CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - The Villanova Field Hockey team hosted Temple University Friday, Oct. 19 for a 6 p.m. BIG EAST contest. The Wildcats came out with a 3-1 win over the Owls, improving to 7-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play, keeping their BIG EAST Tournament hopes alive.
Villanova came out with energy to start the game, knowing they must win the contest to stay in the running for BIG EAST tournament play. The Wildcats fired off the first shots of the game and kept up the pressure on the Owls defense for the first 10 minutes of the contest. It was in the 11th minute that the Owls earned a corner and a shot, that quickly turned into another corner opportunity. On the corner Kathryn Edgar scored from a pass by Cristen Barnett to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead.
After Temple's goal Villanova maintained most of the possessions as it did in the beginning of the game. Nearly 10 minutes and five Wildcats' shots later and the score was tied 1-1 with 14 minutes left in the half. Villanova's goal came after Christen Pennington inserted a corner and Megan Vermeil tipped it in from an initial shot by Riley Dolan.
With this momentum the Wildcats were quickly on the board again, now with a 2-1 lead after a second goal by Vermeil. Her goal, assisted by Pennington and Kiwi Comizio, marked her eighth of the season.
For the remainder of the half both teams remained scoreless. Villanova ended the half leading Temple 8-4 in shots and 9-2 in corners.
To start the second half, Vermeil quickly fired off a shot and opened the gates for many Villanova shot attempts. Although VUÂ dominated in the shots taken category, the Owls hung close getting off many opportunities of their own and keeping the Wildcats' defense alert.
It was not until the 56th minute of play did Villanova capture its third goal of the game, creating a two-point cushion to finish out the game. Abby Siana was able to find the net after a succession of attempts from the Wildcats. Pennington would begin with inserting a corner that Lydia Sydnor would go on to shoot. Sydnor's shot was blocked and rebounded by Vermeil who found Siana on the right-hand side of the goal for the tip in past Temple's goalie, Chloe Johnson.
After the third Wildcat goal, the Owls quickly picked up pressure, knowing there was plenty of game left to be played. Within the last 14 minutes of the half, Temple got off five shots on four penalty corner opportunities but could not get any past the Nova defense. On the shots by the Owls, Erika Miller recorded three big saves, totaling to her seven on the evening.
Temple would have dominated the last possessions of the game if it had not been for a last-minute foul earned on the Wildcats offensive end. With about 30 seconds left Villanova drew a foul and earned a penalty corner where time ran out. Dolan was able to shoot one last shot on the insert but was blocked which knocked the ball out of bounds to end the game, giving the 'Cats a 3-1 victory.
Villanova ended the contest with 19 shots, seven saves, and 16 penalty corners. Temple was not far behind in shots and saves with 14 and six but ended up trailing with only nine corners.
The Wildcats are back in action this Sunday, Oct. 21 for a 1 p.m. non-conference matchup against Columbia in New York, N.Y
