Feb. 27, 2010
Final Stats
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sophomore Justine Donodeo scored six goals and added an assist to pace the Villanova Wildcats (1-0 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST) to a 13-7 victory over Bryant University (0-2 overall) in a women's lacrosse contest played here on a cold and snowy Saturday afternoon. This game was originally scheduled to be played at Villanova but was postponed and moved here as a result of the heavy snow accumulations in the metropolitan Philadelphia region.
Donodeo got the Wildcats season opener off to a good start with a pair of goals scored 10 seconds apart early in the first period. On the first goal at 23:48 she accepted a feed from senior Erica Rybinski and fired the ball into the net and then scored again on a free position attempt a scant 10 seconds later.
Goals by Allison Faiola and Antoinette Lombardi allowed Bryant to pull even at two with just more than 11 minutes left in the first half. But Donodeo found the net again with 8:44 again and then picked up another goal just over two minutes later off an assist from junior Rachel Lasda. A late goal by Mary Green with 2:04 left in the first half allowed the Bulldogs to cut the halftime deficit to 4-3.
Villanova broke the game open with four goals in the first eight minutes after intermission. Junior Carly Miller scored the first two of those, the second off an assist from Donodeo. Senior Sarah Berger picked up a goal off a pass from Rybinski and Donodeo scored her fifth of the day to give the Wildcats an 8-3 lead with 22:28 left in the contest. Lauren Sheridan and Eliza DeMarseilles responded with goals for Bryant to make it an 8-5 game before the `Cats with on another scoring run. This time the goals came off the sticks of Miller, Donodeo and Lasda, who scored twice. It was 12-5 with 12:18 left to go. Kyler O'Shea finished off the scoring for the Wildcats in what turned out to be a 13-7 final.
Junior Maggie Langan made two saves and was credited with the victory in net for Villanova. Freshman Amanda Hirschfeld relieved her with 19:19 left in the second half and finished the game in goal.
Villanova outshot the Bulldogs 42-10 on the day and held a 20-15 edge in ground balls.
On Monday the Wildcats will play their re-scheduled home opener against Fresno State at Villanova Stadium (4:30 p.m.)
