Box Score STORRS, Conn. – Villanova Field Hockey traveled to Storrs, Conn. to face No. 5 University of Connecticut, BIG EAST foe and defending national champions. The Wildcats were defeated by the Huskies 6-0 and fall to 5-8 overall and 2-3 in BIG EAST play. UConn improves to 12-2 and 5-0 in conference play.

Taking advantage of penalty corner opportunities seemed to be the Huskies strong suit on the day.

UConn received its first corner six minutes into play where Jessica Dembrowski was able to find the back of the net from a pass by Abby Gooderham. Shortly after Gooderham scored a goal of her own on a penalty corner giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead in the ninth minute of action.

At this point, Villanova did not let up its fight and continued to obtain good offensive runs but was not able to get off any shots.

In the 16^th minute of play UConn earned their third penalty corner of the game which they were able to convert into a goal, yet again. Dembrowski scored her second goal of the game while Gooderham tallied her second assist. The Huskies now had a 3-0 lead, forcing the Wildcats to take a timeout.

After the third goal by UConn, Villanova regrouped and picked up the intensity. The Wildcats held off the Huskies for the next 11 minutes and were able to get a few shots and a penalty corner of their own.

The Huskies captured their fourth goal when Svea Boker drove down the right side and chipped it in over Erika Miller in the net. With only five minutes remaining in the half the Huskies led the Wildcats 4-0.

With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Villanova earned a corner opportunity where Riley Dolan was able to fire in a shot, but Cheyenne Sprecher was there for the save. The Huskies quickly turned things around and found themselves on the Wildcats defensive end. From there they were able to earn a penalty corner. Miller saved the first shot taken by Boker but was unable to save the second. With three seconds remaining in the half, Antonia Tiedtke found the back of the net in the second attempt off the penalty corner.

Villanova went into halftime trailing behind the Huskies 5-0.

The second half was an entirely different tale for the two opponents than the first. Villanova was able to keep UConn at one goal for the half and keep them from scoring for the first 24 minutes of play. To start the half, Jordan McGinely started in goal for the 'Cats making her first collegiate appearance.

With 11 minutes remaining in the half UConn netted in their first goal of the second frame. Lindsay Dickinson scored off the rebound from a shot off a penalty corner increasing the Huskies lead to 6-0.

A minute after UConn's goal, Villanova was set up with three penalty corner opportunities all within a minute. The Wildcats were able to get off four shots, but they were all either saved or blocked.

For the remaining nine minutes of play, possession shifted between the two opponents and neither was able to get on the board. Villanova finished the contest with ten shots, seven corners and three saves on the evening and the defending champs finished with 18 shots, seven saves and 10 corners.

The Wildcats return home on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. to face Longwood on Alumni Day.