Sept. 5, 2009
Final Stats
Villanova, Pa. - On a sunny, cloudless day at Fairfield University the Villanova Wildcats (1-1) tallied their first win for the 2009 season with a 4-1 neutral site victory over the Ball State Cardinals (2-2) at University Field. The Wildcats netted 4 goals from four different players in a display of offensive prowess that included 3 goals in the first half of play.
To begin the contest, the Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead after being awarded a penalty corner just 1:28 into the match. BSU sophomore Katie Norris scored on a straight shot to goal from a Kaitlan Mitchell insert that just snuck past sophomore goalie Megan Goelz (Yardley, Pa.).
`Nova was quick to respond and never looked back when just 4 minutes later junior Meg Ryan (Wayne, Pa.) powered into the circle and drew a foul to come up with an offensive corner. After the initial execution, senior captain Emily Donaldson (Glassboro, N.J.) took a shot on goal which was blocked by the Ball State defense; however, a relentless Wildcat offense regained possession when Ryan recovered the ball and took a deep cut right to goal to score on an unassisted play to even the game 1-1.
In the 12th minute, Villanova continued to keep possession of the ball inside the circle and drew their second of seven total corners in the 1st half. Freshman Amy Jackson (Columbia, Pa.) earned the foul to give the Wildcats the go-ahead on another corner opportunity. True to form, Emily Donaldson showed her composure in the circle when she drilled the ball off a rebound into the backboard to give Villanova the 2-1 lead and earn her first goal of the 2009 season.
After the initial exchange of goals early in the first half, Villanova and Ball State traded several unanswered scoring opportunities. Wildcat keeper Megan Goelz came up with two big saves from shots off of BSU's Ellen Vonderbrink and Devanny Kuhn while an experienced Villanova defense led by senior captain Steffi Caniglia (Wayne, Pa.) eluded the opposition of any potential scoring chances.
An unsuccessful Cardinal corner in the 28th minute created the perfect setting for another Villanova run. Regaining the ball and stringing together a series of passes demonstrating the skill and stick work of the Wildcat midfield, Villanova found themselves in familiar territory as they earned their sixth corner of the half. A flawlessly executed scoring opportunity was created when redshirt junior Dana Ramsden (Woolwich Township, N.J.) scored off an assist from Amy Jackson in the 34th minute. Ramsden earned her second goal of the season while Jackson put up the first points of her career with the assist.
To begin the second stanza, junior Maura McCormick (Forty Fort, Pa.) entered the cage for the Wildcats and was tested immediately by the Ball State offense. In the first ten minutes of play, McCormick came up with three big saves off of shots from BSU's Ellen Vonderbrink, Brooke MacGillivary and Brittany Hammer.
After coach Joanie Milhous called a timeout to gather the team together in the 52nd minute, the Wildcats quickly got back on their feet when junior Sam Haas (Warrington, Pa.) beat BSU senior goalie Tiffany Shifflett to make the game 4-1 and give Villanova the confidence they needed to stay ahead and dominate the remainder of the game.
McCormick finished the second half with 6 saves and Goelz added another 3 saves from the first half to combine for the win while both anchored a solid Villanova defense throughout the match. BSU's Tiffany Shifflett had 2 saves in the loss while the BSU offense earned 9 corners and 15 shots on goal throughout the game.
The Wildcats conclude their away stand in Connecticut tomorrow afternoon when they take on the host institution Fairfield University at 1p.m. at University Field.
