Aug. 19, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Villanova extended its unbeaten streak in season openers to 11 straight (10-0-1) with today's draw. The team is 15-11-3 (.569) all-time in season openers and has not lost its first game since dropping a 1-0 decision at La Salle to open the 2000 season. In addition to the 15-11-3 overall mark the Wildcats are also 9-6-1 (.594) when opening the season at home. Villanova has not lost a season opener played at home since 1996, ironically losing the first game that season by a 1-0 final to today's opponent, James Madison.
Prior to today's game ending in a 1-1 draw the Wildcats had not had a tie in their season opener in more than 20 years. The only times Villanova started the season with a draw came in 1986 and 1988. Both years the Wildcats opened the season on the road, both times versus Adelphi. Each of those contests ended in a 2-2 score.
None of the 19 games played by the Wildcats during the 2010 season ended in a tie but the first game of the 2011 campaign finished that way. Villanova had played 21 consecutive games without a draw since a 1-1 tie against Connecticut in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship on October 29, 2009. The Wildcats eventually advanced out of that game to the quarterfinal round by virtue of an edge in penalty kicks.
Senior forward Katie Ryan (Wayne, N.J.) scored her 29th career goal in today's game and in doing so moved into sole possession of sixth place in school history. She is just one tally behind Nikki Mabery (2004-07) and Laura Johnson (2001-04), who are tied for fourth place in the Villanova record book with 30 career scores. Ryan remains in sixth place with 75 career points, six behind Tina Conti (1988-91).
Of the 29 career goals that Katie Ryan has scored, 12 have been the first goal of a game. Seven of her last 10 goals scored since the start of the 2010 season have been the game's first score.
The assist recorded by redshirt freshman midfielder Stephanie Myers (Downingtown, Pa.) was the first of her collegiate career. She scored one goal in five outings last season before missing the rest of the year with an injury.
Villanova is 16-24-4 (.409) all-time against the teams that currently make up the Colonial Athletic Association. All but two of those losses came prior to the 2000 season, however.
The starting lineup for the Wildcats in today's season opener included three players who received medical redshirts due to injuries last season. The three included Myers, redshirt sophomore defender Alexa Carugati (Newtown, Pa.) and redshirt junior midfielder Lauren McCoy (Spotsylvania, Va.). In addition, redshirt freshman forward Kelly Mahoney (Darien, Conn.) made her collegiate debut with 36 minutes of action off the bench, including playing all 14-plus minutes of extra time.
Freshman midfielder Amanda Penkrot (Wilmington, Del.); freshman defender Victoria Gersh (Silver Spring, Md.); freshman midfielder Bryana Gold (Atlanta, Ga.); freshman midfielder Katie Sanquist Laytonsville, Md.); and freshman forward Caitlin Forte (Selbyville, Del.) all joined Mahoney in making their collegiate debut today. Penkrot and Gersh each drew starting assignments.
