March 29, 2010
Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - In their first BIG EAST matchup of the newly formed conference, the No. 17 Villanova (5-3, 0-1 BIG EAST) Wildcats fell at No. 2 Syracuse (6-1, 2-0 BIG EAST), 20-6, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. Junior co-captain Brian Karalunas (Dewitt, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with five ground balls and five caused turnovers while Syracuse saw goals from thirteen different players in the contest. VU Senior co-captain Mark Scioscia (East Hampton, N.Y.) tallied two goals in the defeat.
To start the first quarter, the Wildcats got on the board first with a goal from sophomore Michael Vigilante (Massapequa, N.Y.) from a Michael Brennan (Manhasset, N.Y.) pass, but couldn't hold back three goals in three minutes from SU's Max Bartig, Jovan Miller and Cody Jamieson. With 4:05 remaining in the quarter, `Nova closed the gap with a Jack Rice (Baltimore, Md.) goal off a Matt Bell (Serverna Park, Md.) assist to make the game 3-2. To end the first fifteen minutes, SU held the lead at 5-2.
The second stanza saw SU outscore Villanova 5-2, while Villanova saw goals coming from freshmen classmates Nick Doherty (Bernardsville, N.J.) and C.J. Small (San Diego, Calif.) with an assist by Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y.). The Orange netted goals from Josh Amidon, Chris Daniello, Jeremy Thompson and Jeff Gilbert.
Scioscia captured his seventh and eighth goals of the season on unassisted scores in the second half, but the rally was quickly answered by Syracuse's ten goals in the final thirty minutes of play.
On defense, VU's Chris Ficke (Madison, N.J.), Troy Higgins (Wayne, N.J.), Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y.) and Ryan McDonagh (Huntington, N.Y.) all tallied two caused turnovers for the game to trail Karalunas' lead of five.
Sophomore Dan Gutierrez (Chevy Chase, Md.) captured four saves in cage while freshman Billy Hurley made eight saves in the defeat.
The Wildcats will be back in action this Saturday, April 3rd when they host their first-ever BIG EAST home opener at Villanova Stadium. Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
