April 7, 2008
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Freshmen Maria Apablasa (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Kathleen Maloney (Chicago, Ill.) were the offensive leaders for Villanova (3-18, 0-4 MAAC), as the Wildcats wrapped up the first weekend of regular season conference play with matches against Marist and Wagner at the Iona pool. Villanova was defeated by Marist 12-6 and fell to Wagner 18-12.
Maloney scored two goals in the game against Marist and four other players all scored once each for the Wildcats. The Red Foxes, who host the conference tournament later this month and are the reigning MAAC champions, built a 9-1 lead at halftime before Villanova owned a 5-3 scoring edge in the second half.
Senior Erin Foley (Chicago, Ill.) tallied six saves and three steals and also registered an assist on one of the Wildcat goals. Villanova scored a pair of man-up goals in the match and drew six ejections on Marist. Apablasa had a team-high three ejections drawn for the contest.
Against Wagner later in the day, the Wildcats posted their second-highest offensive output of the season. Apablasa scored five goals and Maloney four to lead Villanova, which scored six of its goals in the second quarter and trailed just 9-7 at halftime.
The Seahawks jumped in front early on with a 4-1 margin in the first period, but the Wildcats outscored Wagner 6-5 in the second quarter to draw closer. Senior Julie Ramaley (Old Greenwich, Conn.) added two goals and classmate Carla Martinez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) added one.
Villanova will play its final two home matches of the season on Saturday at the Villanova Swim Center. The Wildcats take on Siena at 10 a.m. and Wagner at 5:30 p.m. during a day-long schedule of league games that will take place at the Villanova pool.
