo Stadium in a steady downpour this evening.
This game was Delaware's second straight win in the all-time series. The two teams combined for 29 goals, the highest combined output since April 12, 2000 when 'Nova defeated Penn in double overtime, 15-14.
Villanova's juniors Eric Heidenberger (Chevy Chase, Md.) and Eric Webber (Denver, Colo.) opened the game's scoring with a pair of unassisted goals to give Villanova a 2-0 lead at 9:46 in the first. But Delaware reeled off five unanswered goals to go up 5-2 at 12:29 in the second quarter. Junior Andy German (Wayne, Pa.) posted two unassisted goals, the first at close range at 11:27 and the second a laser from about 15 yards out at 10:16 to get 'Nova within one, 5-4. But Delaware answered again with three consecutive goals to extend its lead to 8-4.
The Wildcats scored two goals in the final minute of the half to cut the Blue Hens' lead to two, 8-6. German again found the back of the net on another long shot, this one about 25 yards with 40 seconds in the half. Sophomore Chris MacDonald (Westfield, N.J.) recorded his only goal of the game with three seconds to go. Heidenberger had a shot blocked with four seconds to go and MacDonald's quick hands shoveled the ball toward the net and scored on a roller.
After UDel scored the first two goals of the second half, junior Mike Haas (North Wales, Pa.) scored a man up goal to trim the Hens' lead to 10-7 at 10:03 in the third. Heidenberger caused a Delaware turnover on a clear and fed the ball to MacDonald who passed it to Haas. The Blue Hens knocked in a goal at 4:05 and then the goals came in bunches. The two teams scored the last four goals of the quarter in the last 2:45. Delaware scored on a give and go at 2:45 before the two teams' face-off specialists, Alex Smith and junior Chris Colliniates (Atlantic Beach, N.Y.) scored within eight seconds of each other. 'Nova's sophomore Matt Panneton (Niskayuna, N.Y.) scored the last two goals of the quarter, at 2:03 over his right shoulder and with 14 seconds left on an extremely sharp angle, with the assist from freshman Tim Langan, Jr. (Madison, N.J.). Panneton's goals cut Delaware's lead to 13-10 to start the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats did get within two goals in the fourth quarter, 14-12 after Heidenberger scored high from about 15 yards out at 13:11, and junior Chris Mercer (Severna Park, Md.) posted a man up goal from senior captain Matt Starker (Summit, N.J.) at 12:04, but Delaware scored the last three goals of the game for the final tally.
Senior captain Joe Canuso (Moorestown, N.J.) made nine saves in goal, including several on point-blank shots. Delaware goalie Tommy Scherr made six saves. Delaware won the groundball battle, 44-25, and the two teams combined for 43 turnovers on the slick turf.
Score By Period
Villanova 2 4 4 2 -- 12
Delaware 4 4 5 4 -- 17
Villanova SCORING: GOALS: Andy German 3; Eric Heidenberger 2; Matt Panneton 2; Chris MacDonald 1; Chris Colliniates 1; Mike Haas 1; Chris Mercer 1; Eric Webber 1. ASSISTS: Tim Langan, Jr. 1; MacDonald 1; Matt Starker 1. Delaware SCORING: GOALS: Cam Howard 3; Vincent Giordano 3; Jordan Hall 2; Dan Deckelbaum 2; Jarryd Knouse 2; Adam Zuder-Havens 1; Beau Davis 1; Chad Holmes 1; Alex Smith 1; J.J. Moran 1. ASSISTS: Hall 2; Howard 2; Davis 1; Deckelbaum 1; Drew Turner 1; Zuder-Havens 1.
