CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. –  The Villanova Wildcats hosted #19 Liberty on Friday, Sept. 21 for a BIG EAST Conference matchup. The Flames came to battle and defeated the Wildcats 4-0. This contest marked VU's second BIG EAST game of the season and Liberty's first. Villanova fell to 3-5 overall, and 1-1 in conference play while Liberty improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in conference.

At the start of the contest, the Flames dominated on the offensive end and four minutes in, Jill Bolton put Liberty on the board.

Villanova held control after Liberty's goal and showed a fight stronger than during the early minutes of play. Unfortunately, despite keeping the pressure on Liberty's defense, the Wildcats could not break through to score a goal and were only able to get off one shot before the Flames scored again.

The Wildcats held off the Flames for about 12 minutes after their first goal, but Liberty's All-American, Agueda Moroni netted in her 11^th goal of the season after receiving a pass from Moniek van Aarle to make the lead 2-0.

Play between the two continued to go back and forth with no break for either. With about five and a half minutes left in the first half, VU earned a penalty corner. From this corner, Riley Dolan was able to get off a shot that looked hopeful for the Wildcats, but Allison Schaefer, in goal for the Flames, came up with a save.

Kiwi Comizio was a huge factor in the contest for the Wildcats defensively. Multiple times Comizio ended Liberty runs to the goal or passes through the circle. With 40 seconds left in the first she tracked down van Aarle and stopped a potential breakaway goal for the Flames.

At the half, Liberty led in shots, 5-2 and in penalty corners, 2-1. In the second half, play proved to pick up for both teams, as a combined 14 shots and 12 corners were taken compared to the seven and three taken in the first half.  

Villanova held possession for the first few minutes of the second half until the yellow cards came out for the 'Cats. Both Christen Pennington and Megan Vermeil received yellow cards within the first five minutes. Shortly after, Lydia Sydnor would join the sideline as well after she received a green card. For the entirety of the contest seven cards were given, which included three yellow cards and four green cards.  Liberty received all three green cards in the first half and VU received three yellows and a green in the second. The third yellow card on Villanova was given late in the game to Catie Ward with five minutes remaining.

Despite all the action with the green and yellow cards given, the Flames kept the pressure on the Wildcats. In the 50^th minute of play Liberty scored their third goal of the game and increased their lead to 3-0. Alivia Klopp scored for the Flames on a tip in from Moroni's shot after a penalty corner. Liberty's last goal came after a corner set Bolton up with a shot. Miller saved the shot but was not able to protect the net after Bolton's second attempt.

Miller showed another great effort in the goal for the Wildcats. On the evening she recorded six saves and now has a total of 38 saves on the season.
After Bolton's goal, VU continued to fight with the remaining eight minutes on the clock. The Wildcats got the last two shots of the game on a corner inserted by Pennington. Dolan attempted the first shot, but it was saved. Off the rebound Vermeil launched another one, but it was just to the right of the goal.

Villanova ended the game with six shots, seven saves and five penalty corners. Liberty finished with 15 shots, three saves and 10 penalty corners.

The Wildcats look to get things back on the right track with a trip to Lawrenceville, N.J. on Sunday, Sept. 23 for a 12 p.m. contest against Rider University.