Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Villanova Field Hockey traveled to New Jersey on Sunday, Sept. 16 after defeating the undefeated Georgetown at home on Friday night. The momentum from Friday's game just was not enough to help the Wildcats combat Monmouth's fast start and they were defeated by the Hawks 3-1.
Monmouth came out rolling in the first half and scored the first two goals of the game. One came in the first three and a half minutes and the other at the 12-minute mark. Georgia Garden Bachop netted in the first goal from a pass by Annick Van Lange and the score was 1-0. The Hawks' next goal came from leading scorer Kelly Hanna who put them up 2-0.
For the next 13 minutes it was a back and forth battle between the opponents until Villanova finally got a break. As seen times before,
Lydia Sydnor is a vital piece to the Wildcat offense. Early in the season she scored the game winning goal against Indiana in overtime. This time, Sydnor connected on a pass from
Catie Ebner and cut the Hawks' lead 2-1.
Villanova continued holding off Monmouth and made a valiant effort to fight back and even the score but a little under two minutes before the horn would sound for the half, the Hawks scored again.
Monmouth had a 3-1 lead headed into the second half after Garden Bachop scored her second goal of the game.
Bachop's second goal concluded scoring for the remainder of the game. Each team fought to add more cushion to their lead or diminish the gap between the lead but the second half still showed to be less active than the first.
In the second half, Villanova was only able to get off three shots compared to seven in the first. Monmouth was able to get off 11 throughout the first half but similarly to the VU, was only able to get off six in the second. Villanova recorded five first half saves and one second half save, and Monmouth split theirs one apiece for each half. As for corners, Nova took four in each half and MU took two in the first and three in the second.
Although the Hawks led in shots 17-10, the Wildcats led in saves, 6-2 and corners, 8-5. Villanova's
Erika Miller recorded five of the six saves and Ebner recorded one defensive save on the day. Monmouth goalie, Gabi Milam recorded both saves for the Hawks.
Villanova returns to play Friday, Sept. 21 when they welcome Liberty for a 6 p.m. contest. Military Appreciation Night will also be held the same night as it falls on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Headed into play against Liberty the Wildcats will have a record of 3-4 overall and 1-0 in BIG EAST play.
