March 20, 2010
Box Score
NEWARK, Del. - The Villanova Wildcats (4-2, 0-0) brought home their fourth win of the season against previous CAA conference rival Delaware (4-4, 0-0), winning in Delaware Stadium, 11-8. Villanova sophomore attackman Matt Bell (Serverna Park, Md.) led the Wildcats with a two goal, two assist performance while freshman Jack Rice (Baltimore, Md.) tallied three goals in the victory in front of a crowd of 2,125.
Villanova got out to a quick 2-0 lead when Bell scored his sixth goal of the season on an unassisted play two minutes into the first quarter. Eight minutes later, Bell returned the favor by assisting on a Jack Rice (Baltimore, Md.) goal to get the lead with 5:22 left to play in quarter. At the 2:02 mark, Delaware's Grant Kaleikau capitalized on an unassisted play to give the Blue Hens their first score of the game, rounding out the first fifteen minutes with a 2-1 lead favoring VU.
To begin the second quarter, national points leader and UDel attackman Curtis Dickson evened the score at two-all within a minute to start of the period, but VU responded with a Michael Vigilante (Massapequa, N.Y.) goal to continue the Villanova lead at 3-2. To end out the half, Bell netted his second goal of the game with time winding down off a Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y.) assist. Going into the locker room, VU held the lead, 4-3.
The third period marked an offensive scoring streak for both teams, with VU scoring four goals from Casertano, senior Paul Webber (Manhasset, N.Y.), junior Mike Brennan (Manhasset, N.Y.) and freshman Nick Doherty (Bernardsville, N.J.) and Delaware getting points from Nick Elsmo and Grant Kaleikau. At the end of the third, Villanova led, 8-5.
The final fifteen minutes found Delaware getting on top with a goal from Chris Hichborn, assisted by Mark Stevenson. VU found two goals within two minutes from Rice and assisted by sophomore Kevin Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y.) for both plays. Casertano netted the last Villanova goal of the game with 2:54 left to play, getting the assist from junior T.J. O'Donnell (Randolph, N.J.), while UDel's Cahill and John Austin rounded out the Blue Hens scoring for quarter.
With his goal today, UDel's Dixon broke the school's record for consecutive games scoring a point, last held by Anthony Dimarzo (1992-1995).
Villanova dominated in face-offs, winning 13-22 attempts and stifled UDel's extra-man opps, continuing their perfect streak of defending on man-down defense.
In goal, Villanova freshman Billy Hurley (Morristown, N.J.) garnered his first minutes in cage for the season and made 12 saves with the victory. Delaware's Noah Fossner made 11 saves in the defeat.
Villanova is back in action on Wednesday, March 24th when they host Drexel in Villanova Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
