VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Wildcats hosted Brown University in their last regular season contest of the year on Sunday, Oct. 28 but were defeated by the Bears 3-1. Villanova closed out the regular season 9-9 overall and 4-3 in conference and the Bears finish out non-conference play 7-9 overall and 1-5 in league play.

All four goals of the game were scored in the first half of the competition leaving plenty of time for the Wildcats to get back into the game but came up unable.

The scoring succession started off with two Brown penalty corners. Gina Openshaw netted in the first goal on a deflection from a Dani van Rootselaar shot after the insert on the corner. The next Brown goal came within five minutes on the Bears' second penalty corner. This time Anagha Nayak got the deflection from Rachel Lanouette, making the score 2-0.

Villanova had many shot opportunities after Brown's second goal. Finally, on Nova's 10^th shot of the game Lydia Sydnor converted on a cross from Abby Siana on the right side of the goal. Sydnor connected on her eighth goal of the season after she found the weak side of the goalie and finished on the left side.

Katie Hammaker played a tremendous part in the net for the Bears in their defeat over Villanova. Hammaker tallied a total of 12 individual saves and Hannah Leckey added three more defensive saves on the day.

The last goal of the contest came with under five minutes remaining in the first half. Ali Dunning was able to earn a penalty stroke in which she blasted past Erika Miller in the net. Headed into half time Brown held a 3-1 lead over Villanova. Although the 'Cats trailed behind the Bears they led 10-3 in first half shots and 8-2 in penalty corners.

The second half proved to be like the first for the Wildcats, leading 8-2 in penalty corners and this time 10-5 in shots. Play between the opponents went back and forth for the entirety of the period but neither team could grab a goal. Intensity on the field began to amplify from both the Wildcats and Bears. The last five minutes of play, the 'Cats earned four penalty corners and got off four shots but could get past Hammaker and Leckey on defense.

Villanova ended the contest with 19 shots, two saves and 16 corners. Brown trailed in shots with eight and corners with four but led in saves with 15.

The Wildcats concluded regular season play and will be headed to Lynchburg, Va. to face No. 4 UConn in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament on Friday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. This year's conference tournament is being hosted at Liberty and where the Huskies and Wildcats will compete at the one and four seeds and the Liberty Flames and Providence Friars will compete at the two and three seeds.

Today's contest also featured a senior day recognition where Emily Cligget, Allison Sayia, Catie Ward, Kiwi Comizio, Catie Ebner, Erika Miller Sami Lopez and parents were honored.